Guide
Painting oak kitchen cabinets: what to expect
· By GK Painting & Remodeling
Oak is one of the most common kitchen cabinet woods, and when the cabinets are solid but the golden "honey oak" color looks dated, painting is the usual fix. Oak cabinets can be painted any color.
Oak does behave differently from smoother woods, though, so it helps to know what to expect before you choose a color.
The grain shows through
Oak is an open-grained wood. Its grain is made of deep pores, and paint follows them, so after painting the grain pattern is still there as texture under the color. On oak it shows more than on smoother woods like maple or cherry.
Plenty of people like that: it reads as real wood under paint. Others want a completely flat, smooth door. Tell George which look you're after when you ask for an estimate.
A smoother wood, for comparison
This kitchen was maple, a close-grained wood, refinished in deep forest green. Maple's tight grain is why these painted doors read smooth. Oak doors in the same green would keep more of their grain texture.
Why oak needs a good primer
Oak contains tannins, natural compounds that can bleed through paint as yellow or brown spots, most visibly under white and light colors.
Every cabinet we refinish is primed before any color goes on. On oak going white or light, the primer's job includes keeping those tannins sealed in.
How we prepare oak for paint
- Doors and drawer fronts come off and are labeled, so every piece goes back to its own opening.
- Every surface is cleaned and degreased. Kitchen grease settles into oak's open grain, especially around the handles, and paint won't bond over it.
- The surface is sanded so the primer can grip.
- Primer goes on before the color.
- Doors and drawer fronts are sprayed for a smooth, even finish, and the frames are finished in your kitchen.
Choosing a color for oak cabinets
Any color covers the orange tone of honey oak completely. What matters more is everything that stays: the counters, the backsplash, the floor, and the light in the room. Our guide to choosing a cabinet color walks through five real kitchens and what each color change did.
What it costs and how long it takes
Oak cabinets are quoted the same way as any other: per cabinet, with paint included. The written quote is the price, no extra charge if the job takes longer than expected. Most kitchens take one to two weeks.
Before you call
- Decide whether you'd like the oak grain to show under the paint or a smoother door.
- Look under the sink and beside the dishwasher for water damage.
- Roughly how many cabinets, doors, and drawers there are.
- The color you have in mind, or that you'd like help choosing.
See how our kitchen cabinet painting works or browse every before and after.
Thinking about your own cabinets?
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.
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