Homeowner's Guide to Kitchen Remodeling

The number one question we get from homeowners who are planning on renovating their kitchen spaces is... how do you know what order to do the various projects in?  This is such a common question that we surveyed other professional refinishers in the cabinet painting business for their expertise on the subject.  Here's our advise for homeowners:

-If adding to, removing or repairing existing cabinets...always save the painting until last.  Any new carpentry should absolutely be done prior to refinishing and caulking should be done as part of the painting process.  You'll want to plan accordingly with your painting contractor to ensure that these upgrades are finished prior to scheduling your dates.

-If replacing countertops, you'll want to save cabinet painting til last.  More often than not, a newly painted cabinet job can get accidentally get damaged by countertop installers as many paints need at least 30 days to properly cure.  If you're using A La Carte Cabinet Painting, our paint cures within 24 hours so there's less concern about scratches, dents, and chips.  We also recommend asking your countertop installer to run a thin bead of paintable caulk under the countertop to create a clean finished look where the bottom cabinet meets the countertop.

-If removing old backsplash and installing new, it's best to do this prior to cabinet painting.  Again, installers may accidentally damage newly painted cabinets if done afterwards.  An additional advantage to removing backsplash beforehand is that there may be a section of old tile that covers an edge of a cabinet.  If this is the case, you'll need to decide whether the new tile will be reinstalled in the same area. 

-If installing or refinishing flooring in kitchen, if flooring is unfinished hardwood and needs to be sealed, this curing process can take as much as 30 days.  We recommend coordinating with your cabinet refinisher to schedule your project after the floors have fully cured.  Ladders and equipment required for painting can easily damage a newly refinished floor and no cabinet painting company will take on this liability.  Additionally, it is not recommended at any time to paint cabinets over an unfinished hardwood floor.  The products used to deep clean cabinets can stain unfinished wood causing homeowner additional money to have them resanded.  If new flooring being installed is engineered, vinyl, or tile, cabinet painting can be done immediately following the install.  If cabinet painting company is comfortable working on the subfloor with potential hazards of exposed nails and such, cabinets can technically be painted prior to the flooring install.

When faced with multiple renovation tasks, there are so many details to manage and many facets of the projects can go wrong.  Our advise is to hire a seasoned general contractor to oversee all the various aspects of a larger scale remodel.  This person is your go-to contact and manages each independent contractor to ensure a smooth and timely process.  Feel free to contact us for referrals to a reputable general contractor you can trust in the Raleigh area.  For smaller remodels, a homeowner is always safest to leave the painting til last...when in doubt...PAINT LAST!