If you like the unique characteristics of your wooden cabinets, staining may be the better option for you. It has a lighter consistency than paint and will not conceal the characteristics and texture of your cabinets. Stain will seep into the surface of your cabinets to enhance the natural beauty of the wood.
Reface your cabinets if:
You want a quick fix with a better quality finish than repainting can offer. You want to stain them a different color instead of paint them. You don't want to replace the countertop.
Paint is typically selected by homeowners who want a more modern, contemporary look. Stain is a go-to option for those looking for a more traditional or transitional look. Stain shows more dust but hides more dirt and is easier to clean.
Always choose Satin, Semi-Gloss or High-Gloss instead of Flat or Eggshell paint sheens for cabinetry and woodwork. These three sheen options are available in Benjamin Moore ADVANCE Interior Paint; this high quality paint is our top choice for its furniture-like, smooth finish.
Oil paint is the hardest, most durable paint to use for painting cabinets. It takes longer to dry and is harder to clean up, but when applied right and allowed to cure, the result is a finish that can hold up scratches and hard use for years.
The most durable kitchen cabinet finish is a catalyzed conversion varnish. This is the most durable finish available for wood. It's chemical and moisture resistant, making it easy to clean. It's also more flexible.
Solid Wood Cabinets
Solid natural wood cabinets are the gold standard when it comes to strength and longevity.
With proper care of professionally painted kitchen cabinets, you can expect your newly painted cabinets to last 8-10 years! While new cabinets will last you much longer, they will also cost thousands more, which can be an unnecessary expense in some cases.
Kitchen walls and especially kitchen cabinets require a paint finish that's tough, easy to wipe down, and attractive. Satin and eggshell paint finishes work well for kitchen walls, while semi-gloss proves best for kitchen cabinets.
The Cons Of Painting Kitchen Cabinets
They'll either stand out more or make the paint crack more quickly. Painting is also not very DIY-friendly. It's a lengthy and complicated process. While dust hides on paint well, dirt and other materials don't.
For an extra smooth and professional-looking finish, many paint experts recommend spray painting kitchen cabinets. This method can be easier than working with a paintbrush and roller, but it takes some time and practice to really get the hang of it.
Painted cabinets typically cost more than stained cabinets. By how much? It depends on the colour, but you can expect painted cabinets to cost roughly 10-15% more than stained cabinets. Take a paint-grade wood like birch, for instance.
It has been found that on average, painting your kitchen cabinets and then pairing them with new hardware can significantly increase the value of your home by as much as an additional $2,000. What Color Cabinets Have The Best Resale Value?
Cabinet Refacing Cost by Linear Foot
That large price range accounts for different materials and the cost of labor in your area. Note that labor can make up roughly 60% of your overall cabinet refacing cost, so you might only spend $36 to $200 per linear foot on materials if tackling the job on your own.
Whether you go with professional painters or tackle it as a DIY project, you'll save significant money by painting your existing cabinets instead of replacing them entirely.
Cabinets made from oak—also an open-grain—should never be painted. Once painted, the open grain of oak will give your cabinets an orange peel appearance and feel to them. Hard maple cabinets are another one to avoid painting as they change with the humidity and cooking can wreak havoc on these cabinets.
If you take good care of your newly painted kitchen cabinets and have them professionally painted, you can expect them to last between 8 and 10 years. Although new cabinets will last much longer, they will also cost you several thousand dollars more, which may not be necessary for certain circumstances.
A lot of that money goes towards paying workers comp, insurance, and other overhead costs. It usually take a professional 1.5 hours to strip the old paint, sand, prime, and paint two top coats of paint per cabinet door. At $90 per hour, that amounts to $135 labor cost for each cabinet door.
If you want to protect your cabinets and extend their lifespan, sealing them is recommended. However, if you prefer the look and feel of unsealed cabinets, it's not necessary.
Refacing cabinets is a more affordable option than replacing them all together. However, painting can be done for less than both of these options and it gives your cabinets better durability with an updated look. Let's see how it's done and then talk about price. Note: Premier Cabinet Painting does not reface cabinets.
For instance, cabinets refaced using high-quality wood veneers or laminate materials may last up to 20 years or more. However, if cheaper materials are used, such as particleboard or low-quality veneers, your refaced cabinets may begin to deteriorate much sooner.
Arguably, the most timeless kitchen cabinet color is white. Bright white cabinets suit a variety of beautiful kitchens, including modern, contemporary, and farmhouse styles. Brilliant whites work to give kitchens a light and airy feel, and off-white options, like the White Dove shade, provides warmth.
White. Few paint colors stand the test of time quite like white. "Honestly, the only color in my opinion that will never go out of style—in the sense that you can never really pinpoint when it was done—is white cabinets," says Shaolin Low, principal and founder of Studio Shaolin.
Bright white, off-white, soft white and cream will always be a popular choice for kitchen cabinets of every style, from ultra-modern to country cottages. The beauty of these laid-back neutrals is that they can be given a bespoke look with different worktop materials, brassware and wall colors.