DIY + PRO PROGRAM

Looking for a kitchen makeover on a budget? Our new cabinet painting program combines DIY savings with professional results. Homeowners paint their cabinet boxes using a complete kit and step-by-step instructions, with all supplies included. Meanwhile, we professionally spray the doors and drawer fronts in our workshop, ensuring a flawless, durable finish where it matters most. This shared-workload approach can save you thousands of dollars while still delivering a beautiful, long-lasting kitchen transformation.

A photo of our DIY kit. This has everything that you need to get a flawless finish on your cabinets!

So… How does this work?

First, we will need to schedule an in-home consultation to be sure that your cabinets and your DIY experience are a good candidate for the program.

Home owners with no prior painting or DIY experience may not be a good candidate because it is a large and sometimes strenuous project. You’ll need to know how to roll or brush paint without overloading your tool. This leads to lots of drips that will need to be sanded or scraped off, giving yourself extra, unnecessary work. You’ll also need to be able to block out about 2-3 full days of work (depending on the size of the project). Homeowners are not required to have their own electric sander, but if you don’t have one, you’ll be doing lots of hand sanding. (We only need to scuff sand; we aren’t pulling off the finish.)

Your kitchen is NOT a good candidate if you have a failing current finish. Examples of this would be peeling and chipping paint or varnish, water damage, or areas in need of patchwork like wood filler. This kind of kitchen may need lots of sanding or chemical stripping to get a professional finish— something that a DIYer may be uncomfortable with.

After program “approval”…

After we have decided that you and your kitchen are good candidates, we will discuss price, timeline, and a deposit. All of our cabinet painting jobs require a non-refundable deposit to schedule. Your savings will be based on the size and scope of your project, but usually come out to about 50% off of a full professional painting for a large kitchen.

I order paint when the deposit is paid. From there, we are about 2-4 weeks out on starting our project.

The first day of the project:

On day one of our project start date, I will come to pick up your cabinet doors and drawer fronts. We will have already discussed a plan for removal, whether that’s a “DIY” job or a “PRO” job. While I’m there, I will leave full printed instructions for you, along with your DIY kit. This kit includes everything seen in the photo above: cleaner, paper towels (not pictured), paint bucket, brush, roller, roller cover, primer, and paint.

Suggested items not included in your kit: nitrile gloves (only for cleanliness, these aren’t needed for safety reasons), shop rags, canvas or sheet for floor and countertop protection, electric sander, razor blades, painters tape, painter’s tool (scraper).

You may or may not have an electric sander at home, THAT’S OKAY! You don’t NEED an electric sander, but it is nice to have. If you don’t have an electric sander at home, sanding blocks will be provided for you.

What you can expect for a workflow timeline:

Day 1 DIYer: Clean cabinet boxes with provided cleaner. Rinse boxes with plain water. Allow to dry thoroughly. Scuff sand your boxes with 150 grit. Apply first coat of primer.

Day 2 DIYer: Apply second coat of primer. Allow to dry overnight (this is important!!!)

Day 3 DIYer: Sand your boxes smooth with 220 grit, then 320 grit. Wipe back with damp cloth to remove any sanding dust. Apply one coat of paint, wait 1-2 hours, then apply your second coat.

*DAY 1 AND 2 MAY BE COMBINED IF TIME ALLOWS!

Day 1 PRO: Clean doors and drawer fronts, scuff sand, apply first coat of primer.

Day 2 PRO: Apply second coat of primer.

Day 3 PRO: Sand smooth and apply paint.

Last day of project:

I will check in regularly on how it’s going on the DIY side, while simultaneously giving updates on how it’s going at the PRO shop. We will collaborate on a time to return the doors and drawer fronts. Ideally, this will be the day after the cabinet boxes are finished. We don’t want to hang the cabinet doors while the boxes are still wet, and we don’t want to leave our doors laying around or propped up on anything. This could encourage “sticking” and damage our paint finish. Good news is that the paint we use dries and cures quickly, so we aren’t waiting days or weeks for a good cure.

*Disclaimer:

I am not responsible for the DIY cabinet portion of this job. As long as my instructions are followed to the letter, you should not have any issues. The paint I use is very user-friendly. It self-levels and spreads nicely and lends itself well to touch ups, so it’s great for DIY while also giving professional results.

Ready to move forward on your project? For a free digital consultation, send us a message here or call us at 919-893-8541.

FAQs:

Will we be using chemical stripper?
NO. We only clean and scuff sand the existing finish. This is enough to start your project. If your cabinets need stripping, you will likely not be eligible for the program.

If I run into problems, can I reach out for advice?
OF COURSE! This program includes professional troubleshooting, as long as it is within normal waking hours. (Sorry, no midnight chats!)

How long does the entire process take?
Start to finish, you’re looking at about 4 days total.

Why do you handle the doors and drawer fronts?
Doors and drawer fronts are the most visible parts of your kitchen. By spraying them in my workshop with professional tools and products, you’ll get a flawless, factory-like finish that’s hard to achieve at home.

Will the finish last?
Yes! The products and methods I use are designed for durability. Combined with your careful prep and painting of the boxes, the result is a long-lasting finish that holds up to everyday kitchen use.

Is this program right for every kitchen?
This program works best for homeowners who want a budget-friendly upgrade and feel comfortable with some DIY. For those who prefer a full-service option, we also offer complete professional cabinet painting.