Wondering how long painted cabinets last? You’re not alone — it’s one of the first questions Calgary homeowners ask before deciding to refinish their kitchen. At Distinctively Paint, we paint around 200 cabinets per year and durability is at the heart of what we do.
What Makes Painted Cabinets Durable?
Durability depends on two main things: quality of the cabinet paint and how the surface is prepared prior to painting.
Proper Preparation for Durable Painted Cabinets
There are 3 primary components to preparing cabinets for painting:
- Cleaning
- Sanding
- Silicone removal
Cleaning Cabinets to Prepare for Painting
We use enviroclean to clean cabinets prior to painting. Enviroclean is a product created by Envirolak, a Canadian cabinet paint manufacturer specifically for use on cabinets prior to painting. It’s designed to both remove any surface contaminants like grease or food residue that may cause adheasion issues while not leaving any residue behind that may react with your topcoat.
Distinctively Paint uses a cleaning product specifically designed to prep cabinets for painting.
Sanding Cabinets to Prepare for Painting
All surfaces must be sanded to ‘break’ the surface of the preexisting coating while at the same time not creating too much texture that may show through the final product. Proper cabinet paints are very fine and show a lot of detail. Great care must be taken to sand enough – but not so much that it creates swirl marks or ‘pig tails’ in the final product.
The proper process is to start with a slightly coarser grit on the first sand, followed by finer grit sanding as you get closer to the final coat.
Silicone Removal
Ugh, silicone. A painter’s nemesis.
Silicone is typically applied to cabinets around the countertop so that water can’t seep down anywhere it isn’t supposed to go in case of a spill. It’s often applied along the floor line as well. And sometimes an applicator can go crazy and put it in all sorts of places it really isn’t meant to go. One example of inappropriate silicone placement would be along the wall by the upper cabinets. Unfortunately, silicone is sometimes used in place of caulking to hide bad joints or errors in the carpentry.
Paint does not stick to silicone. Don’t let anyone tell you differently. It must all be completely removed. If it’s been applied liberally to a kitchen or bath cabinet, this step alone can take hours. Which is why it’s often a step that’s skipped by low quality painters.
Common durability issues if preparation isn’t done correctly:
- Poor adhesion due to lack of degreasing
- Early wear and tear due to using products not designed specifically for kitchens
- Inappropriate primer
- Not sanding enough to give the cabinets tooth and create a bond
When we get called in to fix another painter’s work, one or more of these things is usually the culprit. Of course, there’s a lot more to preparing cabinets for painting. These are just the main points when it comes to durability.
Learn more about our cabinet painting process!
Why Choose Distinctively Paint for a Long-Lasting Finish
- We use KCMA Products designed for cabinets
- Doors are sprayed in our commercial spray booth
- We do 2–4 kitchens every week, not a just few a year
- All work backed by our 3-year warranty
FAQs: Painted Cabinet Durability
Do painted cabinets peel or chip?
Yes, but not easily. A painted finish will never be bullet proof – but that doesn’t mean it isn’t durable. When properly prepared, the right primer is used, and a KCMA approved product is applied, your cabinets should be able to withstand normal wear and tear for many years.
How long do painted cabinets last?
10+ years with normal use.
Are painted cabinets as durable as high end custom cabinets?
Yes — we use similar spray systems.
What type of paint is used?
We use professional-grade KCMA approved products. Not off the shelf trim paint.
