Two cabinet painting quotes can be thousands of dollars apart and still look the same on paper. The difference is almost always in the scope of work. Here’s what to compare.
1. Is prep actually included?
Cleaning and sanding aren’t optional. Cabinets collect grease and residue that you can’t see, and paint can’t bond to a dirty or glossy surface. If degreasing and sanding aren’t clearly listed, the paint will eventually peel and chip.
2. How do they handle dust?
Ask whether they use dustless sanders. If they don’t, expect dust throughout your house. I sand with a Festool HEPA dust extractor connected to a dustless sander, which keeps dust out of the air and out of your home.
3. How much of your kitchen is masked off?
Spraying on site means overspray. Ask whether the whole kitchen will be masked and contained or just the area around the cabinets. It affects both the finish and your home. When I spray on site, a high-powered extraction fan exhausts spray fumes outside.
4. Where do the doors get sprayed?
Some contractors spray doors in a room in your house, which means you lose a room for the whole project, plus the kitchen. I finish doors at my shop so the job takes up as little of your home as possible.
5. Will you get the process in writing?
This is the biggest one. A good contractor can show you, in writing or visually, exactly what will happen: clean, sand, prime, scuff sand between primer and topcoat, then spray the topcoats. If a contractor won’t put the process in writing, that’s a red flag. Without it, there’s nothing to hold them to.
6. What coating are they using?
For the best finish, ask about catalyzed finishes. I use Novalk 2K coatings, which hold up better against moisture, grease, and everyday wear than standard paint.
Get a sample and ask for the scope in writing. Then compare the quotes on what’s included, not just the bottom line.