Cabinet refinishing
Kitchen cabinet painting and refinishing in Madison, WI
If your kitchen cabinets are solid but the color is dated, you don't have to replace them. Refinishing changes the color and the finish while the cabinets, counters, and layout stay exactly where they are.
This is the work George is best at. Doors and drawer fronts come off and are cleaned, sanded, primed, and sprayed for a smooth, even finish; the frames are finished in your kitchen. Most kitchens take one to two weeks, priced per cabinet with paint included.
Fully insured. 4.9 from 35 reviews on Thumbtack, Top Pro 2023 to 2025.
What the job includes
- A free estimate and a written quote with a start date
- Help choosing color and finish
- Floors, counters, and appliances protected before work starts
- Doors and drawer fronts sprayed, frames finished in your kitchen
- Everything reinstalled and adjusted so it hangs straight
- A walkthrough before we call it done
What stays as it is: your cabinet boxes, counters, backsplash, and layout. Refinishing changes the color and finish, not the kitchen.
Best fit: wood, laminate, or previously painted cabinets with solid boxes and a layout you like. George checks the condition before he quotes and tells you plainly if refinishing isn't the right call.
What customers say about their cabinets
4.9 average from 35 reviews on Thumbtack (opens in a new tab), where George has been hired 38 times. Top Pro 2023, 2024, 2025. Background checked.
“Great experience working with GK. Came when scheduled & took care & pride in his work. Even came back for touch ups. Would definitely recommend him & would use him again for any future projects.”
Peter J.
Cabinet refinishing: Painted kitchen cabinets, repainted in a darker color. April 2024, via Thumbtack.
“George and Carley were great to work with from start to finish. Very responsive and flexible. Did a great job on painting my cabinets and my entire condo. Would work with them again!”
Nicole M.
Cabinet refinishing: Cabinets and a whole condo: walls, trim, ceilings, doors, and window frames. April 2024, via Thumbtack.
“Great work done on my cabinets. Was very responsible and flexible with my needs. He accommodated my specific requests and did the work in a timely manner. I’m really impressed.”
Savanna W.
Cabinet refinishing: Stained wood kitchen cabinets, repainted in a darker color. March 2023, via Thumbtack.
“George literally transformed our kitchen and did such a great job painting our cabinets. I would recommend him to anyone!”
Jack V.
Cabinet refinishing: Stained wood kitchen cabinets, repainted in a lighter color. December 2022, via Thumbtack.
“George and Carley were so easy to work with and did an amazing job repainting out kitchen and bathroom cabinets in a timely fashion. We’re excited to bring them back to do our kitchen as well!”
Amber A.
Cabinet refinishing: Kitchen and bathroom cabinets, repainted in a new color. November 2022, via Thumbtack.
“George came to finish up an incomplete kitchen cabinet painting job that was started by someone else I hired who wasn't able to finish the work. He did a great job and was easy to communicate with. I highly recommend him for any painting work.”
Quest R.
Cabinet refinishing: Unfinished kitchen cabinets, first-time painting. October 2022, via Thumbtack.
Free estimate
Get a free estimate for your cabinets
Tell us what you want painted or refinished: kitchen cabinets, rooms or a deck or door. George will call to talk it through, visit if he needs to see the space, and send a written quote.
- The estimate is free, including any visit.
- The written quote is the price, no extra charge if the job takes longer than expected.
- Call George
- (608) 403-5958
- Hours
- Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
- Payment
- Apple Pay, cash, check, Venmo, and Zelle accepted.
Serving Madison and Dane County, including Waunakee, Middleton, Verona, Fitchburg, Sun Prairie, DeForest, Windsor, McFarland, Monona, Cross Plains, Dane. See the full service area
How cabinet refinishing works
Freshly sprayed cabinet doors
- 01
Consultation and estimate
George calls to talk through the cabinets, colors, and finishes, visits if he needs to see them, and gives you a written quote with a start date. The written quote is the price, no extra charge if the job takes longer than expected.
- 02
Removal and labeling
Doors and drawer fronts come off and are labeled, so every piece returns to the exact opening it came from.
- 03
Preparation
Cabinet surfaces are cleaned and degreased to remove buildup, then sanded and primed to help the new coating adhere.
