When we say painted cabinets, your mind might travel to that nightmare project your neighbor attempted last summer, but painted cabinets can be much more than a DIY adventure. Standard cabinet finishes just aren’t enough to cut it for everyone – but that’s all many kitchen and bath dealers offer to their clients.

Got dreams of matching the color of the beautiful non-standard cabinetry you found on your favorite Pinterest board? That’s a job for a custom cabinet manufacturer. Since your dreams shouldn’t be unfairly limited, we have something for everyone (and more).

Now that we’ve got your attention, it’s time to answer a few frequently asked questions we often hear regarding painted cabinets:

What are some options when it comes to painted cabinets?

When choosing your custom painted cabinets, it’s more than just your basic color choices. Options include a variety of finishing methods including antiquing, distressing, glazing and sheen variation (flat, semi-gloss, or satin finishes). There’s truly something for everyone.

How many colors are available?

It all depends on the manufacturer you’re working with, but we alone have 6,000 paints for you to choose from. In other words, if you were to name one of our paint colors per day, it would take you over 16 years to name them all.

Are there any differences in cost and timeframe?

Custom painted cabinetry is typically a bit more expensive than stained cabinetry due to the extra labor involved in the process.  Additionally, you should expect longer lead times due to the extended finishing process.  However, since kitchen projects vary, it all really depends. To find out how yours specifically will differ, talk with an expert about your project details.

How are painted cabinets made?

Generally speaking, the process requires many coats of material over very tight grained lumber.  Maple is normally the predominant wood specie to paint due to its tight grain characteristics and density. 

We can’t speak for every manufacturer, but at Brakur, we use at least two coats of paint and then a topcoat (usually a Conversion Varnish Clear topcoat).  Each coat needs to be sanded prior to another coat being applied.

If you want to learn about the pros and cons of painted cabinetry, stay tuned for part 2!