How much should I budget for painting bathroom cabinets in two bathrooms in a North Vancouver townhome?

For two bathroom vanities in a North Vancouver townhome, budget between $1,000 and $2,500 total, depending on the size of the vanities, the condition of the existing finish, and the level of preparation required.

A single bathroom vanity typically runs $500–$1,200 for professional refinishing, so two bathrooms lands you in that $1,000–$2,500 range for most townhomes. The wide spread reflects real differences in project scope — a small 24-inch single-door vanity in a powder room is a very different job from a large double-sink vanity with eight drawer fronts and decorative moulding.

What Drives the Cost

The biggest cost variables are the number of doors and drawer fronts, the condition of the existing finish, and the complexity of the cabinet style. Flat-panel (Shaker-style) doors are the most economical to refinish because they spray cleanly and sand easily. Raised-panel or ornate routed profiles take longer to prep and require more careful spray technique to avoid runs in the recesses — expect to pay toward the higher end of the range for those. Per door or drawer front, professional rates in Metro Vancouver typically run $100–$200 each.

Surface condition matters enormously. Bathroom vanities take a beating from steam, moisture, and daily use — if your existing finish is peeling, delaminating, or has significant water damage at the base, the prep work increases substantially. A contractor may need to strip the existing finish, fill damaged areas, and apply a bonding primer before any topcoat goes on. That prep time adds to labour costs but is non-negotiable for a durable result.

North Vancouver Townhome Specifics

Being in a strata townhome adds a couple of practical considerations. Strata bylaws in most North Shore strata corporations restrict noisy work to weekday business hours — typically 8 AM to 5 PM — which affects scheduling. More importantly, professional cabinet refinishing is almost always done off-site: the contractor removes the doors and drawer fronts, takes them to a spray booth, and reinstalls them once cured. This is actually ideal for a strata setting because it eliminates overspray risk inside your unit and keeps disruption minimal. Confirm with your contractor whether they spray on-site or off-site, and if on-site, ask how they protect your floors, fixtures, and ventilation.

North Vancouver's humidity is also worth mentioning. The North Shore receives more rainfall than almost anywhere else in Metro Vancouver — some areas exceed 2,000mm annually — and interior humidity runs high through the fall and winter months. For bathroom cabinets specifically, this makes paint selection critical. The right product is an acrylic-alkyd hybrid enamel — Benjamin Moore Advance or Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel are the industry standards. These products cure to a hard, semi-gloss finish that resists moisture, steam, and daily cleaning far better than standard latex. Expect to pay $60–$90 per gallon for these products, but the durability difference over five to ten years is significant.

Practical Tips

Get quotes from at least two or three contractors and ask specifically whether the price includes removal and reinstallation of doors and drawer fronts, how many coats are included, and what primer they're using. A bonding primer is essential if your existing vanities have a factory lacquer or thermofoil finish — without it, the new topcoat will peel within a year regardless of paint quality.

If your vanities are builder-grade MDF or particleboard (common in 1990s–2000s North Vancouver townhomes), make sure your contractor is experienced with those substrates. MDF edges absorb moisture and can swell if not properly sealed — a good contractor will seal all edges with a shellac-based primer before topcoating.

DIY is not recommended for cabinet refinishing. Brush and roller marks on cabinet doors are immediately obvious and very difficult to fix without stripping and starting over. The factory-smooth finish that makes refinished cabinets look great requires spray equipment, a controlled environment, and the technique to apply thin, even coats without runs. The investment in professional work pays off in a finish that lasts.

If you'd like help finding a painting contractor experienced with cabinet refinishing on the North Shore, Vancouver Paint Contractors can match you with local professionals at no cost. Browse options through the Vancouver Construction Network at vancouverconstructionnetwork.com/directory?trade=painting.