- 04
Spray finish
Doors and drawer fronts are spray painted for a smooth, even finish. Cabinet frames are painted on site with a fine-finish roller or sprayer, depending on the space.
- 05
Reinstallation and final walkthrough
Once the finish has cured enough to handle, the doors and drawer fronts go back on and get adjusted so they hang straight. We walk the finished kitchen with you before we call it done.
Refinish, reface or replace?
Three ways to change how a kitchen looks, side by side. George looks at your cabinets before he quotes and tells you plainly if refinishing isn't the right call.
Refinish
- What changes
- The color and finish of your doors, drawer fronts and frames
- What stays
- Your cabinet boxes, counters, backsplash and layout
- Makes sense when
- The boxes are solid and you like the layout
Reface
- What changes
- New doors and drawer fronts, with a veneer over the faces of the cabinet boxes
- What stays
- Your cabinet boxes and layout
- Makes sense when
- The boxes are solid and you want a different door style
Replace
- What changes
- The cabinets themselves, and often the counters with them
- What stays
- Usually little beyond the room
- Makes sense when
- The boxes are damaged, or you want a new layout or more cabinets
Same cabinets, new finish
See every before and after
Finished kitchens and built-ins
Cabinet refinishing questions
How long does cabinet refinishing take?
Most kitchens take one to two weeks. The exact timeline depends on the number of doors and drawers, the condition of the cabinets, and the overall scope. George gives you a start date with the quote.
Should I paint my cabinets or replace them?
Paint them if the boxes are solid and you like the layout. You keep the counters and plumbing where they are and change the color and finish. George checks the condition before he quotes and will tell you plainly if refinishing isn't the right fit.
What's the difference between refinishing and refacing?
Refacing generally means new doors and drawer fronts, with a veneer applied over the faces of the cabinet boxes. Refinishing keeps the doors and drawer fronts you have and changes their color and finish: they're sprayed off the boxes and the frames are finished in place, while your cabinet boxes, counters, backsplash, and layout stay as they are. George looks at your cabinets before he quotes and tells you plainly if refinishing isn't the right call.
Can I paint my cabinets myself?
You can paint them yourself. The difference is in the preparation and the finish. We take the doors and drawer fronts off, label them, then degrease, sand, and prime them so the coating bonds instead of sitting on top of old grease. They're sprayed off the boxes and the finish cures before they go back on, and the frames are finished in your kitchen. If you'd rather have it done once, the estimate is free.
Do you brush or spray the cabinets?
Doors and drawer fronts are professionally spray painted for a smooth, furniture-quality finish. The built-in cabinet frames are finished on site with either a fine-finish roller or spray application, depending on the space and the project.
How do you make sure the paint lasts?
Preparation. Every surface is cleaned, degreased, sanded, and primed so the coating bonds instead of sitting on top of old grease. The finish is left to cure before the doors and drawer fronts go back on.
What paint do you use?
We use premium paint from Sherwin-Williams and Behr, and Behr is the more economical of the two. If you'd rather use a brand you already like, just tell us and we'll use it. Your written quote is built around the paint you pick.
Can you paint stained, laminate, or previously painted cabinets?
Yes. George paints wall and base cabinets that are stained wood, already painted, laminate, or unfinished, whether you want a lighter color, a darker color, the same color refreshed, or more than one color.
How is cabinet refinishing priced?
Per cabinet, with paint included. George needs a few details about your kitchen before he can quote. The written quote is the price, no extra charge if the job takes longer than expected.
Do you stand behind your work?
Yes. If a problem comes from the quality of our work, like a finish that peels or didn't bond, tell us and we'll come back and make it right. Damage from everyday use or accidents after the job isn't covered, like a cabinet door that gets kicked or scratched, but we're happy to quote the repair.
Do you refinish built-ins as well as kitchens?
Yes. Built-in hutches and bookcases get the same preparation and spray finish as kitchen cabinets. Describe your project when you request an estimate.
Find out what your project would cost
Send a few details. George will call to talk it through, visit if he needs to see the space, and send a free written quote.
Fully insured. George on every job. Thumbtack Top Pro 2023 to 2025.