Painting Kitchen Cabinets vs. Replacing Them in Lewisville

A lot of kitchens in Lewisville, Flower Mound, and Carrollton were built in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. Many still have their original oak or orange-toned cabinets. The countertops may have been updated, but the cabinets make the whole room feel dated.

You have two main choices: paint them or replace them. Here is how to decide.

What each option costs

Prices vary with the size of your kitchen, but here is a general picture for this area:

• Painting cabinets: often a few thousand dollars for a typical kitchen. See our kitchen cabinet painting page for our typical range.
• New cabinets: often several times that, once you add removal, installation, and new countertops that may not fit the new boxes.

For most homeowners, painting is a fraction of the cost of replacing.

How long each one takes

Painting usually takes about a week for a typical kitchen. The doors come off for prep and finishing, and your kitchen stays usable for most of that time.

Replacing can take weeks. Cabinets often have to be ordered, the old ones torn out, and plumbing and countertops redone. Many families end up without a working kitchen for part of that time.

When painting is the right choice

Painting makes sense when:

• The cabinet boxes are solid. Most builder cabinets from this era are sturdy wood or plywood.
• You like the layout. Paint changes the look, not where things are.
• The doors are in good shape. Small dings can be filled. Warped or water-swollen doors may need replacing.
• You want a big change on a budget. Going from oak to white, gray, or navy changes the whole room.

When replacing makes more sense

Replacing is worth it when:

• The boxes are water damaged or falling apart
• You want to change the layout, add an island, or move appliances
• The cabinets are a thin laminate that paint will not stick to well

Why cabinet paint fails, and how to avoid it

Cabinets get touched, bumped, and splashed every day. A wall paint job will not last on them. The most common reasons cabinet paint chips or peels:

1. Grease left on the surface. Kitchen cabinets carry a film of cooking grease. Paint will not stick to it. We degrease every surface first.
2. No sanding. Old finishes are slick. We scuff-sand so the primer has something to grip.
3. The wrong primer. We use a bonding primer made for slick surfaces.
4. Wall paint instead of cabinet paint. We use a cabinet-grade finish that cures hard.
5. Rushing. Doors need time to cure before they go back up. Rushing leaves soft paint that sticks and chips.

Popular color choices right now

• White and off-white: Bright, clean, and works with almost any countertop.
• Two-tone: Light uppers with a dark island in navy, green, or charcoal.
• Greige and soft gray: A safe pick if you plan to sell soon.
• Deep green or blue: A bold choice that works well with brass hardware.

Pair it with other updates

Painting cabinets is a great time to handle other projects. Many of our customers also remove old wallpaper in the kitchen or breakfast nook, or repaint the walls to go with the new cabinet color.

Get a free cabinet painting estimate

We paint kitchen cabinets in Lewisville, Carrollton, and Flower Mound. Call or text (469) 364-2456 with a few photos of your kitchen, or request a free estimate online.