Painting Costs
Cabinet Painting Cost in Massachusetts
· 5 min read
Refinishing an average kitchen usually runs about $2,000 to $6,000 depending on door count, whether the boxes are included, and whether we spray on site or off site. A full replacement of the same kitchen is typically several times that.
The reason refinishing works at all is that most South Shore kitchens have solid boxes and doors under a dated finish. You are paying for a new surface, not new carpentry.
What the price is built from
- Number of doors and drawer fronts — the real unit of measure
- Whether cabinet boxes and interiors are included
- Wood species and grain: oak needs grain filling for a smooth look
- Existing finish: heavy grease, old poly or factory thermofoil each change the prep
- Spray setup on site versus off-site spraying and reinstall
- Two-tone work, glass doors, or new hardware holes
- Any door or hinge repairs before finishing
The prep that makes a cabinet finish last
Cabinet doors take more abuse than any wall in the house, and kitchen grease is the number one reason paint peels off doors near a range. Degreasing is not an optional step.
- Label and remove every door, drawer front and hinge
- Degrease, rinse and dry all surfaces
- Sand to break the old sheen and level rough grain
- Fill dings, caulk gaps, dust and tack off
- Mask the kitchen, counters and floors completely
- Bonding primer, then sprayed coats of catalyzed enamel
Refinish or replace
Refinishing makes sense when the boxes are square, doors close properly and the layout still works. Replace when there is water damage, particleboard swelling, or you are changing the footprint of the kitchen.
What the week looks like
Cabinet work is a multi-day process because primer and each enamel coat need real cure time. We stage it so you keep use of the kitchen for as much of the week as possible, and the job ends with a walkthrough door by door.