I recently interviewed a painting contractor with over 15 years of experience. He specializes in the intricate art of refinishing kitchen cabinets and gave us insights into why it is better to hire a professional rather than attempt a DIY job. Take a look at our conversation!

PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOUR COMPANY.  HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WORKING IN THIS PROFESSION?

I am Matt "Duck" Schmohl and have been a professional painting contractor and refinisher. At Just Add Paint, we specialize in residential and commercial painting services in the South Central Pennsylvania area. We've been providing top-notch painting and refinishing services for over 15 years. Thanks to our expertise and experience, you can be sure that you'll always get high-quality workmanship along with excellent customer service. We recently expanded our cabinet refinishing options, so now there are even more ways to take advantage of our skillset!

WHY SHOULD SOMEONE REFINISH THEIR CABINETS VERSUS REPLACE THEM?

When it comes to upgrading the kitchen without having to tear everything out, refinishing is the most cost-effective solution. Buying brand new cabinets and having contractors come in can be expensive and time-consuming - but if your old cabinets are in good shape, there's no reason why they can't look like new again. Refinishing gives you a "factory finish" appearance while saving you money compared to buying custom cabinetry. We may even replace select doors or drawers as needed for extra detail. In short, if you want both a budget-friendly choice and one with value-added, refinishing your cabinets is a smart move.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CABINET REFINISHING KITS AT BIG BOX HARDWARE STORES OPPOSED TO HIRING PROFESSIONALS?

Well, to be honest, it’s a big difference. Professional cabinet refinishing is a skill that takes a lot of practice, trial, and error. Preparing the substrate properly, using the right coatings, knowing the right procedure, and having the right tools and the workspace has everything to do with the difference between professional results and a DIY nightmare. So as far as those “all-in-one refinishing kits” at the big box store, I’d say avoid these at all costs, because they will likely end up costing you more than you bargained for.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS LIKE FROM THE MOMENT YOU STEP INTO A HOME TO THE MOMENT YOU PACK UP AND LEAVE?

The cabinet refinishing process typically requires one week, although depending on kitchen size, the timeline may vary.

Day 1: On the scheduled day of arrival, our team will greet the homeowner (and hope they have a dog because we love doggos!) and begin unloading tools and supplies. Protecting countertops is vital for a quality job, thus masking those parts first. We then move to removing cabinet doors and drawers, making sure to label all components before removal for an organized reinstallation from start to finish.

While some of the crew does that, the others continue masking to protect all the surfaces that aren’t getting sprayed. Once all the doors and drawers are out, we mask the inside of the cabinet box frames and load the doors out to be taken to our shop where they’ll be prepped and painted.

Day 2 - 3: While the magic is happening in the shop, the in-house portion continues. After everything is masked (including appliances) we clean and sand all the surfaces to be painted. Then we’ll plastic off the whole kitchen with Zip poles and essentially make a giant spray booth with high cfm fans and air scrubbers, which extract the overspray while cleaning and redistributing the air inside.

Day 4 - 5: Now it is spray time. While the doors and drawer fronts get sprayed in the shop, I start my spraying process. I usually spray the primer the first day and then do two coats of the topcoat the next day. Sometimes, the client chooses two different colors so that makes for a busy day when it comes to spraying. After all the doors, drawer fronts, and cabinet boxes in-house are finished, we tear down the booth and masking, and get ready for installation. This is usually around day four or five.

Day 5 - 6: Then it’s install day. We package up the refinished doors/drawers, take them back to the house, and reinstall them. We usually end up changing out the hardware to give it a nice update as well!

And … Voila! New Kitchen.

WHAT DOES HAVING CABINETS REFINISHED DO FOR A HOME’S VALUE?

Opting for professional kitchen cabinet refinishing instead of replacing is the best choice for saving money and increasing the value of your home. We have access to coatings that you would find at a factory, allowing you to achieve a high-quality, durable finish without shelling out thousands of dollars. Refinishing is an especially cost-effective option; not only will you save money, but it also has the potential to add value to your home. Win-win!

WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU WANT CLIENTS TO KNOW ABOUT THE REFINISHING PROCESS THAT THEY MAY NOT ANTICIPATE?

We know that our refinishing process is less invasive than a full kitchen remodel; however, it still means that contractors will be taking over your kitchen for a week or more. To reduce disruption, we always strive to give notice several weeks prior to starting the job and require that everything—and we mean ALL items—must be removed from cabinets, countertops, and any other areas where work will be performed. We assure you that though you might get tired of seeing us by day three, the results will speak for themselves and make it all worth it. So please be patient!

Duck and the crew at Just Add Paint take pride in their work, sharing their wealth of knowledge whenever they can!  Looking for more information?  Here are more posts from the Just Add Paint crew!

How Much Does It Cost To Paint Kitchen Cabinets

Are my Kitchen Cabinets at risk for Delamination?

Painted Cabinets vs. Replacement Cabinet Doors: Is Door Replacement Right For Me?