Kitchen respray cost — how much you can expect to pay and what's involved

In the world of kitchen renovation, a kitchen respray cost is now just as likely to make it onto your list of options as replacing or repainting doors and drawers.

Offering an opportunity to not only rejuvenate a tired space, but also to even change the current finish of your cabinets – with primers and techniques available that can turn wood grain doors into something more smooth and contemporary – it's even a job you can do yourself with the right tips and technique.

But what will a professional kitchen respray cost and just what's involved?

Kitchen respray cost: Is it cheaper than replacing doors?

Before we delve into the finer details of what you should budget for a kitchen respray cost, the good news is that in general it's a cost-effective option.

There's no doubt that if you're weighing up either replacing or painting kitchen cabinets, a kitchen respray cost will work out cheaper than replacing kitchen doors with new ones. 

And with hundreds of colours available to paint with, you may find an even better match than an off-the-shelf door.

Factors affecting kitchen respray cost

As with any kitchen remodel, renovation, or indeed even a brand new kitchen cost, it comes down to a number of key factors.

"A kitchen respray cost will be influenced by three main factors, says Danny Zahid, operations director at uPVC Spray Painters. "The size of the kitchen, whether the internals or externals of the units are being sprayed, and the type of finish desired by the client."

Other factors such as the cabinet detailing may also have an impact - mainly because "for intricate finishing work, it's recommended to perform the spraying in a spray booth for optimal results," adds Danny. 

Additional elements that will influence cost are, "distance, the layout of the kitchen, the current condition of the doors and how many colours are required," adds Clive Tonks at The Kitchen Facelift Company.

Danny Zahid

Danny is the CEO of Upvc Spray Painters, where he puts client needs at the forefront of every project, ensuring clients receives tailored quality solutions delivered to high standards.

Clive Tonks

Clive is an expert when it comes to kitchens. Offering full kitchen makeovers, including the increasingly popular respraying option, The Kitchen Facelift Company also appeared on the popular Channel 4 'Love it or list it' programme.

Kitchen respray – what's involved

In terms of how your kitchen is resprayed, there are a few options available to you. 

"We offer two main options," says Danny Zahid. "Removing the doors and having them resprayed in our spray booth, or spraying them in situ at your home. Both methods ensure a high-quality finish. Either way we visit and assess each site and your needs before confirming the final details of the job to ensure our service meets your end goals.

Other companies, may also offer slightly different versions of the same or similar processes.

"We offer four main options to try and offer some cost saving opportunities," explains Clive Tonks. These are:

Option one To prepare and hand spray with a lacquer paint, fronts and edges only of doors and drawer fronts.

Option two To prepare and hand spray with a lacquer paint the fronts and backs of doors and drawer fronts.

Option three On-site kitchen respray, which involves sprayers coming to site, preparing surfaces, masking off areas and hand spraying the complete kitchen in a coloured enamel. The kitchen is left fully operational during this time.

Option four A cost-effective on site service for on-site resprays that can be completed in a day if there are no unforeseen delays.

"With options one and two we offer a painter to come to site to prepare and hand paint all fixed items ( end panels, plinths, cornice, leading edge of every cabinet etc...)," expands Clive. "Although we also advise customers there may be a subtle difference between the doors that are sprayed and the fixed items that are painted using a colour matched paint applied with a brush or roller.

"This however is listed as a separate price," adds Clive, "as some customers may want to do this themselves to keep costs down."

"With option four, the sprayers come to site, handles are removed, areas are masked off and the complete kitchen is sprayed in situ," says Clive. "Doors and drawer fronts are sprayed in current hung position. All cornice, pelmets and end panels are sprayed. All that is visible is sprayed, however, some top edges and all the backs of doors that can not be seen will not be sprayed. A phone conversation with the sprayers is advisable if this option is of interest."

Respraying in situ

If you are choosing a respray in situ option, you can expect the following steps to take place:

• Doors and hardware removed
• Cabinets sealed inside if carcasses not being repsprayed
• All other areas masked off such as worktops, tiles, ceiling and walls
• Doors and any other surfaces being resprayed thoroughly cleaned 
• Any imperfections, damage or marks repaired
• Light abrasion to surfaces to help paint adhere
• Two coats of paint applied
• Remove all coverings and clean kitchen

If your doors are being taken to a different location to be sprayed, be sure to check if the costs for removing doors and reinstalling is included. Some companies may expect you to do one or both elements - or offer it under a premium service option.

"With options one and two," says Clive Tonks, "to help keep the cost down, I do request that the customer removes the doors, drawer fronts and handles, then washes them down with sugar soap to remove any excess oil and grease the surfaces may have collected over time. 

"Options three and four however just require a wash down, but this should still be thorough to ensure no extra costs or delays are incurred."

