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Cabinet painting & refinishing
Cabinet painting & refinishing in New Hampshire
A renewed finish for kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and built-ins, prepared and applied with care. Same kitchen, new look, handled by JT Paint since 2017.
What is included
What does cabinet painting and refinishing involve?
Cabinet refinishing is a way to renew the look of a kitchen or bathroom without replacing the cabinets themselves. The boxes, doors and drawer fronts stay. The finish changes.
Cabinets are one of the hardest-working surfaces in a house. They get touched, wiped, splashed and opened every day, so the finish has to be put on right. That means the work is mostly preparation, and the paint is the last part.
- Kitchen cabinets, doors and drawer fronts
- Bathroom vanities and built-in cabinetry
- Cleaning and degreasing
- Sanding, repairs and priming
- Spray application for a smooth finish
- Staining and wood finishing where wood stays wood
Step by step
How does a cabinet painting project run?
Preparation first, finish last. The same standard as every JT Paint job: show up when expected, communicate clearly, protect the property and finish with attention to the details.
Look at the cabinets
Material, current finish, condition and the look you want. Painted or stained, new color or the same one, we talk through it.
Protect and clean
Floors, counters and appliances are protected. The cabinets are cleaned and degreased, because kitchen surfaces carry cooking residue that paint will not stick to.
Sand, repair and prime
The old finish is sanded, nicks and dings are repaired and a primer goes on so the new finish has something solid to hold on to.
Finish and check the details
The finish is applied by spray or brush, then edges, corners and the details people see up close get checked.
Choosing a route
Should cabinets be painted, stained or replaced?
It depends on the cabinets you have and the result you want. If the layout works and the construction is sound, a new finish often covers what you are after. If the boxes are damaged or the layout does not work, replacement may be the better answer.
We will tell you honestly which route fits what we see. The table below is general guidance to help you think it through.
| Option | Best when | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Paint | You want a new color and the cabinets are sound | Covers the wood grain, needs careful preparation |
| Stain and finish | You like the wood and want to keep the grain | Color range depends on the wood and the current finish |
| Replace | Boxes are damaged or the layout must change | More disruption and a bigger project |
Why preparation decides the result
Why do cabinets need so much preparation before paint?
Grease and kitchen residue build up on cabinets even when they look clean. Paint applied over that film tends to fail, so cabinets are degreased and cleaned first. After that, sanding gives the surface enough grip for primer to bond, and primer gives the paint a stable base.
Skipping any of those steps is where most cabinet paint jobs go wrong, usually showing up later as chipping near handles and edges. A good finish is mostly about what happens before the paint can is opened.
Finish choice matters too. Cabinets take more wear than walls, so the product and sheen are part of the estimate conversation, along with how the kitchen is used.
Planning
What affects the scope of a cabinet project?
A short list of questions gets the estimate conversation moving:
- How many doors, drawer fronts and cabinet boxes are involved
- The material: wood, laminate or a previous painted finish
- The current condition and how much repair is needed
- Painted or stained, and the color or tone you have in mind
- Whether the cabinets are in use during the work
- Other rooms or surfaces you want done at the same time
Photos of the kitchen and the cabinets up close help us understand the project before we talk.
FAQ
Cabinet painting questions
Do you refinish cabinets as well as paint them?
Yes. Cabinet painting and refinishing are both part of our work, along with staining and wood finishing when you want to keep the wood visible.
Can you spray cabinets?
Yes. Spray applications are one of our services. Spray can give a smooth finish on doors and drawer fronts, and we choose the method that fits the cabinet.
Do you repair damaged cabinet surfaces first?
Repairs and preparation are part of how we work, the same as drywall repairs on walls. We tell you what we see when we look at the cabinets.
Can the rest of the kitchen be painted too?
Yes. Walls, ceilings and trim are covered under interior painting. Mention everything you want done when you request an estimate.
Page updated October 11, 2026.