Your cabinet painting questions, answered

Kitchen cabinet painting in the Raleigh area typically ranges from $900 to $5,500, depending on the number of doors and drawers, cabinet material, project complexity, and finish chosen. Small kitchens (10–20 doors) generally fall in the $900–$1,800 range. Medium kitchens (21–35 doors) typically run $1,800–$3,200. Large kitchens with 36+ doors, islands, and pantries range from $3,200–$5,500. Bathroom vanity painting starts at $350 per vanity. Every project receives a free, written in-home estimate with a firm price.

Yes — always. Your written estimate is your final price. We never add fees once we're in your home. If we discover an unexpected issue during prep work (like heavily damaged wood that needs additional repair), we stop, explain the situation, and provide a written change order before proceeding. You're always in control of your budget.

Our estimate includes all prep work, cleaning, sanding, priming, painting, and reinstallation. Additional charges may apply for structural repairs beyond minor fills, specialty paint colors that require extra coats (some deep yellows, reds, and greens), new hardware if you choose to upgrade pulls or knobs, or a third topcoat on particularly high-traffic surfaces. These are always disclosed and agreed upon before any additional work begins.

We do not currently offer in-house financing. However, many of our clients use home equity lines of credit, credit cards with introductory APR periods, or personal loans to fund their cabinet transformation. We accept all major credit cards, check, ACH bank transfer, and Zelle.

Yes. When you combine a kitchen with one or more bathroom vanities, or when you book multiple bathrooms together, we offer a multi-room discount that varies based on scope. Ask your estimator about current multi-room pricing during your free consultation.

Most kitchen cabinet projects are completed in 2 to 3 days. Small kitchens (under 20 doors) are often done in 2 days. Large kitchens with islands and pantries may take 3 to 4 days. Bathroom vanity projects are typically completed in a single day. These timelines include all prep, painting, curing time, and reinstallation.

No. We use low-VOC, fast-drying professional enamels and set up ventilation fans throughout the project. While you'll want to minimize foot traffic through the kitchen area during active spraying, you can go about your normal routine throughout the project. The paint odor dissipates within a few hours after each session.

You'll have limited kitchen access during active work hours (typically 7am–5pm). We remove cabinet doors on Day 1, so the cabinet boxes are accessible but open. The kitchen is never completely out of commission — you can use your refrigerator, microwave, and basic kitchen items throughout the project. We recommend planning for simple meals or takeout during the project days.

We always remove all doors and drawer fronts and transport them to our off-site spray environment. This is the only way to achieve a true factory-smooth finish with zero brush marks or roller texture. Cabinet boxes are sprayed in place with careful masking. This is what separates professional-grade results from DIY or budget approaches.

Rain has no effect on our project timeline because we spray doors off-site in our climate-controlled environment. In-home work on cabinet boxes is also unaffected by weather since we're working indoors. The only weather-related delay that could occur is if severe storms affect our crew's ability to safely transport equipment, which is extremely rare.

We use professional-grade waterborne alkyd cabinet enamels — the same product category used by high-end furniture manufacturers. These differ significantly from standard wall paint: they cure to a harder, more durable film, resist chips and abrasion, clean up easily, and do not yellow over time. Our primary products include Benjamin Moore Advance, Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel, and Sherwin-Williams Cabinet Coat depending on the application. We do not use standard latex wall paint on cabinets.

We use a high-adhesion bonding primer specifically formulated for cabinetry. On wood cabinets, we use a stain-blocking primer to prevent tannins in the wood (especially oak and pine) from bleeding through and yellowing the topcoats — a common failure point in low-quality cabinet paint jobs. On thermofoil or laminate, we use a specialty adhesion primer that bonds to otherwise difficult surfaces. Proper primer is the single most important factor in finish longevity.

Because we spray all doors and drawer fronts off-site using HVLP spray equipment, the finish on those surfaces is completely smooth — no brush marks, no roller texture, no lap marks. Cabinet boxes are also sprayed in place using the same equipment. A properly executed spray finish is indistinguishable from a factory finish when done correctly.

We offer matte (flat), eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss sheens. For kitchens, we most commonly recommend satin — it provides a slight sheen that looks elegant, cleans easily, and hides minor surface imperfections. Semi-gloss is popular for a more traditional look and is slightly more durable. Matte finishes are available for clients who prefer a flat modern look. We provide samples to help you decide.

Yes, in most cases. If the existing paint is in good condition (well-adhered, no peeling, no cracking), we can properly prepare and paint over it. If the existing paint is failing (peeling, chipping, heavily built up), we will strip it back and start fresh — which we'll note in your estimate. Painting over a failing finish will simply perpetuate the problem.

