Painting vs refacing
Cabinet painting or refacing? Keep the doors you already paid for.
What refacing is
New doors and drawer fronts are made, and the cabinet boxes are covered with a veneer or laminate to match. The layout stays; the doors are new.
What painting is
Your existing doors, drawer fronts and boxes are degreased, sanded, primed and sprayed with a hard 2K coating in your home. Nothing new is manufactured.
A real kitchen
Brossard: thermofoil doors kept and painted.
“Don’t replace your thermofoil cabinets before exploring refinishing.” Gary
Espresso thermofoil shaker doors over MDF, July 2026. On Day 2 I removed the thermofoil film. The MDF underneath was primed and sprayed white with Renner 2K.
Same doors, same cabinet boxes, in a new colour.
Keeps your cabinet boxes and layout
Painting (refinishing): YesRefacing: YesKeeps your existing doors
Painting (refinishing): YesRefacing: NoChanges the door style (e.g. raised panel to flat slab)
Painting (refinishing): NoRefacing: YesAny colour, including two-tone
Painting (refinishing): YesRefacing: YesNothing new to manufacture or wait for
Painting (refinishing): YesRefacing: NoWorks on solid wood, MDF, many thermofoil doors
Painting (refinishing): YesRefacing: Yes
| Painting (refinishing) | Refacing | |
|---|---|---|
| Keeps your cabinet boxes and layout | ||
| Keeps your existing doors | ||
| Changes the door style (e.g. raised panel to flat slab) | ||
| Any colour, including two-tone | ||
| Nothing new to manufacture or wait for | ||
| Works on solid wood, MDF, many thermofoil doors |
How to choose
Four questions. Answer them looking at your own doors.
- 1
Do you like the shape of your doors?
PaintYes, only the colour or finish looks dated: dark cherry, orange oak, espresso, yellowed white.
RefaceYou want a different style, for example raised panel to flat slab.
- 2
Are the doors in good shape?
PaintSolid, just worn: scuffs, chips, grease, a tired old paint job. Prep and repairs handle that.
RefaceSwollen, broken or warped beyond repair.
- 3
Is it thermofoil?
PaintPeeling or dated film on MDF: the film comes off and the MDF is primed and sprayed, as in Brossard.
RefaceDoors warped by heat.
- 4
Does the layout work for you?
PaintYes: painting keeps your boxes and layout, and changes the finish.
RefaceRefacing keeps them too. Changing the layout takes a new kitchen.
Not sure? Send photos. I will tell you honestly whether your doors are worth painting.
“I debated replacing the entire kitchen vs painting it or having the cabinet doors replaced. The kitchen layout is efficient, the space not allowing major changes. The cabinets were quality wood, replacing them was tens of thousands of dollars. I opted for painting after seeing a sample of the finished work.”Is painting cheaper than refacing?
Usually, because no new doors are made. For an exact number for your kitchen, send photos for a free quote.
Can painted cabinets look as good as new doors?
A sprayed 2K finish over proper prep looks factory-made. One client wrote that her kitchen looks “as if it was just installed by the manufacturer.”
Can thermofoil be painted instead of refaced?
Often yes. Peeling film is removed and the MDF underneath is primed and sprayed. Heat-warped doors are the exception.
How long does painting take compared with waiting for new doors?
Painting takes about five days for a typical kitchen, done in your home. Nothing is ordered or manufactured.
Fast first step
Show us the kitchen.
Send a few photos, your area and the basic cabinet details. I review them myself and come back with a quote and next steps.