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Should You Paint, Reface or Replace Kitchen Cabinets in Gainesville, GA?
What each option costs, how long it takes, and how to tell which one your kitchen needs, for homes in Gainesville, Flowery Branch, Oakwood, Lake Lanier and across Hall County.
Quick answer: Paint your cabinets if the boxes are solid and the layout works and you just want a new color. Reface them if the boxes are sound but you want a new door style. Replace them if the boxes are water-damaged, swollen or sagging, or if you want a new layout or an island. Around Gainesville, painting typically runs $2,000 to $8,000, refacing $5,000 to $15,000, and new cabinets $6,000 to $60,000 or more installed, depending on size and quality. Painting and refacing keep your countertops in place and take one to two weeks of work in the kitchen; a replacement usually means new countertops too. EBD Construction LLC, a licensed and insured general contractor based in Gainesville, Georgia, can look at your cabinets and tell you honestly which one you need. Call 404-925-7481 for a free consultation.
What's the difference between painting, refacing and replacing cabinets?
- Painting (refinishing). Your existing doors, drawers and boxes are cleaned, repaired, sanded, primed and sprayed or brushed with a hard cabinet enamel. New hinges and pulls are often added. Same cabinets, new color.
- Refacing. The cabinet boxes stay, but the outside of each box gets a new wood or laminate veneer, and the doors, drawer fronts and hardware are all new. You can change from raised-panel oak to flat Shaker doors without tearing anything out.
- Replacing. The old cabinets come out and new ones go in. This is the only option that lets you move appliances, add an island, change cabinet sizes or fix boxes that are falling apart. It usually means new countertops, and often new backsplash and flooring where the old cabinets sat.
How much does it cost to paint, reface or replace kitchen cabinets in Gainesville, GA?
Here are typical Gainesville-area ranges for an average kitchen of about 20 to 30 cabinet doors and drawers. A small galley kitchen lands at the low end and a large kitchen with an island at the high end. This is a guide, not a quote.
| Option | What you get | Typical cost around Gainesville | Time in your kitchen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paint or refinish existing cabinets | Repair, sand, prime and enamel finish; new hardware optional | $2,000 to $8,000 | 1 to 2 weeks |
| New doors and drawer fronts only | New doors, fronts and hinges on painted existing boxes | $3,000 to $10,000 | 3 to 7 days |
| Reface | New veneer on boxes, new doors, drawer fronts and hardware | $5,000 to $15,000 | 3 to 7 days |
| Replace with stock cabinets | Standard sizes and styles, installed | $6,000 to $20,000 | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Replace with semi-custom cabinets | More sizes, finishes and storage options, installed | $12,000 to $35,000 | 1 to 2 weeks |
| Replace with custom cabinetry | Built to fit your kitchen, paneled appliances, furniture details | $25,000 to $60,000+ | 1 to 3 weeks |
Common add-ons: soft-close hinges and drawer slides $300 to $1,500, crown molding or light rail $500 to $2,500, pull-out trash and organizers $150 to $500 each, and a new island $3,000 to $15,000. If you replace the cabinets, new quartz or granite countertops typically add $2,500 to $10,000.
Tip: Refacing usually costs about 30% to 50% less than new semi-custom cabinets in the same style, because the boxes, plumbing, countertops and backsplash all stay put.
When should I paint my kitchen cabinets?
Painting is the best value when:
- The boxes and doors are solid wood or plywood and in good shape.
- You like the door style and the layout; you just want to lose the dated oak or cherry color.
- Your countertops are in good condition and you want to keep them.
- You're getting ready to sell. A light kitchen refresh is one of the best-returning projects; see which remodels add the most value.
What makes painted cabinets last is the prep: degreasing, sanding, filling dings, a bonding primer and a hard cabinet-grade enamel, with doors usually sprayed. Skip those steps and the finish chips within a year. If your home was built before 1978, ask that the old finish be tested for lead before anyone sands it.
When does refacing make sense?
Refacing is the middle path. It's a good fit when the cabinet boxes are sturdy and laid out well, but the doors are the problem: raised-panel cathedral doors from the 1990s, warped or damaged doors, or a style that paint alone won't fix. You get the look of new cabinets, your granite or quartz stays where it is, and the sink and appliances stay hooked up while the work happens. It's also the time to add soft-close hinges, new pulls, a few drawer bases in place of door cabinets, or crown molding up to the ceiling.