Professional kitchen respray cost

"If you want to call in a professional to respray your kitchen, expect to pay around £800 for a small kitchen, with costs obviously rising for larger kitchens," suggests Steve Jenkins, Homebuilding's DIY expert. 

Again price varies on how many cabinets/doors are being sprayed, what paint is used and whether or not the cabinets/doors need to be taken away to be sprayed.   

"The average cost of a kitchen respray can start from around £1,400, depending on the size and specifics of the kitchen," says Danny Zahid.

Steve Jenkins

Steve was previously the DIY content editor for Homebuilding & Renovating and is a keen DIYer with over 20 years of experience in transforming and renovating homes. He specialises in painting and decorating, but has a wide range of skills gleaned from working in the building trade for around 10 years.

DIY kitchen respray cost

"If you are going to tackle spray painting kitchen cabinets on a DIY basis, you will only need a few tools and equipment – and your time, which is free," says Steve Jenkins. 

"A HVLP paint sprayer can be purchased for around £50-£100, while paint will cost around £20 a litre. 

"To work out how much paint you need you will need to measure up all surfaces that you are going to paint to work out the square meterage. As a rough guideline one tin of paint will give coverage of 12m2," advises Steve. 

"This is roughly enough for two coats on the doors and drawer fronts of an average eight cabinet kitchen. Budget for at least 5 litres, which will typically be less than £100. Add in dust sheets, painters tape and sandpaper, you should be able to spray an average sized kitchen for less than £200."

Kitchen respray – pros and cons

When it comes to the pros and cons of investing in a kitchen respray, the biggest benefit is of course cost. It's a far more budget friendly way of updating your current kitchen.

And let's not ignore the eco-benefits of not sending your old kitchen to landfill - simply because you no longer like the colour on the doors. If the kitchen layout and overall design meets your need, a colour refresh could transform your space. If you choose wooden doors to start with, you could also have it done more than once.

Respraying rather than hand painting will also give you a smoother, more professional finish. You'll have no brush marks or drips that are sometimes impossible to avoid, even when you're using the best kitchen cabinet paint. 

Of course, the quality of the finish is also down to the supplier you use for your kitchen respray, so make sure you ask to see examples of their previous work and also ask for references. Choosing companies that are also part of a larger network such as Checkatrade or MyBuilder can also provide some additional surety that they are a reputable supplier who has been through a vetting process.

On the downside, if you have your kitchen respray done in situ, it may be fairly disruptive as there's a chance you can't easily use your kitchen once it is all sealed up and prepared. 

"Paint manufacturers also do not offer a guarantee against chipping or scratching," adds Clive Tonks. "This means if the surface is knocked, it may result in chipping. But, this is no different to any other painted surface."

FAQs

What colours can I choose?

It's important to check that the company you decide to go with is able to provide you with the colour you want.

In most cases, companies will be able to offer you specific brand choices or the colour of your choice from the RAL system. This makes the opportunities pretty limitless, but if you have a particular shade in mind, make sure you check this with them at the start.

How long does a kitchen respray take?

"As with all other factors, the duration of a kitchen respray can vary," says Danny Zahid. "You should allow around 2 days for a small kitchen and up to 7 days for a large kitchen."

If your doors need to be taken away to be sprayed in a booth, make sure this is factored into the timings when you receive your official quote.

Can I have my kitchen carcasses sprayed?

Yes, we can spray carcasses," says Danny Zahid. "This process is slightly longer due to the intricate details involved, but it is definitely achievable." 

Some companies may suggest not doing this unless they are display units as depending on the paint finish, having pots and pans rubbing against the surface could cause damage. Always check with the company first regarding the insides of your cupboards, but make sure that they spray the leading edges so that there is a colour match when the doors are closed.

Are there any cabinet finishes that you can't spray?

The good news is, even if you're looking at ways of painting gloss kitchen cabinets  getting your kitchen resprayed is an option. With the right preparation and paint, "all doors can be sprayed to meet the client's desires," confirms Danny Zahid.

Again, each company may be different. Clive Tonks tells us they won't respray kitchen cabinets that have been painted with chalk paint and neither will they remove and revarnish cupboards.

Can you remove the grain effect from wooden cabinet doors?

"Yes, this is possible," confirms Danny Zahid. "The process involves cleaning and prepping the doors, applying a bar coat primer, sanding, reapplying to close gaps, and then applying the topcoat. This straightforward process achieves a smooth, flat finish."

How long will a respray last?

A respray can last a minimum of 10 years with proper care and maintenance.

What else in the kitchen can you respray?

Tiles and worktops can also be resprayed say the experts, and of course, spray painting your walls and ceiling is also an option and often preferred for the smooth, flat finish it creates.

For more advice on budgeting, read our guide to kitchen renovation costs and try these cheap and quick ways to makeover a kitchen.