Typical Project • Interior Painting
Kitchen Cabinet Repaint: Typical Scope
A worked example of repainting about 40 linear feet of kitchen cabinets in The Heights (77008). It is a typical scope, not a past project. Get a free instant quote for your own kitchen.
Executive Summary: Kitchen Cabinet Repaint
A kitchen cabinet repaint refinishes the doors, drawer fronts and boxes in place of replacing them, with degreasing and a shellac primer before the enamel.
This typical scope: about 40 linear ft of cabinets, BIN shellac primer + 2 coats of waterborne enamel, an estimated 2 to 4 days, and an estimated $1,200 to $2,400 at typical Houston-area pricing of $30 to $60 per linear ft.
A full spray enamel system on every surface prices at the top of the range or above.
The Typical Scope
| Item | This example |
|---|---|
| Project size | About 40 linear ft of upper and lower cabinets |
| Neighborhood | The Heights (77008) |
| Service | Cabinet Painting Houston TX |
| System | Degrease, sand, BIN shellac primer + 2 coats of Benjamin Moore Advance waterborne enamel |
| The problem | Grease buildup, worn stain and a chipping finish on the lower doors |
| The solution | Doors and drawer fronts removed and sprayed; boxes degreased, sanded, primed and brushed in place |
| Estimated timeline | 2 to 4 days |
| Estimated cost | $1,200 to $2,400 (40 linear ft at $30 to $60) |
| Also quoted per piece | About $100 per door and $25 per drawer |
All prices are typical Houston-area ranges and are estimates.
Get an Exact Number
We count doors and drawers, check the existing finish and put the system and price in writing.
How the Job Runs
| Stage | When | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Walkthrough and color | Week before | Cabinets measured, color and sheen chosen, written estimate |
| Prep | Day 1 | Doors and drawer fronts removed, every surface degreased, sanded and wiped |
| Prime and paint | Day 1 to Day 3 | Shellac primer, then 2 coats of enamel, scuffed between coats |
| Rehang and walkthrough | Final day | Doors and hardware back on, walkthrough with the crew lead |
These are estimates. Heavy grease or damaged doors can add a day.
What Changes the Price
- A full spray enamel system prices at the top of the range or above
- Heavy grease buildup adds prep time
- Built-ins and extra shelving add linear feet
- Wall and trim painting in the same room is priced as its own line
Line-item cabinet prices are on the Houston Painting Cost Guide. For built-ins and shelving, see Cabinet & Built-In Painting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, we do keep the kitchen partly usable. Doors and drawer fronts come off for spraying, the boxes are masked and painted in place, and counters stay covered, so you can reach the sink and fridge, though open shelves stay empty until the doors go back on.
The short answer is grease. Kitchen cabinets carry a film that paint will not grip, so every surface is degreased, sanded and wiped before a shellac primer goes on. Skipping that step is the usual reason a cabinet finish chips or peels within months.
The short answer is the system. A full spray enamel system with shellac primer prices at the top of the $30 to $60 per linear foot range or above, while a brushed finish on the boxes costs less. Door count, grease and damaged veneer also move the number.
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