Should I Paint my Cherry Cabinets?
Since your hear we are assuming you have solid cherry cabinets. I will further assume you are not happy with the look and feel of your kitchen? Have you been looking at Pinterest, Google images, watching HGTV or YouTube videos about painting kitchen cabinets? Are you afraid of making the right decision? Then you are not alone. I too have felt this fear and faced these same questions so you are in the right place. Let dive into why you are here- Should I paint my cherry cabinets?
Hello Everyone, I am David Cook with Dfranco Painting and Wallpaper, here in Huntley, IL. If you are like many of our customers in the Chicagoland area, such as Elgin, Algonquin, or Crystal Lake, you have a home that has wood cabinets.
You know people that have made the improvement to their kitchen with new counter tops, new faucets and now your wondering- Should I Paint these cabinets too? Will it last? Will these guys do good work. Will it rain today? – that I cant help you with, its Illinois- anything can happen!
How much will it cost?
These are the two questions most people are asking when facing the question or problem of kitchen remodeling, (how much and how long long will it take) but for most people, it is the same answer.
- The cost is based on how many cabinets you have
- How long we will discuss below- but it depends on size and options you want us to do
The number 1 asked question about painting cabinets is- “How much does it cost to paint cabinets?” Right now, you can expect about $145.00 per cabinet to have it painted. That is an average so you can do some rough math by counting your cabinets.
When you look at the cost to replace your cabinets, it will be 70% more expensive than painting them and with the money you save by painting, you can now upgrade your door hardware, your countertops, your sink, and most likely your appliances to have a new kitchen you want and enjoy.
The other cost is the loss of your kitchen. If you replace your cabinets, think about the fact:
- You will have no kitchen to use for several weeks.
- No access to kitchen appliances
- Removing everything from your cabinets
- Storeage all your kitchen items for 2-4 weeks!
- it will always cost more than you think once you start ripping things out
- demolition usuually take more time due to unforseen issues
How long does it take to paint cabinets?
For us and average size kitchen is about 20-30 cabinet boxes. With this type of kitchen size, we typically need 4-5 days to repaint the cabinets. There are some other factors that affect how long it will take to paint your cabients such as:
- will the cabients need any repairs
- do you want the hinges replaced
- are the handles getting updated- filling in old holes drilling new handles
- weather- dry time of paint affcet how soon we can sand between coats
- how much cleaning we need to do will also affect the time it takes before we can start painting
FAQ’s about painting cabinets..
here is a video- it is a bit longer but it is worth it.
What color can I paint my cabinets?
The best part about painting cabients is that YOU decide what color you want! You can go to any JC Licht Store, or Sherwin Williams store in the Chicagoland area, pick any color you want- you can even pick two colors if you wish!! (If you select the whites from BEHR- we may not be able to match it 100%)
What do I need to do to prepare for cabinet painting?
What a great question! We have a system to get you ready as well, but for the most part.. here is a quick checklist for you of things to get ready before we arrive:
- Pets- loose pets do not work with us painting, they will need to be in separate room or cage/kennel
- Cleaning- anything you can do ahead of time to clean food, dirt, grease is great!
- verify your colors- we will ask before we buy- are you sure about these colors?
- remove items from the counter tops
- if we are painting inside of the cabinets- we will need you to remove the items from inside the cabinets
Will I have access to my kitchen while its being painted?
YES!! You have just read the inconvenience of replacing your cabinets with new ones. When we paint them, you get to use your kitchen every day! There may be a few hours in the course of the day we have plastic around your appliances to protect them, but every night you use your kitchen! And since you don’t have doors you can access everything in your kitchen quicker! (That one was meant to bring a smile).
Dfranco Cabinet Painting Process.
This is a high level quick review of the process we use when painting cabinets
- We photo everthing before we begin
- there will be a log of what hardware came from where so it goes right back where it came from
- we remove all itmes to be painted from the cabinet box
- all items to be painted are cleaned
- wood surfaces are primed with a bonding primer
- primed surfaces are sanded between coats
- final coat of paint is applied
- depending on your options we can spray or brush/roll
Is Painting cabinets right for me?
Before the details of how, there are several questions you have to be able to honestly answer to know if painting your cherry cabinets is a good solution for you.
- Is there anything wrong with the cabinets you have? Is there any damage? Are there any broken doors? Do they have water damage? If you are saying no to any of these then so far you are on your way to painting your cherry cabinets!
