Kitchen Cabinet Refinishing: Before Or After The New Counter Tops?

Cabinets are an integral part of your kitchen that improve its aesthetics and functionality. The design of cabinets can enhance or deteriorate your kitchen’s appearance. That’s why it is crucial to perform careful planning and preparation before choosing cabinets for your kitchen because it is an essential investment and can increase or decrease your home’s resale value.  

Like cabinets, countertops are a primary component in your kitchen that hold a wide range of appliances, including a microwave oven, jars, utensils, and other items. We recommend choosing a quality and durable countertop for your kitchen to ensure it holds up and remains functional for a long time.  

Renovating, remodeling, or refinishing your kitchen requires careful planning and preparation. These projects may involve multiple tasks. Hiring a professional contractor with many years of experience can result in desired results and cost-effectiveness.  

Homeowners make substantial efforts to prevent damage to their kitchen cabinets and countertops. The question is: should you do kitchen cabinet refinishing before or after the new countertops? In today’s article, we will answer this question. Read on! 

Kitchen Cabinet Refinishing or Countertops – Which One Comes First?  

The quick answer to this question is: if your kitchen cabinets need refinishing, it does not matter if you perform the task before or after installing new countertops. However, it is crucial to hire a professional contractor to get the job done accurately.  

Many homeowners install the countertop and then refinish the cabinets to improve their kitchen’s aesthetics. Some homeowners think installing countertops after refinishing the cabinets can ruin the new finish.  

However, no evidence supports this thought. We think this depends on the experience and skills of the contractor you hire for the project. So, it does not matter if you refinish the cabinets first and then go ahead with the countertops installation.  

Hiring a professional countertop installation company will ensure the refinished cabinets stay in good shape because they know how to install countertops carefully without ruining the neighboring finishes.  

Who Makes This Decision?  

Although it is good to follow the guidelines or advice of a professional contractor, the decision about refinishing your kitchen cabinets before or after the new countertops is entirely your choice. If you want to refinish the cabinets before installing new countertops, ensure you allow the proper cure time for your chosen product.  

Once the paint cures fully, you can go ahead with the countertop installation. Remember,  the ultimate choice is yours – but we recommend making an informed decision. Whether you want to refinish your cabinets before or after the countertops installation, make sure you hire a professional painting contractor to avoid complications.

Some homeowners opt for a remodeling project in stages. In that case, we recommend refinishing the cabinets before installing the new countertops. It is because kitchen cabinets have relative a larger surface area than countertops. 

If you carry out the countertop installation project, you may damage the refinished cabinets. In that case, you will have to hire a professional painting contractor to perform the necessary touchups, including minor repairs, sanding, and applying a few more coats to cover the damages.  

How Professional Painters Refinish Your Kitchen Cabinets?  

Refinishing your kitchen cabinets is an effective way to refresh your kitchen, whether you carry out the task before or after the new countertops. More important is looking for and hiring professional contractors with the right skills and years of experience to do the job accurately and ensure a lasting finish. 

A skillful and knowledgeable painting contractor offers many benefits and substantial competitive advantage, transforming dated or worn-out cabinets to make the kitchen look completely new.  

An experienced contractor follows a step-by-step approach to create a beautiful, modern look with a refinishing project that doesn’t require costly components and heavy-duty equipment. Here are the steps our skilled painter takes to carry out the process:  

Step 1: Remove Doors and Drawers  

Our qualified and experienced professionals will cover the counters with a waterproof barrier. Before removing the doors and drawers, carefully avoid damage to the countertops if you refuse to refinish the cabinets after installing the new countertops.

Before removing the doors and drawers, our painter will number them to know precisely where each drawer or door goes. Although each door or drawer may look the same, slight differences might cause problems once the contractor puts freshly painted cabinets back together.  

Step 2: Wash and Prep  

After carefully removing the door and drawers, our professional painter will thoroughly wash all areas with a scrubber and a quality degreaser. Going over them with an extra cleaning phase before a final rinse with clean water and letting the doors and drawers dry.  

Then, we will tape off or mask the cabinet boxes to paint the face and interior edges. After washing, an experienced professional constantly test a small area with a quality primer. If the primer adheres well, there is no need for sanding. 

Step 3: Scuff Sand  

The painter will scuff sand the cabinets to create a good surface profile to ensure the primer adheres. Besides, he will patch any holes or imperfections using a filler or wood putty and then sand it down to achieve a smooth surface: a damp rag and clean water to wipe the sanding dust off the cabinetry.  

Step 4: Prime  

It is crucial to discuss with the contractor the type of primer he will use. For instance, we recommend an adhesion-promoting primer if you want to paint a slick surface or cover up a dark finish. The professional will use a sprayer or mini-roller system to achieve a smooth surface on the frames, doors, and drawers. 

Step 5: Fine Sand  

After drying the primer, our experienced painter will remove dust, lint, grooves, and bumps from the cabinetry using fine-grit sandpaper. Many homeowners who perform the task as a DIY project often apply the finish without fine sanding, leading to magnified imperfections.  

You may damage the countertops if you have already installed new ones and carried out the project yourself. That’s why it is crucial to hire a skilled contractor. After sanding, our professional painter will clear away the dust using a vacuum or a damp rag and let it dry before applying the finish.  

Step 6: Apply the Finish  

Depending on the condition of your cabinets, our professional will use a spray application or a roller and brush. The purpose is to apply the paint in the direction of the wood grain. We will apply the paint vertically and evenly if you have laminate cabinets. We use the right amount of color to avoid runs. At the same time, we don’t overwork the cabinets and smooth out drips quickly to achieve an excellent finish.  

Final Words  

It does not matter whether you refinish your cabinets before or after the new countertops as long as you don’t do it yourself. Always hire a professional painting company for such a  project because it is a substantial investment, and getting the job done right can increase your home’s resale value by 7%.  

It is better to refinish your kitchen cabinetry than a complete kitchen remodel if you have a  limited budget. So, opting to refinish instead of refacing or replacing your old cabinets is a cost-effective way to increase your home value. If you are looking for a licensed,  experienced, and affordable painting contractor, contact us today!