Cabinet painting
A new kitchen,
without a new kitchen.
Cabinet painting is the highest-return update in most Greater Austin kitchens — typically a quarter to a third of the cost of replacing the same boxes, finished in days rather than weeks.
Done properly it means doors off, grease gone, bonding primer, sprayed finish, and a full cure before anything goes back on. Done the quick way it peels off the rail inside two years.
Typical kitchen: $3,000 – $7,000 · 4–7 days · free on-site quote
How we do it
Six steps, and none of them get skipped.
Cabinet painting is almost entirely preparation. The spraying is the fast part — and the part every competitor also does.
01
Doors and drawers come off
Every door, drawer front and piece of hardware is removed and labelled. Painting cabinets on their hinges is how you get runs in the corners and paint on the hinges.
02
Degrease — properly
Kitchen cabinets carry years of cooking grease you cannot see. Paint does not stick to it. This is the step that separates a finish that lasts a decade from one that peels off the rail in eighteen months.
03
Sand and fill
Scuff-sanded to give the primer something to bite, with grain filled where you want a fully smooth finish rather than a wood-grain look.
04
Bonding primer
A dedicated bonding primer, not whatever was left over from the walls. On oak and thermofoil this is non-negotiable.
05
Sprayed, not brushed
Doors sprayed flat in a controlled space, boxes sprayed in place with everything else masked off. No brush marks, no roller stipple.
06
Cure, then rehang
Cabinet coatings need days to harden, not hours. We rehang on our schedule, not the moment it feels dry — rushing this is why cabinets stick to their frames.
When we'll talk you out of it
Paint isn't always the answer.
If the boxes are solid and you like the layout, painting is the best money you can spend in a kitchen. If the boxes are water-damaged, the doors are delaminating, or the layout is the actual problem, paint is lipstick on it.
We'll tell you that on the walkthrough rather than take the job and let you find out. It costs us a sale and saves you a few thousand dollars.
Get an honest opinionCommon questions.
- How much does cabinet painting cost in Austin?
- A typical kitchen runs $3,000–$7,000 depending on the door count, whether you want the grain filled smooth, and whether the interiors are painted too. It is usually a quarter to a third of what replacing the same cabinets would cost, and it takes days rather than weeks.
- Is painting cabinets actually worth it versus replacing them?
- If the boxes are solid and the layout works, yes — it is the single highest-return update in a kitchen. If the boxes are failing, the doors are delaminating, or you want a different layout, paint is lipstick on a problem and we will tell you so rather than take the job.
- How long does it take, and can I use my kitchen?
- Most kitchens are 4–7 days. You lose the cabinet doors for that period but keep the counters, sink and appliances. We stage it so you are never without a functioning kitchen overnight.
- Will the finish chip?
- Not if it is prepped and cured properly. Cabinets take more abuse than any wall in the house, which is why the degreasing, bonding primer and full cure time matter more here than anywhere else. A sprayed, properly cured cabinet finish holds up for years of daily use.
- Can you paint oak cabinets and hide the grain?
- Yes. Oak has a heavy open grain that shows through paint unless it is filled first. We will show you both options — grain-filled for a modern flat look, or left visible for a more traditional finish — and price them separately so you choose.
- What about laminate or thermofoil cabinets?
- Both can be painted, but they are unforgiving and need the right bonding primer. If a thermofoil surface is already peeling from heat, painting will not reattach it — we would rather tell you that up front than get a call in six months.
Get a cabinet quote.
Dustin walks the kitchen with you, counts the doors and drawers, and gives you a firm number — usually the same day.
Or call 512-820-5714By city
House painting across Greater Austin & the Hill Country
Every city works a little differently — different housing stock, different HOA rules, different problems. Pick yours for the specifics.