With proper care of professionally painted kitchen cabinets, you can expect your newly painted cabinets to last 8-10 years. However, there are a few things that can drastically shorten this timeframe, leaving you needing them repainted 3-4 years later.
Painted kitchen cabinets can be very durable and look as good as new a decade after painting. But only if they are painted right. The durability of painted kitchen cabinets depends on the type of paint used, the application method and the number of coats applied.
If you need to make an economical choice, painting is the way to go. Even if you are not forced into making the most economical decision, painting is still an attractive option because it gives you more money to spend elsewhere. New cabinets plus installation can cost almost half of your kitchen renovation budget.
They look beautiful, but the paint is not hard like I would expect- it's tacky and sticks to things and scratches off easily. I used Sherwin Williams Emerald trim enamel.
When it comes to durability, there is a bit of a tradeoff between painted and stained finishes. Painted cabinets are more resistant to damage because the paint layer adds some protection from dings and scratches. However, stained cabinets are better at concealing the damage done to them than painted cabinets.
Friction from loose hardware can cause paint to tear, chip and peel, even if you've used the best paint for kitchen cabinets. Regularly tighten hardware to prevent it from contributing to a paint chipping problem. Sometimes the paint on kitchen cabinets peels behind closed doors — literally.
You'll also need to consider the cost of application by a local professional. Painting requires more care and extra coats to achieve a smooth finish, resulting in a slightly higher cost than staining. Your total labor costs will depend on how many cabinets you have.
Detailed Patterns, Warped or Damaged Cabinets
If your cabinets have detailed patterns or they are warped, chipped, cracked or have other damage to them, then painting your kitchen cabinets is not the way to go – it most definitely won't solve your cabinet problem.
If properly painted and cared for, your newly painted kitchen cabinets can last up to 15 years before needing another coat of paint.
Price out replacing your kitchen cabinets and painting will look better and better. The cost to paint a kitchen is typically 1/3 to ½ the cost of replacing. The paints applied to cabinets are also very durable and will last just as long as new cabinets in most cases.
Even though there are some drawbacks to white kitchen cabinets, they will never “go out of style.” The shapes of the doors or the layout of the kitchen may go out of style, but white in a kitchen will always look good.
Professional Kitchen Cabinet Painting Cost
The average cost to paint cabinets is $3 to $10 per square foot or $30 to $60 per linear foot for all materials and professional labor. Painting contractors typically charge $50 to $100 per door, $120 to $170 per cabinet, and $20 to $30 per drawer.
Under normal conditions, we fully expect our painted cabinets to last anywhere from 8-15 years without needing a fresh coat of paint.
On average, semi-gloss oil-based paint is the most durable finish for kitchen cabinets. Because of its sheen, semi-gloss paint can reflect light and remain durable for a long time.
So, to recap the answer to this question: You should always use a clear coat on painted cabinets unless you feel like doing a lot of repainting.
Average cost of painting kitchen cabinets professionally. The average cost of painting kitchen cabinets is $100 per drawer face and $175 per cabinet door. This usually averages out to a cost of $5,000 for a medium-sized kitchen. However, the cost commonly ranges from $3000 to $10,000.
To prolong the lifespan of your cabinet paint job, then, finish the job by sealing your cabinets with a transparent top-coat. These sealing options include varnishes composed of polyurethane, polycrylic, spar urethane, nitrocellulose, waterborne acrylic, and more.
In general, high-quality cabinets can last up to 50 years. This sounds like an incredibly long period of time, but cabinets are in fact one of the longest lasting components of your entire kitchen.
You don't have to remove the cabinet doors to repaint them, so leave them on their hinges if you're not going to replace them. However, it is easier to paint the cabinet's façade with the doors off. You can paint the hinges to match the cabinets or mask them with painter's tape to keep them as they are.
With proper care of professionally painted kitchen cabinets, you can expect your newly painted cabinets to last 8-10 years. However, there are a few things that can drastically shorten this timeframe, leaving you needing them repainted 3-4 years later.
On average, this trend alone can boost a home's value by $1,547. By painting your kitchen cabinets and then pairing them with some new hardware that dollar amount can increase significantly.
White, light, and bright have been the mantra for many home trends for the past few years and it isn't going anywhere soon. White kitchen cabinets continue to be extremely popular in 2022 and for years to come.