Before starting shopping for contractors, it is advisable to be aware of the average costs of painting cabinets. Being aware of the costs will help you with budgeting. It will also come in handy in helping you to bargain for better rates.
The cost of painting a cabinet varies depending on the size of the cabinet, the labor rates that a contractor applies, the amount of prepping that needs to be done before painting, and the painting method that will be used. Factors like your location, the cost of the brand of paint that has to be used and the need for special finishes also affect the total amount that one ends up paying. As a result of these factors, the average costs of cabinet painting tend to vary widely.
Service | QTY | Low | High |
Cabinet painting cost | kitchen | $900 | $3800 |
Cabinet painting cost | Per cabinet | $75 | $150 |
Cabinet painting labor cost | per/ hr | $32 | $100 |
Cabinet painting material cost | $400 | $1000 |
The quality of workmanship that you receive will largely depend on who you choose to handle your cabinet painting job. Therefore, taking the time to ensure that you get it right as far your choice of cabinet painters is concerned will really go a long way towards ensuring that you are satisfied with the painting job. Here are tips that will come in handy in helping you to find a good cabinet painter near you.
The first step you should take is to create a list of at least 5 contractors who show the most promise in terms of doing a high-quality job. And since word-of-mouth is the best type of reference that one can get, starting by asking your friends and family members for recommendations is a great place to start. You can also perform a Google search of painters near you and then select one or two contractors depending on not only the number of reviews but also on the quality ratings that users give them.
With your list ready, it is now time to make calls. Call each of the contractors on your list and ask them for estimates of how much they would charge you to paint your cabinets. Be specific about your expectations, the dimensions of your cabinet, the level of surface preparation that you expect them to do, and the number of paint coats you want. You can also ask about how soon they can get to your place and how fast they can get the job done.
Through these calls, you may find that some of the painting contractors don’t provide the specific services that you want or that they don’t use the paint that you prefer. Others may be unreasonably expensive. While some may simply not be able to get the job done within the timeframe that you want it done. Some may also have poor customer service. Whichever the case, the answers that you get from these initial calls should be able to allow you to whittle down the list to a manageable number — about two to three contractors is reasonable.
The next step is to now get actual — specific — quotes. Most contractors give quotes for free, and they even offer to come to your home and carry out the assessment without charging you. Ask for a complete breakdown of the total costs in terms of the cost each material used, labor costs, and any other services that they may be including in their price. Also, inquire about any additional services, and ways through which you can get charged a lower rate.
After getting a detailed breakdown of the total costs of painting your cabinets, ask the contractors for references and their contacts. Call each of them and then inquire about their experience of working with the contactors in question. They should be able to give you information on the quality of their paintwork, how long it generally lasts, and pointers as to how to save money or get the most out of what you are paying.
Requesting for, and checking, their past projects, in addition to going through their respective credentials will also help you to make up your mind. Inquire about their membership to professional organizations, confirm that they are properly licenced, and check popular review sites like Better Business Bureau to see whether they have any complaints or unresolved disputes.
All the information that you have gathered to this point should be enough to help you make up your mind. And once you find a leading candidate, simply get them to give you a detailed contract outlining all the work they are expected to do and costs associated with accomplishing your wishes. Don’t forget to insist on having a structured payment structure that allows you to pay part of the cost initially, and the rest of the amount only after the work is done.
In addition to getting the contract, you should also obtain any relevant insurance documents that are typically required. This includes workers compensation insurance and liability insurance. Getting copies of these certificates will help to ensure that you are not exposed to undue risk that may result from the contractors actions.
The other thing that you shouldn’t forget to get from the painting contractor is a guarantee. This is necessary not only to assure you that they have enough confidence that their work is high quality enough to last past the guarantee period, but also to ensure that you are covered in case the paintwork blisters, flakes, peels or fades off prematurely.
It is always a good idea to arm yourself with a list of relevant questions before you place a call to the first contractor on your list. Doing so will ensure that you get the most relevant information from your call without wasting time. Here is a list of questions that will come in handy in helping you to get useful information from a cabinet painter.
One of the most important factors to consider when hiring a contractor to paint your cabinets, is how much they charge. Therefore, one of the first things that you should do when shopping around for a contractor is to ask for their detailed estimates.
Most reputable contractors do not charge for providing estimates, and so if you run into one who charges for it, you should remove them from your list of potential contractors. However, when it comes to in-house estimates, different companies approach it differently because it is a process that takes time. Since in-house estimates are more accurate,and since there are companies that offer them for free, finding out which companies on your list offer these services without charge is important as it can end up saving you money.
Generally, the more credentialled a contactor is, the better the chances of them doing a great job. Therefore, you should seek details in relation to their experience and the level of expertise of their staff. Details with regards to certifications and whether or not they have the relevant licences to carry out painting jobs in homes, is also important. And while membership in organizations like Painting and Decorating Contractors of America are not a definitive guarantee of high quality workmanship, it is an indication of a contractor who takes their profession seriously enough. And given that some associations and organizations provide education programs and training, this is a factor that can come in handy in helping you whittle down your list of contractors.
Any contractor who has worked for an extended period of time should be able to provide you with a list of previous clients who can vouch for their expertise and quality of work. Therefore, you ask for the details of their referees and once you get them, you should give them a call and inquire about their experience working with the contractor. Some can even be kind enough to send you pictures of the work that the contractors did, and this can be great in helping you evaluate the contractors in question.
Insurance is a must-have for any contractor that steps into your home. This is because allowing an uninsured contractor to work on your cabinets can expose you to legal liabilities that may end up costing you a lot of money. Therefore, you should ask for the contractor’s workers’ compensation insurance and general liability insurance details.
Different painters use different brands of paints, and this usually affects the costs of materials that they use. Generally, high quality paints tend to cost a little bit more than low quality paints. However, some brands tend to charge a high premium just because of their brand name, and in such a case, you can end up with an inflated bill. Making sure that the painter uses high quality paint — but which isn’t overpriced — is important and it can save you from either having to repaint your cabinets prematurely, or overpaying for the painting work.
Contractors who offer warranties inspire confidence. They essentially communicate to their potential clients that they have so much confidence in their paintwork that they are willing to incur the costs of a full repaint work if their work doesn’t last past a certain period. Furthermore, for the consumer, a good warranty can help save you money as the warranty provider will have to cover the cost of repainting in case their work isn’t as long lasting as they promised. The only thing that you shouldn’t forget is to get the warranty in writing.