- Do you like the look of a painted cabinet? Some people, my father being one of them, cringes at the sound of painting wood. If you are not sure then take a few hours and go to a home improvement store like Home Depot or Menards to look and touch. Ask yourself if you can see yourself with painted kitchen cabinets.
- If you are still feeling good about the idea then it is time for the next step!
Things to Consider Before Painting Your Cherry Cabinets
But! There is always a but. There are a few things you need to be aware of if you have never had a kitchen or any cabinets that are painted. Painted cabinets are not like stained wood cabinets. I know you are here because you want to know about cherry cabinets, however, if your cabinets are pine-stained cherry color, this is not for you. Pine cabinets are not good candidates for paint. But you have solid Cherry! Stained cherry cabinets have a finish that has penetrated the wood fibers themselves to bond into the wood. Paint on a cabinet is given a bonding primer to stick to the surface of the cabinet. Then the paint is put on top of the primer. This is the same in a new factory cabinet or a refinished one like you are thinking about now.
Keep in mind, at the end of the day this is paint. It is a hard shell, it will resist stains, it will be washable, it will look impressive. Paint on wood can chip upon impact and wood doors will not allow you to place wet towels or rags on them and not become damaged. I have to give you those buts up front so you know.
I have painted my cabinets in my home, people are doing it every day, and I believe it a great way to not just improve the look of your kitchen but change how you feel about the most important room in your home.
Cleaning painted cabinets
Seems simple- just grab a rag and start washing right? NOT! water and wood are not friends. Using a hardwood floor cleaner, or vinegar and water are the best options. You don’t want anything to leave residue on cabinet surfaces.
It Worked For These People, And It Will Work For You
Here’s what it did for me… Before I met Daphne and we were married, she had her cabinets painted but didn’t like the color. There was still nothing wrong with the cabinets-just a color -the wrong color. We picked a new color, had some new hardware installed, where there were none before and now we have a kitchen that my wife loves to look at and loves the feeling she has when we are in it. So I have used the materials, process, and system in my home as well.
Here is one testimonial from a great customer in Elgin, IL about painting cherry cabinets:
What are you getting when you paint cherry cabinets?
When you hire D’franco Painting & Wallpaper, you’ll have the peace of mind of …
- Having employees of D’franco Painting & Wallpaper in your home, not subcontractors.
- All of our employees get background checked by a 3rd party vendor.
- We carry workman’s comp and liability insurance.
- We have a system and process that has is used, always evaluated to improve and refine. Since 2005, we keep learning and we still attend training annually to make sure we provide the best products for your home.
- Lifetime Warranty on our work. We will come back on your anniversary every year and give you one hour to do the minor touch-ups that you may need
- We use cabinet-grade cabinet paints from ML Campbell, Chem Aqua, Shurwood, or ILVA as well as Urathane paints such as Emerald Urathane and Advance Urathane Paint. These are time-tested and award-winning finishes that will last and meet the demands of the most used room in your house. (the paint we use is varies on cost, color and availability)
It’s Decision Time
You have a choice to make: Keep looking at your cabinets and wonder what if…or worse, do nothing at all. You know where that will lead (to another web search on cherry cabinets, frustrated about the look and feel of your kitchen). Is that really where you want to go? Take a new action, and get a new result. Finally, get that estimate and transform your kitchen – Love the home you live in! Which do you really want for yourself? So here are your next steps: Call or text us
- We will ask you for pictures of your kitchen
- We will give you a cost to paint your cherry cabinets within $100-$200. It includes removing hardware, cleaning, painting the outside of the boxes and both sides of the doors. If the numbers look like you want more information we will make an appointment with you. We will come to your house with a door sample that you can touch and see. We will inspect everything and then give you an accurate quote of the exact cost
- Receive a detailed description of how our process works and give you videos to show you of us in action.
- You receive a list of products we use
- You may qualify for a free color consult!
- You’ll have a lifetime warranty.
So, you have asked the question “should I paint my cherry cabinets?”, and you have read the answers, now you are ready to take action and get a GET AN ESTIMATE today!
Do you have questions about cabient painting? Let us know- we are here to help you make the right decision, even if that menas we dont do the work, we want you to be happy about what your doing in your home!
We look forward to helping you love the home you live in!