Refacing does not fix bad boxes, a cramped layout or too little storage. If any of those bother you, you'll be paying to dress up a kitchen you still don't like.
When should I replace my kitchen cabinets?
Replacement is the right call when:
- The sink base or lower cabinets are water-damaged. Swollen, crumbling particleboard, delaminating shelves and soft floors under the sink are common in older Hall County kitchens and can't be painted or refaced.
- Doors sag and drawers fall apart because the boxes are stapled particleboard that has given out.
- You want a different layout: an island, a wider range, a pantry wall, or opening the kitchen to the living room. Our wall removal guide covers that part.
- The kitchen doesn't work for how you cook, with too little counter space or storage that's hard to reach.
- You're already replacing the countertops, flooring and appliances. At that point the cabinets are a smaller share of the total, and new boxes are worth it.
Full replacements are part of a kitchen remodel. Our kitchen remodeling guide covers whole-kitchen costs, timelines and the steps from design to final walkthrough.
How long does each option take?
- Painting: about 1 to 2 weeks start to finish. Doors and drawers are often sprayed off site while the boxes are done in place, so the kitchen is usable most evenings.
- Refacing: 3 to 6 weeks to order doors, fronts and veneer after measuring, then 3 to 7 days of work in your kitchen.
- Replacing: stock cabinets take about 1 to 3 weeks to arrive, semi-custom 4 to 8 weeks and custom 8 to 12 weeks. Cabinets are ordered before demolition, then tear-out and installation take 1 to 2 weeks, plus about a week for countertops to be templated and installed.
Can I keep my countertops?
If you paint or reface, yes; the countertops never move. If you replace the cabinets, plan on new tops. Granite and quartz can crack when they're pried off, and new cabinets rarely match the old footprint exactly. Laminate tops almost never survive removal.
Do I need a permit?
Painting, refacing or swapping cabinets in the same spots usually doesn't need a permit in Gainesville or unincorporated Hall County. Moving the sink, range or gas line, adding circuits or outlets, or removing a wall does. Eric pulls every permit himself. See our building permits guide for details.
Where does EBD Construction work?
- Gainesville
- Flowery Branch
- Oakwood
- Buford
- Braselton
- Chestnut Mountain
- Murrayville
- Lake Lanier homes
- All of Hall County
- Towns north of Gainesville
Why hire EBD Construction?
- An honest answer on what your cabinets need. If paint will do it, Eric will tell you, and if the sink base is rotted, he'll show you.
- You talk to the owner. Eric Bubniak is your point of contact from the first visit to the final walkthrough.
- The same crew every time. Three full-time builders who have worked together for over a decade, handling cabinets, counters, plumbing, electrical and drywall.
- Permits handled for you. Eric pulls every permit himself.
- Local for 15+ years. Based in Gainesville, licensed and insured, all work guaranteed, with 5-star reviews on Thumbtack.
Kitchen cabinet FAQs
Can I keep my granite countertops if I replace my cabinets?
Sometimes, but it is risky. Stone tops can crack when they are lifted, and new cabinets rarely line up exactly with old ones. If you paint or reface, your countertops stay in place. If you replace the cabinets, plan on new countertops, which typically add $2,500 to $10,000 for quartz or granite.
Does painted cabinetry last?
Yes, when it is done right. Cleaning, sanding, a bonding primer and a hard cabinet-grade enamel are what make a painted finish last. Brushed-on wall paint over unsanded cabinets is what chips and peels.
Do I need a permit to replace kitchen cabinets?
Painting, refacing or swapping cabinets in the same layout usually doesn't need a permit. Moving the sink, range or outlets, adding circuits or removing a wall does. EBD Construction pulls every permit itself.
Can I use my kitchen while cabinets are being redone?
Mostly, yes. With painting, the doors are often finished off site and the boxes are done in place, so you lose the kitchen for a few days at a time. With refacing, the sink and appliances stay hooked up. A full replacement takes the kitchen out of service for about one to three weeks.
Is EBD Construction licensed and insured?
Yes. EBD Construction LLC is licensed and insured, all work is guaranteed, and references are available on request.
Not sure what your cabinets need?
Call Eric Bubniak at 404-925-7481 or fill out the form below. Tell us what bothers you about your kitchen now, and we'll come look at the cabinets and give you a straight answer on painting, refacing or replacing.
Get your free consultation
Tell us a little about your project. Eric will call you within one business day to talk it through and set up a time to see the space.