Kitchen cabinet painting in Morgan Hill, CA

How it's done

Doors and drawer fronts come off and are usually sprayed off-site. Every surface is degreased, sanded or deglossed, and primed with a bonding primer before the finish coats. The boxes are masked and painted in place.

Finish and durability

Cabinet-grade enamels and two-part or catalyzed finishes hold up to cleaning far better than wall paint. Oak and other open-grain woods show their grain through paint unless the grain is filled first.

Painting, refacing or replacing

Painting keeps the existing doors. Refacing replaces doors and fronts and covers the boxes. Replacing changes everything, and is the only option when the layout changes. The cabinet refacing page compares the last two.

Permits in Morgan Hill

The City lists residential kitchen and bathroom remodels under its Simple Plan Check, which means the plans need Building Division review only, not a separate planning approval.
The City requires a permit for any alteration or repair of an existing building, so moving plumbing, adding circuits, changing a gas line or opening a wall all go through the Building Division.
If you are unsure whether your scope needs a permit, the Building Division answers that question directly.

City of Morgan Hill Building Division · 17575 Peak Ave, (408) 778-6480

Common questions

How long does painted kitchen cabinetry last?

With proper prep and a cabinet-grade finish, many years of normal use. Chips usually start at edges and around handles, where prep and finish matter most.

Can laminate or thermofoil cabinets be painted?

Laminate can be with the right bonding primer. Peeling thermofoil usually has to come off or be replaced, so refacing is often the better choice.