Cabinet refinishing done right is a shop-spray job, not a brush-in-place job. That's why the process takes a week and why the finish looks factory-applied.
Day 1 — Removal and prep
Every door, drawer, and hardware pieces come off. We label each one (door 1 upper, drawer 3 base, etc.) so they go back exactly where they came from. The cabinet boxes in place get degreased with a TSP substitute — kitchens absorb a lot of invisible cooking oil — and scuff-sanded with 220-grit.
Days 2–3 — Shop spray on doors
Doors go to our ventilated shop. First coat: bonding primer (Zinsser BIN shellac or STIX waterborne). Dry, sand, second coat of primer on raw edges. Then two finish coats of waterborne alkyd — Benjamin Moore Advance or Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim. HVLP-sprayed, dust-controlled, temp-controlled.
Day 4 — Spray cure
The finish needs curing time. Moving doors back too early leaves pressure marks from stacking. We build drying racks and give finish at least 24 hours before transport.
Day 5 — On-site box spray
Full plastic containment in your kitchen (floors, counters, walls, and adjacent rooms). We spray the cabinet boxes in place with the same primer and finish system. This is the one day the kitchen is actively unusable — most homeowners plan to eat out or order in.
Days 6–7 — Reinstall
Doors and drawers come back with new hinges and pulls (optional upgrades). Every face aligned. Final touch-ups and a walk-through. The kitchen is back in service that evening.
What the finish looks like
Glass-smooth. No brush marks. No orange peel. A finger rub reveals zero texture. It's the difference between refinished cabinets and "painted" cabinets.