Kitchen Cabinet Painting in Philadelphia
We spray a smooth, durable finish onto the cabinets you already have. It's the fastest, lowest-cost way to update a kitchen without a remodel.
Every cabinet painting project includes
- Labeling and removal of all doors, drawer fronts, and hinges
- Full masking and plastic protection for countertops, floors, and appliances
- Degreasing with a cabinet-specific cleaner (kitchen grease is the #1 cause of paint failure)
- Scuff sanding, filling dents and gouges, and caulking open seams
- A bonding primer matched to your cabinet material
- Two topcoats of cabinet-grade urethane enamel, sprayed on
- Reinstallation, hinge adjustment, and installation of your old or new hardware
- Daily cleanup and a final walkthrough with you
The products we use
We use professional cabinet coatings that cure to a hard, furniture-like finish:
- Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel
- Benjamin Moore ADVANCE / Scuff-X
- Shellac or high-adhesion bonding primers for slick or stained surfaces
Choose any Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore color in satin, semi-gloss, or matte.
What cabinets can be painted?
Solid wood
Oak, maple, cherry, and hickory are ideal. On oak, we can fill the grain for a smooth modern look.
MDF
Paints beautifully once we seal the edges and check for swelling around the sink.
Laminate
Paintable with the right sanding and bonding primer, as long as the laminate is firmly attached.
Thermofoil
We assess it first. If the foil is peeling, we remove it and refinish the MDF underneath, or recommend refacing instead.
Bathroom vanities, built-ins & laundry cabinets
We use the same prep and sprayed finish on bathroom vanities, wet bars, laundry room cabinets, mudroom lockers, and built-in bookcases. Smaller projects can often be finished in 1–2 days and are easy to add to a kitchen job.
Popular colors right now
- Warm whites: SW Alabaster, BM White Dove
- Greige: SW Accessible Beige, BM Revere Pewter
- Navy: BM Hale Navy, SW Naval
- Greens: SW Pewter Green, BM Saybrook Sage
- Black: SW Tricorn Black (great for islands)
Painting vs. refacing vs. new cabinets
| Painting | Refacing | Replacing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | $3,500–$8,500 | $8,000–$18,000 | $15,000–$40,000+ |
| Timeline | About 5 days | 1–2 weeks | 4–10 weeks |
| Changes door style? | No | Yes | Yes |
| Countertops disturbed? | No | No | Usually |
| Best when | You like the door style and the boxes are solid | The boxes are solid but you want a new door style | The layout or the boxes need to change |
These are typical Greater Philadelphia ranges. See our cabinet painting cost guide for details, or learn about refacing.
Cabinet painting questions
Do you brush or spray the cabinets?
We spray. Doors and drawer fronts are sprayed in our shop, and frames are sprayed on-site under full masking, which gives a smooth, factory-like finish with no brush marks.
Do you paint the inside of the cabinets?
Interiors aren't included by default because most are already finished. We can paint them for an extra charge, and the inside of glass-front cabinets is always included.
How long until I can use my kitchen normally?
You can use your kitchen most evenings during the project. After reinstallation, cabinets can be used right away. The paint reaches full hardness in about 2–3 weeks, so wipe gently during that time.
Ready for a kitchen that looks brand new?
Text 3–4 photos of your cabinets and get a written quote, usually the same day.