With our process and professional-grade materials, you can expect your painted cabinets to look great for 8 to 15 years under normal use. Factors that affect longevity include how carefully cabinets are cleaned (use mild soap and water — never abrasive cleaners), whether young children are in the home, and the sheen level chosen. We back every project with a 3-year craftsmanship guarantee.

Not when done correctly. The most common causes of painted cabinet failure — peeling, chipping, or adhesion loss — are inadequate surface preparation, wrong primer, and low-quality paint. Our 8-step process addresses every one of these failure points. The professional-grade enamels we use cure to a significantly harder film than standard latex wall paint, providing substantially better chip and scratch resistance.

This is a very common concern, especially with oak cabinets. Yellowing can occur for two reasons: tannin bleed-through from the wood, or the use of oil-based paint that naturally yellows in low-light areas. We address both issues: we use stain-blocking primers to seal wood tannins, and we use waterborne alkyd enamels (not traditional oil-based paint) that do not yellow. You can expect your white cabinets to remain bright white.

For day-to-day cleaning, wipe cabinets with a soft damp cloth. For grease and food residue, use a mild dish soap diluted in water and a soft non-abrasive cloth. Rinse with a clean damp cloth and dry immediately. Avoid: abrasive scrubbers, Magic Erasers, bleach-based cleaners, ammonia-based products, and harsh degreasers. These can dull or damage even the highest-quality cabinet paint over time.

Yes. Our 3-year craftsmanship guarantee transfers to the new homeowner if you sell your home during the guarantee period. This can be a selling point when listing your property. Contact us with the new owner's information after closing and we'll update our records.

Yes, with the appropriate preparation and primer. Thermofoil and laminate require a specialty adhesion primer and careful surface prep, but they can absolutely be painted successfully. One important note: if your thermofoil is already peeling from the substrate, painting over it will not fix the underlying issue and is not something we recommend. We assess thermofoil condition during your free estimate.

Yes. Stained wood cabinets are one of our most common starting points. We clean, sand, prime with a stain-blocking bonding primer, and then apply the paint topcoats. This process successfully converts stained wood (including honey oak, cherry, maple, and walnut-stained cabinets) into beautifully painted surfaces. The grain texture will show through the paint in most cases — which many clients actually prefer.

We assess structural condition during your free estimate. Minor issues — small areas of delaminating veneer, soft wood from past moisture, or isolated water stains — can often be addressed as part of our prep process. More extensive structural damage may require a carpenter before we can proceed. We'll be upfront about this assessment and can refer trusted local carpenters if needed.

Yes, and this is actually one of our most common restoration scenarios. Failed DIY paint jobs, low-quality painter work, or old latex-over-oil paint jobs that are peeling are all situations we encounter regularly. We strip the failing finish, properly prepare the surface, and apply a durable new finish. The cost is typically similar to a standard repaint, though heavily built-up paint may require additional prep time.

We specialize exclusively in cabinet and furniture-grade finishes. We regularly paint kitchen islands, built-in bookcases, entertainment centers, hutches, bathroom vanities, laundry room cabinets, and mud room cubbies using the same process and materials as our cabinet work. If it's a painted wood or MDF surface, we can likely help.

The easiest way is to submit our online estimate request form at cabinetista.com/estimate or call us directly at (919) 755-0000. We schedule in-home estimate visits Monday through Saturday during business hours. The visit typically takes 30–45 minutes and you receive a written estimate the same day.

Our schedule typically runs 2–4 weeks out during peak season (spring and summer). Fall and winter bookings are often available within 1–2 weeks. We recommend contacting us as soon as you're considering the project — even if you're not ready to book immediately, getting on our schedule early ensures you get your preferred start date.

Very little is required on your end. We handle all masking, surface protection, and setup. We ask that you clear the items off your countertops, remove dishes from open shelving, and provide clear access to the kitchen area. If you have a pet that gets anxious around strangers or loud equipment, arranging for them to be elsewhere during project days is appreciated.

No. We bring color samples to the estimate so we can look at options together in your actual kitchen lighting, alongside your existing countertops and flooring. You don't need to commit to a color until you feel confident in your choice. If you have a color in mind, we'll pull samples of it and anything similar so you can compare.

We conduct a final walkthrough with you before we consider any project complete. If anything isn't right, we address it immediately. After project completion, our 3-year guarantee covers any finish failure under normal use — we return at no cost and make it right. In over 500 projects, we have a nearly perfect satisfaction record. Your happiness is genuinely our priority.