Cabinet Painting vs. Cabinet Replacement: Which Is Right for Your London Kitchen?
Your kitchen cabinets still open and close fine, but the colour is dated, the finish is worn around the handles, and the whole room feels older than it should. You have three ways to fix it: paint the cabinets, reface them, or tear them out and start over.
The price gap between those options is big. Professional cabinet painting usually costs a fraction of new cabinets, and the kitchen is back in use within days instead of weeks. Painting isn't the right answer for every kitchen, though.
Forest City Painters has been painting homes in London and the surrounding area since 1999. Here's a straight comparison of the three options, what you get with each, and how to tell which one fits your kitchen.
What professional kitchen cabinet painting involves
A good cabinet paint job is mostly prep. Kitchen cabinets carry years of cooking grease and hand oils, and paint won't stay on that for long. A proper job looks like this:
- Remove and label. Doors, drawer fronts and hardware come off and get labelled so everything goes back in the same spot.
- Degrease. Every surface gets cleaned thoroughly, especially near the stove and around the handles.
- Sand and repair. Surfaces are lightly sanded or deglossed so the primer can grip, and dents and gouges are filled.
- Prime. A bonding primer goes on first. It's essential on laminate or thermofoil, which will peel without it.
- Spray the finish. Two topcoats of hard-wearing cabinet enamel. Spraying costs more than brushing, but it leaves a smooth, factory-like finish with no brush marks.
- Cure and reinstall. The finish needs time to harden before the doors are rehung and the hinges adjusted.
Most of the price is labour, so a very cheap quote usually means prep is being skipped. Ask any painter which of these steps their price covers, and whether the cabinet frames and the insides of the boxes are included.
Cabinet painting vs. refacing vs. new cabinets
Painting, sometimes called refinishing, is the least expensive of the three and the quickest. Here's how they compare:
| Option | What changes | Relative cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Painting | Colour and finish | Lowest | Solid cabinets in a layout you like |
| Refacing | New doors, drawer fronts and side panels on your existing boxes | Middle | Solid boxes, but you want a different door style |
| New cabinets | Everything, including the layout | Highest | Damaged boxes or a new layout |
New cabinets also bring other trades into the project. Demolition, new countertops, and plumbing or electrical changes are usually separate jobs on top of the cabinets. Painting leaves your countertops, backsplash and plumbing where they are.
When painting is the smart choice
Painting makes sense when the cabinets themselves are sound and it's only the look you're tired of. It's likely a good fit if:
- The boxes are solid, with no water damage, swelling or sagging shelves.
- The doors close flat and line up properly.
- You like your layout and how the kitchen works day to day.
- Your countertops are in good shape and you don't plan to replace them.
- You're getting ready to sell and want the kitchen to show better without a renovation.
Wood, MDF, laminate and thermofoil in good condition can all be painted. We've taken London kitchens from dated oak and honey-maple to clean whites, soft greys and bold modern tones.
When replacement is the better call
Paint changes how cabinets look, not how they're built. New cabinets are worth the money if:
- There's water damage, rot or swelling, usually around the sink or dishwasher, or particleboard that's coming apart.
- Several doors are warped. That often points to problems with the boxes themselves.
- Laminate or thermofoil is already peeling or bubbling. Paint won't hold on it, even with a bonding primer.
- You want a different layout, more storage or an island, or you're moving walls.
- You're already planning a full renovation with new countertops, flooring and appliances.
If the boxes are fine but you dislike the door style, refacing is a middle ground: new doors and drawer fronts on the cabinets you already have.
Why winter is a good time to paint cabinets
Cabinet painting is indoor work, so the cold doesn't stop it. Late fall and winter are a smart time to get it done:
- Once exterior painting season wraps up, painting companies tend to have more open dates than in spring and summer.
- Cabinet shops get busy too. Good ones are often booked three to four months out by spring, so if you're weighing new cabinets, winter is the time to get quotes on both.
- Your kitchen is finished well before spring, whether you're hosting or getting ready to list.
Common questions
How long does a painted cabinet finish last?
With proper prep and a professional finish, about 8 to 10 years. DIY jobs tend to last 3 to 5 years.
How long will my kitchen be out of commission?
Most kitchens take three to five days from prep to reinstalling the doors, and a large kitchen can run closer to a week. The finish keeps hardening for a few weeks after that, so go easy on the doors and skip harsh cleaners at first.
Can you paint laminate or thermofoil cabinets?
Yes, if they're in good condition. They need a bonding primer, or the paint can peel within months. If the surface is already peeling or bubbling, paint won't hold, and refacing or replacement is the better route.
Will the wood grain show through?
On oak and other open-grain woods, yes, unless the grain is filled first. Some people like that texture. If you want a perfectly smooth, modern look, ask about grain filling when you get your quote.
Not sure which way to go?
Before you price out a new kitchen, have a painter look at the cabinets you already have. Forest City Painters will tell you honestly whether yours are good candidates for paint and what the job would cost.
We work across London, Byron, Lambeth, Komoka, Dorchester, St. Thomas, Strathroy and the surrounding area. Request a free, no-obligation estimate, call (519) 951-0222 or email info@forestcitypainters.ca.