A fraction of replacement cost
Full cabinet replacement runs into the tens of thousands once counters and installation are counted. Refinishing skips the demolition entirely.
Interior painting · Cabinets
Cabinet Painting & Refinishing in Edmonton
New kitchen cabinets are one of the most expensive things you can do to a house. Refinishing the ones you have costs a fraction of that and, done properly, looks just as good — because the box was never the problem, the colour was.
- Typical turnaround
- 3–5 days
- Finish
- Sprayed, not brushed
- Colour consultation
- Included
Why refinishing beats replacing
Your cabinet boxes are probably fine. It's the finish that's dated.
Most Edmonton kitchens built in the last 30 years have solid, square, perfectly serviceable cabinet boxes hiding under an oak or honey-maple finish that screams the decade it was installed. Replacing them means demolition, new counters, and weeks without a kitchen. Refinishing means a colour change and your kitchen back by the weekend.
Sprayed, not brushed
Doors and drawer fronts come off and get sprayed, so there are no brush marks or roller stipple — the finish reads like factory, not like a weekend project.
Days, not weeks
You keep your counters, your sink, and your appliances. Most kitchens are back in normal use within a week.
What's included
What a proper cabinet refinish actually involves.
Cabinet finishes fail when someone skips the degreasing or the bonding primer. Kitchen doors carry years of cooking grease and hand oil — paint does not stick to that, no matter how good the paint is.
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- Doors and hardware removed and labelledEvery door, drawer front, hinge, and handle comes off and gets tagged so it goes back exactly where it started.
- Degreased, cleaned, and de-glossedA full degrease then a scuff sand, so the primer has a mechanical key to grip instead of sitting on old lacquer.
- Bonding primer on every surfaceThe step that decides whether your finish lasts ten years or chips off the corner of the sink door by spring.
- Sprayed finish coatsDoors and fronts sprayed off-site or in a contained area; boxes and face frames finished in place to match.
- Grain filling where you want itOak's open grain shows through paint unless it's filled. We'll show you both and you decide which look you want.
- Rehung, aligned, and cleaned upDoors go back on, hinges get adjusted so everything sits level, and the kitchen is cleaned before we leave.
How it works
From quote to finished kitchen.
- Walkthrough and colour consultationWe look at your doors, count them, check the material, and sample colours on your actual cabinets in your actual light.
- Written quoteDoor count, prep scope, finish, sheen, and timeline in writing. That number is what you pay.
- Removal and prepDoors come off and get labelled, the kitchen gets masked and contained, and everything is degreased and sanded.
- Prime and sprayBonding primer, then finish coats sprayed for an even, hardware-store-sample finish.
- Rehang and walkthroughEverything goes back, gets aligned, and we walk the kitchen with you before we call it done.
Typical kitchen, 20–30 pieces$3,150 – $4,700
$3,000 minimum. Priced per door and drawer front plus boxes and frames. Excludes GST.
Get your exact pricePricing
What cabinet refinishing costs in Edmonton.
Cabinet work is priced by door and drawer count more than by square footage — the doors are where nearly all the labour goes. A galley kitchen with 18 doors is a very different job from a big L-shape with an island and 40.
Door and drawer countThe single biggest driver — pricing is per piece, and a large pantry door counts as two. Every piece is removed, prepped, sprayed, and rehung individually.
Current finish and conditionOld lacquer, thermofoil, or heavy grease all add prep time before anything can be primed.
Grain fillingFilling open oak grain for a smooth modern look is extra labour, and it's optional — your call.
Boxes, frames, and maskingThe cabinet boxes and face frames are quoted alongside the doors, based on kitchen size and layout.
FAQ
Cabinet refinishing questions, answered.
Wondering whether your cabinets are worth refinishing? Send a couple of photos and we'll tell you honestly.
Get a free quoteHow much does it cost to paint kitchen cabinets in Edmonton?
Cabinet work is priced per door and drawer front plus the boxes and frames, with a $3,000 minimum. A typical 20-piece kitchen runs about $3,150 to $3,450, and a larger 30-piece kitchen about $4,400 to $4,700, before any unusual repairs or specialty finishes. A large pantry door counts as two pieces. That's still a fraction of replacing the same cabinets, and every quote is free and in writing. Prices exclude GST.
How long does it take?
Most kitchens run three to five days from removal to rehang. You'll lose the use of your cabinet doors for that stretch, but your counters, sink, and appliances stay available the whole time — which is the big practical advantage over replacement.
Can you paint oak cabinets?
Yes, and oak is one of the most common cabinet refinishes we're asked about in Edmonton. The one decision to make is grain: oak has a deep open grain that will still read through paint unless it's filled first. Filled gives you a smooth, modern, almost factory look; unfilled keeps a subtle wood texture. We'll show you both and let you pick.
Will the paint chip or peel?
Not if the prep is done properly. Cabinet finishes fail for one of two reasons: the doors weren't degreased, or a bonding primer wasn't used. Kitchen doors carry years of cooking grease, and nothing sticks to that. We degrease, scuff sand, and use a bonding primer on every surface — and back the result with our written workmanship warranty.
Can you paint laminate or thermofoil cabinets?
Often, yes — but they need a specific bonding primer and honest assessment first. Thermofoil that's already peeling or bubbling away from the substrate won't hold a finish no matter what we do, and we'd rather tell you that at the quote than take your money. Send photos and we'll give you a straight answer.
Do you spray or brush?
Spray, for the doors and drawer fronts especially. Brushing leaves marks and rolling leaves stipple, and on a flat cabinet door your eye catches both immediately. Boxes and face frames that can't be removed are finished in place using methods that match the sprayed doors.
From the blog
Cabinet Refinishing guides for Edmonton homeowners
Should You Paint or Replace Your Kitchen Cabinets?
Refinishing costs a fraction of replacement and takes days instead of weeks — but it is not always the right answer. Here is how to tell.
Read the guide
Why Paint Peels — and How to Stop It Happening Again
If your paint is peeling, the paint is rarely the problem. Here are the three real causes and what actually prevents them.
Read the guide
