FREE KITCHEN CABINET
PAINTING QUOTE

On-site brushed: Cheapest method. Slight brush texture visible on close look. Best for budget refreshes and rental properties. Uses premium self-leveling paints like Benjamin Moore Advance to minimize brush marks.

On-site sprayed: Smooth finish, no brush marks. Heavy masking of entire kitchen (3–4 days inaccessible). Painter uses HVLP spray system. Good balance of cost and finish quality.

Factory in-shop spray: Doors and drawers removed and sprayed in a dust-controlled shop with professional spray booths. Uses conversion varnish or pre-cat lacquer that cures glass-hard. You keep using your kitchen during the build with bare boxes. Best durability and finish — looks like a brand new factory kitchen.

Laminate / melamine: Yes, but requires bonding primer (XIM, Stix, or BIN) to ensure paint adheres to the smooth plastic surface. Adds 20–25% to cost. With proper prep, the finish holds up well for 7–10 years.

Thermofoil (PVC-wrapped MDF): Riskier. The plastic skin can peel over time, and paint can't fix that. If thermofoil is peeling, painting won't help — you need replacement doors. If it's intact, paint can be applied with specialty primer but most painters won't warranty the finish. Adds 35–45% to cost.

Best practice: get a painter to inspect on-site before committing. They can identify thermofoil and explain risks before you sign.

On-site brushed (20–30 doors): 5–7 days. Kitchen partially usable.
On-site sprayed (20–30 doors): 4–6 days. Kitchen completely sealed off with plastic — no cooking, no access to fridge or sink while spraying happens. Plan ahead.
Factory in-shop (20–30 doors): 7–10 days total. Doors removed on day 1, returned and installed day 7–10. Your kitchen stays fully usable with bare-box cabinets. Best for families who can't lose kitchen access.

Large kitchens (40+ doors) typically add 2–4 days to any method.

Cabinet paint durability depends heavily on the paint product used:

Latex enamel (builder grade): 5–7 years before visible wear on high-use doors.
Benjamin Moore Advance / SW ProClassic: 10–12 years with normal use.
Conversion varnish / pre-catalyzed lacquer (in-shop): 15–25 years. Glass-hard surface, resists scratches, dings, and grease.

Premium tier paint costs ~30% more in materials but typically lasts 2–3× longer. For most homeowners, it's the better long-term value.

Paint makes sense when: Cabinet boxes are solid, layout works for you, doors/drawers are structurally good. Painting costs $3K–$13K vs $25K–$60K to replace.

Replace instead when: You hate the layout (no painting fixes that), cabinets are sagging or water-damaged, you want soft-close hinges/drawers throughout, you have thermofoil that's peeling, or you want to change cabinet heights/configurations.

A middle option: paint existing cabinets + add new hardware + replace just the doors and drawer fronts (keep the boxes). Costs 40–50% of full replacement.

Painting is the perfect time to swap hardware. Common upgrades:

• Pull handles instead of knobs: looks more modern, easier to grip
• Black, brass, or brushed nickel: matches current GTA design trends
• Soft-close hinges: can be added if your cabinets accept them
• Magnetic catches: for doors without hinges that slam shut

Hardware cost: $4–$20 per piece for budget, $20–$60 per piece for designer brands. Labour to swap: typically included in the painting quote since handles come off for painting anyway. Just count the same units as doors+drawers.

If you're keeping the same hardware, the painter will re-install in the same holes. If you're changing pull centres (e.g., 3" knob → 5" pull), holes need to be filled and re-drilled — adds ~$200–$500.

Top-performing GTA cabinet colours for 2025-26 (high resale value + on-trend):

White cabinets: Benjamin Moore Simply White, White Dove, Chantilly Lace. Classic, brightens kitchens, always sells well.
Off-white & cream: BM White Sand, Swiss Coffee. Warmer than pure white.
Soft grey: BM Classic Gray, Revere Pewter. Modern but warm.
Two-tone navy + white: BM Hale Navy + Simply White on uppers. Top-selling combo in Vaughan, Markham, Oakville.
Sage + cream: Trending in modern farmhouse builds.
Black accent (island): Adds high-end designer feel without committing the whole kitchen.

Avoid: pure red, bright yellow, very dark brown — hurt resale value.