Cabinet Refinishing Cost vs. New Cabinets: What Makes Sense for Your Gainesville Kitchen

The kitchen is the most expensive room in the house to remodel, and cabinets are the most expensive part of the kitchen. If your cabinets are solid but the finish is dated, refinishing them is the single biggest bang-for-the-buck upgrade available. Here is how the cost compares and how to know if your kitchen is a good candidate.

What new cabinets actually cost

New cabinets for an average Gainesville kitchen, installed, run well into five figures once you include demolition, the cabinets themselves, installation, and the countertop work that usually comes with it, since old countertops rarely survive removal. Add a few weeks without a kitchen and a dumpster in the driveway.

What cabinet refinishing costs

Professional cabinet refinishing, with doors and drawer fronts removed and sprayed off-site and the boxes finished in place, typically costs a fraction of replacement, often in the low-to-mid four figures for an average kitchen. The price depends mostly on the number of doors and drawer fronts, the existing finish, and whether you want the inside of the boxes done. There is no demolition, no plumbing or electrical, and no countertop work. Most kitchens are finished in four to six days and usable in the evenings throughout.

Refinishing vs. painting by hand

Not all cabinet painting is the same. Brushed and rolled cabinets show brush marks and chip at the edges. A proper refinish means every door is degreased, sanded, primed with a bonding primer made for cabinets, and sprayed with cabinet-grade enamel that cures hard. The finish looks factory made and holds up to daily use. When you compare quotes, ask whether the doors are sprayed or brushed.

Which cabinets are good candidates

• Solid wood or wood veneer boxes and doors, including oak, maple, cherry, and birch
• Cabinets that are square, with doors that close and drawers that slide
• Kitchens where you like the layout and just want a new look
• Laminate and thermofoil in good condition, with the right bonding primer

Cabinets with water-damaged boxes, sagging shelves, or a layout you want to change are better replaced. We tell you which situation you are in at the estimate.

How long does a refinish last

A sprayed cabinet enamel finish, applied over proper prep, lasts many years under normal kitchen use. The most common wear points are the edges of the doors nearest the sink and the trash pull-out. Those can be touched up. A brushed latex finish, by comparison, often starts chipping within a year or two.

Popular colors in Gainesville kitchens

White and off-white are the most requested by far, followed by soft grays, greens, and navy. Two-tone kitchens with a darker island are popular. We bring sample doors so you can see the color in your own light before committing.

Finish the kitchen with a backsplash

Once the cabinets go from oak to white, the old four-inch granite backsplash or dated tile often looks wrong. We install kitchen backsplashes too, after the cabinets are done, so one crew handles both in the right order.

Get a quote for your cabinets

HVR Painting is a family-owned, licensed and insured painting company in Gainesville. We count doors and drawers, look at the existing finish, bring samples, and give you a written quote for free. Call or text (352) 328-3659 or request an estimate online. Mention this website for 10 percent off qualifying jobs over $2,500.