Interior Painting • Houston TX
Cabinet Painting Houston TX
Spray-finished kitchen and bath cabinets for Houston homes, with degreasing, BIN shellac primer and two enamel coats. Get a free instant quote.
Executive Summary: Cabinet Painting Houston
Cabinet painting in Houston refinishes kitchen and bath cabinets with degreasing, sanding, shellac primer and sprayed enamel, so you skip the cost of new cabinets.
The system is BIN shellac primer + 2 coats of enamel. Most kitchens take an estimated 2 to 4 days with a 2 to 4 painter crew. Typical Houston-area pricing is $30 to $60 per linear foot, about $100 per door and $25 per drawer (estimates).
Dark stain going to white needs primer, since one topcoat will not cover. Homes built before 1978 need lead paint testing before sanding, and occupied homes extend the timeline.
Typical Houston Projects
Three common cabinet painting jobs and how we scope them. These are typical scopes, not past projects.
Example scope: Oak kitchen to white, Atascocita (77346)
What to expect: about 3 to 4 days (estimate), and $30 to $60 per linear ft is the typical Houston-area range.
See the full scope
Project Size: about 30 linear ft of cabinetry, 24 doors and 10 drawers
Neighborhood: Atascocita (77346)
Service: Cabinet Painting Houston TX
System: degrease + BIN shellac primer + 2 coats of sprayed enamel
The Problem: orange oak with heavy grain and grease near the stove
The Solution: degrease, sand, shellac primer to stop tannin bleed, then 2 sprayed coats on doors
Example scope: Peeling painted cabinets, The Heights (77008)
What to expect: about 3 days (estimate), typically $100 per door based on Houston-area pricing.
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Project Size: about 20 linear ft in an older kitchen
Neighborhood: The Heights (77008)
Service: Cabinet Painting Houston TX
System: scrape and sand + BIN shellac primer + 2 coats of enamel
The Problem: a previous brush-painted finish that is chipping at the edges
The Solution: lead paint testing first, then sand to sound paint, prime and spray 2 coats
Example scope: Bath vanities, Bellaire (77401)
What to expect: about 2 days (estimate), usually $100 per door and $25 per drawer at Houston-area rates.
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Project Size: two bathroom vanities with 8 doors
Neighborhood: Bellaire (77401)
Service: Cabinet Painting Houston TX
System: degrease + shellac primer + 2 coats of moisture-resistant enamel
The Problem: worn finish and water marks near the sink
The Solution: degrease, sand, prime and spray, then reinstall with new hardware
Stop Letting Fading & Damage Hurt Your Property Value
Grease that blocks adhesion
Kitchen cabinets carry a film of cooking grease that paint will not stick to. We degrease and scuff-sand every surface before BIN shellac primer.
Chipping from a past brush job
Wall paint on cabinets chips at the edges within a year. We sand back to sound paint and use a hard-curing enamel instead.
Oak grain and tannins bleeding through
Oak and cherry bleed tannin through light colors. Shellac primer stops it. Pick the white first with a Paint Color Consultation Houston TX visit, since cabinet whites vary more than you think.
Schedule a Walkthrough
We count doors and drawers, measure linear feet and check the current finish. Your written estimate lists every door, drawer, box and the finish system.
Our Process: Done Right the First Time
- 1Detailed Estimate & Color ConsultationWe count doors, drawers and linear feet and confirm color and sheen. Going from wood tones to a painted color is worth settling first with a Paint Color Consultation Houston TX.
- 2Expert Prep & PaintingDoors come off and get labeled, boxes get masked. Everything is degreased, sanded and shellac-primed, then gets 2 coats of enamel.
- 3Final Walkthrough & Clean-UpDoors go back on with hardware in the original spots. You walk the kitchen with the crew lead and point out any touch-ups.
What to Expect: Your Project Timeline
| Stage | When | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Estimate & booking | 1 to 2 weeks before | Count, measure, color and sheen, written estimate |
| Prep day | Day 1 | Doors off and labeled, masking, degreasing, sanding |
| Paint application | Day 1 to Day 3 | BIN shellac primer, then 2 enamel coats |
| Dry & walkthrough | Day 3 to Day 4 | Doors rehung, walkthrough and touch-ups |
| Curing | First few weeks | Enamel keeps hardening; wipe gently and avoid harsh cleaners |
These are estimates. Extra coats on dark-to-light changes can add a day.
The Right Time to Schedule Cabinet Painting Houston
Your cabinets are sound but dated.
Solid wood boxes in good shape are worth painting. It costs a fraction of new cabinets.
You are updating the backsplash too.
Paint cabinets first, then tile, so no paint lands on new grout. See Backsplash Tile Installation Houston.
The holidays are coming.
Book a few weeks before guests arrive, since enamel needs time to firm up before heavy use.
