Cabinet painting in Tampa
Painting cabinets is a fraction of the cost of replacing them, and done properly it looks like a new kitchen. Done poorly it chips in a year. The difference is degreasing, sanding, bonding primer and a sprayed enamel that cures hard.
When cabinet painting makes sense
- Solid cabinets in a dated color or orange-toned wood
- A kitchen that works fine but looks like 2005
- Getting the house ready to sell without a full remodel
- Bathroom vanities that have yellowed
- You want a two-tone kitchen or a painted island
- Matching new cabinets to old ones
What's included
Kitchen cabinets
Doors, drawer fronts, boxes, face frames, islands and end panels.
Bathroom vanities
Usually done the same day as a kitchen or as a small job on their own.
Built-ins
Entertainment centers, bookshelves, laundry cabinets and closet systems.
Hardware changes
New pulls and knobs, with old holes filled and new ones drilled.
Interior shelves
Painted on request; many people leave them as is to save cost.
How cabinets get painted
- Walkthrough and color. Doors counted, cabinet material checked, and a sample door painted in your color if you want to see it first.
- Doors and drawers removed. Every piece labeled and taken to be sprayed. Hardware bagged and labeled too.
- Degrease, sand, prime. Kitchen grease and old finish removed, surfaces scuffed, and a bonding primer applied so the paint grips.
- Spray. Doors sprayed flat in a controlled space. Boxes and face frames sprayed in place inside a masked-off kitchen.
- Reinstall and adjust. Doors rehung, hinges adjusted, new or old hardware installed, and the kitchen cleaned up.
What affects the price
- Number of doors and drawer fronts. That's the main driver.
- Cabinet material. Wood and MDF take paint well; thermofoil and laminate need extra prep.
- Whether the insides of the boxes are painted.
- Hardware changes and hole filling.
- Color changes to a very dark or very light finish.
You get a written quote for the whole job before any work starts.
Cabinets in Tampa kitchens
Tampa has a lot of 1990s and 2000s homes with solid oak or maple cabinets in honey and cherry tones that are structurally perfect and visually dated. Those are ideal candidates. Humidity is the thing to plan for here: cabinets near a dishwasher or in a house that runs the AC warm need a finish that cures fully, and the crew keeps the kitchen's humidity down while the enamel sets. Builder-grade thermofoil doors common in 2000s condos can be painted but need a different prep, and the walkthrough will tell you which you have.
Common questions
How long does cabinet painting take?
Most kitchens are four to six days from removal to reinstall, with the kitchen partly usable in between. Doors cure off-site.
Will the paint chip?
A sprayed, properly primed enamel holds up to normal use for years. The chips people see come from brushed latex over an unsanded, greasy surface.
Can I use the kitchen during the work?
Mostly. The boxes are sprayed over one or two days, and the rest of the time the kitchen is open with no doors on.
Can you paint laminate cabinets?
Yes, with a bonding primer made for it. Peeling thermofoil has to be removed or replaced first.
Related services
Areas we serve
Cabinet painting across Tampa and these nearby communities: