Painting cabinets is the process of applying paint on to your cabinets. This will effectively work, but typically will not last long before repainting is required, and multiple paintings of cabinets will result in loss of detail in your cabinets and leave a clumpy undesired look and feel. Ultimately resulting in replacing the cabinetry.

Refinishing cabinets is the process of breaking down and restoring the cabinetry to a state where new coatings can be applied that revive the cabinetry to its original look and feel when it was brand new. This process requires meticulous sanding, patching, and repairing the cabinetry prior to applying multiple coats of specialized primers and colored top coatings. Kitchen cabinets require industrial grade coatings that can't be purchased at big box home improvement stores. These coatings require specific spray equipment and application procedures.

Timeframe depends on the scope and size of a given project. Projects can vary between 3 to 10 days. A large percentage of most projects is done offsite by refinishing cabinet doors and drawer fronts at our refinishing studio which can take 2-5 days. On-site refinishing of cabinet frames and trim ranges from 3-5 days.

A typical kitchen cabinet project schedule example

Day 1 Monday 1-3hrs on-site: Removing cabinet doors and drawer fronts and transporting the to refinishing studio

Day 2-5 Tuesday-Friday off-site: Sanding, repairing, priming multiple coats, top coat final color multiple coats

Day 6 Monday on-site: Masking off all unpainted surfaces and protecting entire site with protective plastic and paper as well as ventilation and dust containment walls to minimize any dust or fumes from exiting project area

Day 7 Tuesday on site: continue masking cabinet openings and repair and patch all items to be painted

Day 8 Wednesday on site: first Primer coat followed by spot patching and sanding and second primer coat as needed

Day 9 Thursday on site: Multiple top coats applied with sanding between coats as needed

Day 10 Friday on site: Install and tune up doors and drawer fronts and any touch ups as needed

The real difference between refinishing (or painting) and refacing your cabinets is relatively straight forward. Refinishing (or painting) your cabinets gives your existing cabinetry a fresh new look and color, whereas refacing your cabinets is when you replace the doors and drawer fronts entirely.

We serve the greater Jacksonville areas including: Jacksonville Beaches, St. Johns County, Ponte Vedra, Orange Park, Avondale, Downtown, St. Augustine