Cabinet Repainting vs Refinishing: Are They the Same Thing?

Ask three people what cabinet repainting means and you may get three different answers. Some use “repainting” and “refinishing” as if they were the same job. Others mean very different things by each word. When you are comparing quotes, that matters, because two companies can describe very different work in almost the same words.

Here is how the two terms are usually used, where they overlap, and what to ask so you know what you are actually getting.

What they have in common

Repainting and refinishing share the same starting point. Both keep your existing cabinets and change how they look. Neither replaces the cabinet boxes, and neither changes your layout.

That shared approach brings some real advantages over tearing cabinets out:

• You keep what still works. Many older cabinets were built solidly. If the boxes are sound, there is no reason to send them to the landfill.
• Less waste. Reusing cabinets you already own keeps material out of the waste stream and avoids manufacturing new boxes.
• A wide range of colours. A painted or pigmented finish can be almost any colour, from soft white to deep green or navy.
• Less upheaval than a full remodel. Your countertops, sink and appliances stay where they are.

The differences come down to how the new finish is applied and what it is made of.

What people usually mean by cabinet repainting

In everyday use, cabinet repainting usually means painting cabinets in place, or close to it. The doors may come off and be laid out in a garage or spare room, or they may stay on their hinges. The paint is often brushed or rolled on, sometimes sprayed, using paint that dries in the open air.

Done carefully, this can look good. The challenge is that cabinet doors and drawer fronts take far more handling than walls. They are gripped, bumped, splashed and wiped every day. A paint that simply air-dries can stay softer than the job demands, and brush or roller marks can show on smooth door surfaces.

Repainting is also the route most DIY projects take. It can be a rewarding weekend project if you have the time, space and patience for proper prep and drying between coats.

What professional cabinet refinishing involves

Refinishing is a broader term. Traditionally it could mean stripping wood back and applying a new stain and topcoat. Many professional cabinet companies, including ours, use it for a more controlled, shop-based process.

Here is how our cabinet refinishing service works:

1. Doors and drawer fronts are removed and taken to our shop.
2. They are prepped, then sprayed with an industrial two-component coating.
3. The coating is bake-cured, a factory-grade process that hardens the finish under controlled conditions.
4. The frames are finished in your home to match.
5. The doors and drawer fronts are reinstalled.

There are about four days of work in your home, with a 7 to 10 day gap while the doors are in our shop. Because the doors are sprayed off site, there is less dust and noise in your home. Refinishing comes with a written 3-year warranty.

The key differences, side by side

When you strip away the labels, these are the questions that separate one job from another.

Where the doors are finished

Painting doors in your kitchen or garage exposes them to dust, pets and temperature swings while they dry. A shop setting controls those variables.

What product goes on

Many paints harden as water or solvent evaporates. A two-component coating hardens through a chemical reaction once its two parts are mixed, which produces a tougher film.

How it is applied and cured

Brushing and rolling can leave texture. Spraying gives an even surface, and bake-curing helps the coating harden more completely before it goes back into your kitchen.

What is in writing

Ask whether the finish comes with a written warranty and what it covers. The answer tells you a lot about how confident the company is in its process.

Questions to ask before you hire anyone

Whatever word a company uses, these questions get to what the work actually involves:

• Will the doors and drawer fronts be removed? Where will they be finished?
• Is the finish brushed, rolled or sprayed?
• What type of coating will be used, and how is it cured?
• How will the cabinet frames be finished, and how long will work take in my home?
• Who does the work: employees or subcontractors?
• Is there a written warranty, and for how long?

Clear answers make it far easier to compare quotes fairly, even when the wording on them is different.

Want to do some of the work yourself?

If you like the idea of painting but want doors that are finished properly, there is a middle path. With our DIY Kitchen Update Kit, we professionally refinish your doors and drawer fronts in our shop, and you paint the frames with the materials and guidance in the kit.

And if your doors are swelling, damaged, or you simply want a different door style, neither repainting nor refinishing will fix that. Cabinet refacing keeps your existing boxes and adds brand-new doors and drawer fronts, with the frames finished to match.

Find out what your cabinets need

Kitchen Makeovers is family-owned, based in Aldergrove, and has been updating kitchen cabinets across the Lower Mainland since 2009. Our team of 30+ in-house employees handles the work from estimate to install, with no subcontractors.

For a rough starting point, try our kitchen cost calculator. When you are ready, book a free in-home quote and we will look at your cabinets and give you clear, line-item pricing.

Frequently asked questions

Is cabinet refinishing the same as painting cabinets?

Not always. Both change the colour of your existing cabinets, but professional refinishing usually means removing the doors, spraying them in a shop with a more durable coating and curing it under controlled conditions, while repainting often means brushing or rolling paint on in the home.

Can I repaint my cabinets myself?

Yes, many homeowners do, but it takes careful prep, patience and drying time between coats. If you want a shop-sprayed finish on the doors while saving some work for yourself, the DIY Kitchen Update Kit lets you paint the frames while we refinish the doors and drawer fronts.

Does refinishing work if my cabinet doors are damaged?

Refinishing keeps your existing doors, so it suits cabinets that are in good shape. If doors are swelling, damaged or not the style you want, refacing with brand-new doors and drawer fronts is usually the better fit.