Questions to ask when getting quotes to refinish cabinetry

How to Find the Right Cabinet Refinisher

Finding the right cabinetry professional requires some research and due diligence. Here are some important things to look for and questions to ask as you interview potential refinishers.

1. Are You Insured?

• Before you let anyone work on your property, you need to make sure they have valid insurance in place.

• Most contractors provide their own liability coverage. This way, if anything gets damaged while they work, their insurance covers the cost of repairs. Without the insurance policy, your homeowners' coverage would have to pay for damages.

2. Do You Have a Portfolio I Can Look At?

• The best way to decide if a company is worth working with is to look at their past work. Ask for their portfolio or examples of projects they've done. Most reputable companies will have a lot of photos you can view online. The very best will have samples they can bring to your home upon request.

• Take the time to go through any and all examples they provide. If you like the colors, textures, and finishes they used on other projects, they'll be the right fit for your renovation.

3. What Types of Paint Do You Use?

• When it comes to paint choice, there are tons of options. Only an experienced contractor will know what works best for your space and cabinet material.

• Ask about the types of paint they use and whether the paint holds up to routine cleaning and cooking. For cabinets, they should at least use a product that meets the specifications of the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturing Association (KCMA). This is the criteria set forth by cabinet manufactures.

• Some kitchens will need a different type of paint based on the type of cabinet material. The cabinet painter will be able to explain why a certain choice is right for your home. If the company recommends something off the shelf from a big box store, then you should look for another company.

4. What Do I Need to Do to Prepare?

• Most often, all you'll need to do to get your home ready for painting is to clear off your countertops. But the better you prepare your kitchen, the faster the job gets done.

• Have your painter explain what you need to do to get ready.

5. How Will You Take Care of My Home?

• Unfortunately, some companies hire people off the street as long as they're willing to work. They don't take the time to carefully screen each cabinet painter. This means they often get inexperienced people who don't know how to properly care for a client's home.

• At the very least, a painting company should promise to lay drop cloths in the kitchen to protect your floors. They should also know how to keep your walls and appliances clean and free from new paint. Ideally, they should protect and ventilate the space they will be working in. If they can't do these basic things or aren't willing to tell you how they'll keep your home safe, keep looking.

6. Do You Have References I Can Contact?

• Experienced painters have worked with a long list of customers in the past. Many of them are happy to sing their praises and share their experience with the company itself. They often leave online reviews on sites like Google, Facebook and Yelp.

• Ask every company you get estimates from for references. Otherwise, search online for reviews about the company. If customers are happy with work performed over a year ago, you can expect the same durability and service with your project.

7. How Do You Apply the Paint?

• Reputable companies know that you can't brush and roll cabinets to get a factory-like finish.

• If a painter says they use standard paintbrushes on cabinet doors, consider working with someone else. Paintbrushes leave visible streaks along the surface. This ruins the sleek finish and makes the cabinets look unprofessional.

• Ideally, your painter will use a fine finish paint sprayer. The cabinet doors and drawer faces must get sprayed to leave a smooth finish. The trim and cabinet framing should also get a fine spray finish for the absolute best results.

8. Who Will Be Doing the Work?

• The person giving you an estimate may not be the one doing the actual work, and you'll want to know who will be in your home.

If you're in search of reputable cabinet painting professionals, consider Color Crush Custom Cabinets. We specialize in cabinet painting and use a unique approach, from our cleaning solution to our primer, coating products, and even our light-curing UV system, to deliver durable and beautiful results.