Many Inland Empire kitchens still have solid oak cabinets from the 1980s and 1990s. The boxes are sound, and the finish is what looks dated. Painting them changes the kitchen for much less than replacing them. The result depends on degreasing, sanding and the right primer.
Kitchens across San Bernardino, from postwar ranch houses to the tracts in Verdemont, are full of cabinets that work fine and look dated. Many are oak with an orange or honey finish. Others are plain painted boxes that have yellowed and chipped. If the boxes are square, the shelves are flat and the doors close, paint is a fair way to renew them. We check for water swelling under the sink and for loose hinges before we say yes.
Prep decides whether cabinet paint holds. Doors and drawer fronts come off and are numbered so each returns to its own opening. Everything is washed with a degreaser, because cooking film stops primer from gripping. Then it is sanded dull, dusted and coated with a bonding primer. Oak grain can be filled for a flat look or left to show. Doors are sprayed lying flat. Frames are done in place with the counters, floor and appliances masked off.
Plan for the kitchen to be partly out of use for several days. You can still reach the sink, stove and fridge, but the cabinets stand open. Cabinet enamel feels dry within hours and keeps hardening for weeks, so close doors gently at first and hold off on scrubbing. New pulls and hinges can go on when the doors are hung again. We give a free estimate and a written quote with the door and drawer count. Call or text (909) 487-2695.
Cabinet painting in San Bernardino: common questions
Will the oak grain show through the paint?
It will unless a grain filler is used first. Some people like a little grain showing, because it still reads as wood. Others want a flat, smooth door. Tell us which you prefer at the estimate, since filling adds steps.
Do you paint the inside of the cabinets?
Usually not. Most jobs cover the doors, drawer fronts, face frames and exposed sides, which is everything you see with the doors shut. Insides can be added. Say so up front and it will be written into the quote.
Can bathroom vanities be painted the same way?
Yes. A vanity gets the same wash, sanding, bonding primer and enamel. Bathrooms add steam and splashes, so sealed edges and a full cure matter. A vanity is a small job and is easy to add to a room repaint.
How it works
- Free estimate: Call, text or book online. We walk the job and measure.
- Written quote: Prep, paint and price in writing.
- Prep & protect: We cover floors and furniture, repair and prime surfaces.
- Paint & walk-through: Two coats, clean lines, full clean-up and a final walk-through.