Cabinet Painting vs. Replacement: What London Homeowners Should Know
A dated kitchen is one of the most common reasons London homeowners call us — and one of the biggest decisions is whether to repaint the existing cabinets or tear them out and replace them. Both can give you a fresh kitchen, but they are very different projects in cost, time, and disruption.
Here is a straightforward comparison to help you decide.
Cost: painting is a fraction of replacement
New custom cabinetry is one of the most expensive parts of a kitchen renovation, often running into the tens of thousands of dollars once you include the boxes, doors, hardware, and installation. Refinishing the cabinets you already have costs a small fraction of that.
If your cabinet boxes are structurally sound and you like the layout, painting delivers most of the visual transformation for a fraction of the price.
When replacement makes more sense
Painting is the right call when the cabinets are solid but dated. Replacement makes more sense when the boxes themselves are failing — water damage, delaminating particleboard, broken frames — or when you want to change the kitchen layout, add cabinets, or move plumbing and appliances.
A good painter will tell you honestly if your cabinets are not good candidates for refinishing rather than selling you a job that won't hold up.
Disruption and timeline
A full kitchen replacement can leave you without a functional kitchen for weeks. Cabinet painting is far less disruptive — a typical kitchen is finished in about three to five days, with the kitchen usable for much of the project.
The process matters, though: proper cabinet painting means removing doors and hardware, thorough degreasing, sanding, adhesion priming, and a smooth sprayed topcoat. That is what makes a painted finish durable and washable rather than something that chips within a year.
The bottom line for London homeowners
If you like your kitchen's footprint and the cabinets are in good shape, painting is almost always the smarter investment — dramatically cheaper, faster, and cleaner, with results that look brand new. If the cabinets are failing or you want a new layout, budget for replacement.
Not sure which camp you're in? Forest City Painters has refinished kitchens across London since 1999. Request a free estimate and we'll give you an honest assessment of whether painting is right for your cabinets.