Kitchen cupboard painting in Exeter
Professional kitchen cupboard painting services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£360-£610
Typical Duration
1-2 days
Location
Exeter, Devon
Kitchen cupboards painted properly with doors removed, professionally prepared, and quality paint applied. Transforms dated units into something fresh and modern for a fraction of a new kitchen's cost.
New Kitchen Look Without the New Kitchen Price
Got solid units that are just the wrong colour or dated style? Painting them professionally costs 80% less than replacement and gives you a completely fresh kitchen. Put the savings into a new worktop or appliances instead.
💡 Pro tip: Combine painted cupboards with a new worktop and you've basically got a new kitchen for about 25% of the cost. Most people can't tell the difference once it's done.
Why Kitchen Painting is Different
This isn't like painting a wall. Kitchen cupboards take daily abuse - grease, moisture, hands, knocks. The wrong paint or technique fails in months.
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Done Wrong |
|---|---|
| Doors removed, painted flat | Painted hanging, drips everywhere |
| Degreased, sanded, primed properly | Quick wipe, paint straight on |
| Kitchen-specific hard-wearing paint | Whatever paint was on offer |
| Multiple thin coats, cured fully | One thick coat, put back next day |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Process
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Strip | Doors removed, hardware bagged and labelled |
| Prep | Everything degreased, sanded, filled if needed |
| Prime | Proper primer for wood or laminate |
| Paint | Multiple coats, sanded between, professional finish |
| Cure | Full 48hrs before refitting |
📦 You're Left With
- Kitchen that looks brand new
- Hard-wearing washable finish
- Money saved for other upgrades
Pricing Guide
| Kitchen Size | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Small galley (6-8 doors) | 7-9 hrs | £360-£460 |
| Average kitchen (10-15 doors) | 9-12 hrs | £460-£610 |
| Large kitchen (16+ doors) | Call for quote | Quote |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Spread over 2-3 days for drying time. Price includes prep and paint.
Perfect For...
✅ Solid wooden units - quality worth keeping
✅ Dated but functional - wrong colour, right bones
✅ Budget kitchen makeover - maximum impact, minimum cost
✅ Rental properties - freshen units cheaply
Why Choose Us for Kitchen cupboard painting in Exeter?
Saves thousands vs new kitchen
Doors removed and painted separately
Hard-wearing kitchen-specific paint
Professional spray or brush finish
What to Expect
Step 1: Strip the Kitchen
All doors come off, hardware gets bagged and labelled (so it goes back right). Drawer fronts too. You're left with bare carcasses - kitchen still usable but looks odd.
Step 2: Mega Prep
Everything gets degreased properly - kitchens are greasy even when they look clean. Then sanding to key the surface, filling any dents, priming with the right primer for your material.
Step 3: Paint & Cure
Multiple thin coats applied carefully. Doors painted flat to avoid drips. Sanded lightly between coats for glass-smooth finish. Then proper cure time before refitting - patience required.
Step 4: Refit
Once fully cured, doors go back on, hardware refitted. Kitchen complete and ready to use.
🔧 DIY Tips
Kitchen cupboard painting is ambitious DIY but doable if you've got time and space. Reality check first though:
🔧 What you'll need
- Somewhere to paint doors (garage, spare room)
- Trestles or supports for doors
- Industrial degreaser (sugar soap)
- Sandpaper (120, 240, 400 grit)
- Quality primer (Zinsser BIN for laminate)
- Kitchen cupboard paint (not emulsion!)
- Small foam roller and brush
- Patience (this takes days, not hours)
📐 The process
- Remove all doors and drawer fronts, label everything
- Remove all hardware, bag and label per door
- Degrease everything thoroughly - twice
- Sand with 120 grit to key surface
- Fill any chips or dents, sand smooth
- Prime everything - doors front, back, and edges
- Sand primer smooth with 240 grit
- First coat of paint, let dry completely
- Light sand with 400 grit
- Second coat, dry, light sand
- Third coat if needed
- Cure for 48 hours minimum before refitting
⚠️ Common DIY disasters
- Not degreasing properly - paint doesn't stick
- Trying to paint doors hanging - drips and sags
- Rushing cure time - fingerprints and damage
- Wrong paint - chips and wears off quickly
- Losing track of which door goes where
💡 Pro trick: Number the doors and carcasses with masking tape before removal. Door 1 to position 1, etc. When you're refitting days later, you won't remember which door goes where - they all look the same painted!
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Colour choice: Most people go for white, light grey, or sage green. Dark colours show every fingerprint. Ultra-matt shows grease. Satin or eggshell is most practical for kitchens.
Kitchen out of action? You can still use the sink and hob/oven while doors are off, just no storage access. Plan ahead - move essentials to a temporary spot before I start.
New handles too? Updating handles at the same time as painting makes a huge difference. I can fit new ones when refitting doors - the old holes either line up or get filled and new ones drilled.
Really old units? If they're falling apart, warped, or cheap chipboard that's swollen, painting won't save them. I'll be honest about whether your units are worth painting or whether you're better off replacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does kitchen cupboard painting actually save vs a new kitchen?
A basic new kitchen for an average-sized room is £3,000-£8,000 minimum. Painting your existing units is typically £500-£1,500 depending on size. If your units are solid and just dated, painting saves you thousands and you can put that money into new worktops, appliances, or flooring instead.
Will painted kitchen cupboards hold up to daily use?
Absolutely, if done properly with the right products. I use kitchen-specific paint that's designed for the job - hard-wearing, washable, grease-resistant. It's not slapping emulsion on doors. Professionally painted units last for years with normal use.
Do you remove the doors or paint them in place?
Doors come off and get painted separately - it's the only way to get a proper finish without drips and sags. Carcasses (the box frames) I paint in situ. Doors go back on once fully cured. Yes, your kitchen's out of action for a few days.
Can you paint over laminate or just wood?
Both, but laminate needs special primer to stick. Wooden doors are easier. I'll assess what you've got and be honest about whether painting is worthwhile. Some cheap melamine units aren't worth painting - the substrate is rubbish and paint won't save them.
How long before I can use my kitchen again?
Doors come off day one, painting takes 1-2 days, then they need 48 hours to cure before going back. So realistically you're without a fully functional kitchen for 3-5 days. You can still use the hob and sink, just no cupboard access.
Kitchen cupboard painting Also Available In:
Get a Free Quote in Exeter
Call us today for a free, no-obligation quote for your kitchen cupboard painting job in Exeter.
01392 964094Request Online QuoteOur Rates
Got multiple jobs?
Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
Why Trust Us
Need Kitchen cupboard painting in Exeter?
Get a free quote for your kitchen cupboard painting job in Exeter today.