How Long Do Painted Cabinets Last & When Should You Paint Them?

If you're planning a kitchen makeover, refreshing your cabinets with paint will transform your kitchen from dated to now. But you probably want to know just how long you can expect your painted cabinets to last. And will paint hold up as well as factory-finished cabinets?

There are many advantages to painted cabinets. Paint is the eco-friendly choice over buying new. Paint gives you unlimited color options to match your aesthetic. Plus painting your cabinets will cost half of what you'd spend on replacing your cabinets.

But of all paint projects around the house, painting cabinets is not recommended for DIY. Cabinet painting requires experience, skill, and finesse. Unless you're a highly skilled and experienced DIYer, leave your cabinet painting to professionals who can maximize your cabinets' longevity. 

As you're deciding between factory-finished cabinets and painted, this article will answer your question, "How long do painted cabinets last?" and will also detail the factors that affect the longevity of painted cabinets. We even offer guidance on when and how often you should paint your cabinets so read on to become an expert on painted cabinets.

The Average Lifespan of Painted Cabinets

High-quality paint can provide long-lasting and very durable protection for kitchen cabinets. Professionally painted kitchen cabinets not only look fabulous but they typically last up to 10 years with proper care. Within that time frame, it's likely you'll have moved to a new house, or want to update the color of your kitchen. Painting is the cost-effective, ecological choice over buying new. While keeping your old cabinets, you can change their appearance with almost unlimited color choices to match your aesthetic.

Factory-finished cabinets are longer lasting than painted. A chemical baking process makes factory-finished cabinets highly durable and resistant to staining. Although factory-finished cabinets may be more durable and last longer than paint, keep in mind that the cost to paint cabinets is half as much as replacing them with factory-finished cabinets. If budget is a factor, painting is definitely the best option. Painted cabinets can be very durable when the paint is allowed to cure. Even though paint will dry in 2 to 3 hours, curing can take up to 3 to 4 weeks.

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What Factors Affect the Lifespan of Painted Cabinets?

Kids and pets can be hard on cabinets. So can serious cooks. However, there are many other factors that can affect the lifespan of kitchen cabinets. Whether you paint or stain cabinets you want them to last, so be sure to consider the following factors that will affect their lifespan.

Quality of Paint

It's a waste of money, time, and energy to use inferior paint on kitchen cabinets. High-quality paint is a major factor that determines the lifespan of painted cabinets. Sherwin Williams Emerald Trim Urethane and Benjamin Moore Advane are two top brands that will provide the longest lifespan for your cabinets.

Application Technique

Skilled prep and workmanship are two critical elements that affect the longevity of cabinets. Paint should be sprayed on in thin coats and carefully sanded between coats. The best way to achieve the longest-lasting cabinet paint job is to hire a professional painter who uses expert application techniques.

Maintenance and Upkeep

Grease, oils, and food remnants can break down a painted finish if cabinets aren't periodically cleaned and maintained. Although today's paint formulations are highly resistant to grease, oils, and food, your cabinets will last longer if they're kept clean. Usually, this simply means periodically wiping the faces down with mild soap and a clean moist rag.

How Your Kitchen Is Used

An exuberant family, household pets, daily meal prep, and cooking, or just brewing your morning coffee –  how you use your kitchen will either add to or detract from your painted cabinets' lifespan. You can control the longevity of your painted cabinets by hiring a pro to paint them with high-quality paint and keeping them well-maintained.

How Often Should You Paint Your Cabinets?

The issue of how frequently you should paint your cabinets goes back to the question of how long you can expect them to last. Let's say you've had your cabinets painted professionally with high-quality paint and you keep them clean, maintained, and on an appropriate touchup schedule. You shouldn't have to paint for up to 10 years!

Reasons to Paint Your Cabinets 

Many homeowners want to change their color scheme long before their cabinet paint wears out – so that means you can paint as often as you want! However, if your cabinets are starting to chip, fade, and look shabby, you definitely should paint them so your kitchen looks fresh and clean, and to maintain your home's value. 

Signs It's Time to Repaint Your Cabinets

While repainting with a new color is an aesthetic choice, when your kitchen cabinets start to detract from the beauty of your home, you need to pay attention to the signs that it's time to repaint. Chipping paint (especially around cabinet hardware), fading, stains, and even outdated colors are issues that can be resolved with fresh paint.

Minor chipping over the course of the years should be expected and requires touchup. Major blemishes should be evaluated by a professional who can suggest touchup or repaint. If it's time to repaint, here are some great cabinet painting ideas!

Paint or Replace?

As you prepare your kitchen makeover budget, you'll soon see how your dream quickly adds up to a surprising expense. Hiring a professional to paint your cabinets will cost half as much (or even less!) than the cost of replacing them. Painting your kitchen cabinets frees up your budget to help you achieve your renovation dreams!

Ready to Refresh Your Cabinets?

You can expect your kitchen cabinet paint job to last up to 10 years if you hire a professional painter. Singletrack Painting provides expert cabinet painting services with the finest workmanship and outstanding customer service.

In addition to cabinet painting, we have many years of experience with all types of interior and residential painting. If you have any questions about our comprehensive painting services, we're happy to help! Ready to refresh your cabinets? Contact us today for an estimate.

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