What kind of prep and hardware changes should I plan for when getting my cabinets professionally painted?

Proper preparation is what separates a cabinet paint job that lasts a decade from one that chips within a year. Here's what to expect and plan for when hiring a professional in Metro Vancouver.

A quality cabinet painter will remove all doors, drawers, and hardware before painting. They should label everything systematically so reassembly goes smoothly. Expect them to fill any existing hardware holes if you're changing handle placement, sand all surfaces, clean with a degreaser, and apply bonding primer before the finish coats.

Regarding hardware, this is the ideal time to upgrade. New handles and knobs can completely transform the look, and since the painter is already filling and prepping, changing hole spacing costs very little extra. Bar pulls in brushed brass or matte black are the most requested styles in Vancouver right now. Budget $8 to $25 per pull and $5 to $12 per knob, depending on quality.

If you're switching from knobs to pulls (or vice versa), you'll need new holes drilled. A good painter includes this in their scope. If you're keeping the same hardware, have them paint around the mounting points carefully — removing hardware and repainting behind it prevents the chipped paint rings that develop when hardware is left on during painting.

Ask your painter about soft-close hinge upgrades while the doors are off. Adding soft-close mechanisms costs roughly $3 to $7 per hinge and dramatically reduces the slamming that chips fresh paint over time.

Plan to be without full use of your kitchen for three to five business days during a professional cabinet paint project. As a next step, visit a hardware showroom to choose your new pulls and knobs before the painter starts, so everything can be installed the same day the doors go back on.

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• I love kitchens LTD ✓
• Fraser Valley Line Marking LTD. ✓
• AZ Painting Ltd. ✓