Planning Around Your Kitchen
Cabinet painting runs year-round in Houston. November through February is the slower season, so dates open up more easily.
The Henry Contractor Difference
No hidden fees
Your written estimate lists every door, drawer and box, plus the primer and enamel system.
Local Houston crews
Local Houston crews plan dry times around kitchen humidity and keep your kitchen usable at night.
Prep done by the book
Degrease, sand, prime with shellac, then 2 enamel coats. Countertops and floors stay covered throughout.
Transparent Pricing for Cabinet Painting Houston
| What Affects the Cost | Standard vs. Premium | Hidden Costs to Watch For |
|---|---|---|
| Scope and size: linear feet, door and drawer count | Standard uses brushed and rolled enamel; premium sprays doors and drawers for a smooth finish | Island, pantry and crown molding add to the count |
| Surface condition and labor: grease, peeling, grain fill | Standard primes with shellac and 2 coats; premium adds grain filling on oak | Lead paint testing for homes built before 1978 |
| Occupancy and extras: hardware, glass doors, interiors | Standard paints exteriors of boxes; premium adds cabinet interiors | New hardware holes need filling if you change pulls |
Typical Houston-area range (estimate): $30 to $60 per linear foot of cabinetry, or about $100 per door. Your written estimate after an on-site walkthrough sets the exact price.
Get an Exact Number
Door count and the current finish drive the price more than kitchen size. We count and check before pricing in writing.
Cabinet Painting Houston vs. DIY vs. Cheap Labor
| Feature | Henry Contractor | DIY | Cheap Labor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prep Work Quality | Degrease, sand and BIN shellac primer | Paint straight over grease | Light sanding, no primer |
| Time Investment | An estimated 2 to 4 days | Two or three weekends | Fast, finish chips early |
| Material Quality | Waterborne alkyd or urethane enamel | Wall paint | Wall paint or cheap enamel |
| Clean-Up Process | Countertops covered, doors rehung by location | Doors mixed up | Overspray left behind |
| Pricing Transparency | Written estimate by door and linear foot | Sprayer and supplies add up | Low quote, primer extra |
Who We Partner With
Homeowners
You want a new-looking kitchen without new cabinets. We paint them to a smooth, hard finish.
Kitchen Remodelers
You are updating counters and tile. We paint cabinets before the backsplash goes in, and fix wall damage as Drywall Repair Houston TX.
Property Managers
You need rental kitchens refreshed between tenants. Smoke-stained cabinets get sealed as on Fire & Smoke Damage Painting.
Proudly Serving Greater Houston
We proudly provide professional painting services to homeowners and businesses throughout the Greater Houston area, including: The Woodlands, Katy, Sugar Land, Pearland, Cypress, Memorial, and surrounding neighborhoods.
We paint cabinets in The Heights (77008), Montrose (77006), Memorial (77024), Bellaire (77401) and West University Place (77005).
Kitchen walls and other rooms are covered on the Interior Painting Houston TX page.
Frequently Asked Questions
The short answer is spray for doors and drawer fronts, and brush and roll for cabinet boxes. Spraying lays enamel down smooth without brush marks, while the boxes stay in place for careful hand work. Expect an estimated 2 to 4 days with BIN shellac primer and two enamel coats.
Brushing doors saves a little money but leaves visible marks on flat panels. On a kitchen you look at every day, spray is worth it.
The short answer is about $30 to $60 per linear foot of cabinetry, or around $100 per cabinet door, based on typical Houston-area pricing. Door count, linear feet and spray or brush finish move the number. Your written estimate after an on-site walkthrough sets the exact price before work starts.
Drawer fronts run about $25 each (estimate). Spray-applied enamel over shellac primer prices toward the top of the range.
Cabinet painting usually requires an estimated 2 to 4 days for a typical Houston kitchen. Day one is degreasing, sanding and shellac primer, then two enamel coats with dry time between them. Doors come back and get rehung once the enamel is firm enough to handle.
You can use the kitchen in the evenings, but plan on takeout for a couple of nights.
The short answer is a waterborne alkyd or urethane-modified enamel over BIN shellac primer. These enamels level smooth, cure hard and resist grease and moisture better than wall paint. Kitchens in Houston see steam and humidity daily, so full cure takes a few weeks before heavy scrubbing.
Lines like Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane or Benjamin Moore Advance are common choices.
Yes, we do, and doors and drawer fronts come off, get labeled and go to a spray area where they are degreased, primed and sprayed. Hinges and hardware are bagged by location. The cabinet boxes stay in place and get brushed and rolled, then everything is rehung once dry.
Bathroom vanities, bookcases and other built-ins follow the same process on Cabinet & Built-In Painting.
Ready to upgrade your property?
Fill out the free estimate form at the top of the page to get started, or call us directly to schedule your on-site consultation.