Honey oak cabinets from the 1980s and 1990s are in kitchens all over the Salt Lake Valley, and most are solid enough to paint. Doors and drawers come off, everything is cleaned, sanded and primed, and a cabinet enamel goes on in thin coats.
Many Salt Lake Valley kitchens from the 1980s and 1990s have solid oak cabinets with a honey finish. The boxes are usually sound, and painting them changes the room for far less than new cabinets. Oak has open grain that shows through paint unless it is filled, so we talk with you first about whether you want the grain to show or a smoother face. Either look works, and the choice changes the amount of prep and the price.
The work is mostly prep. Doors and drawer fronts come off and are numbered. Everything is cleaned of kitchen grease, sanded and primed with a bonding primer. Doors are best sprayed flat, and frames are sprayed or brushed in place with the kitchen masked off. We use a hard cabinet enamel made for the job, not wall paint, and put on at least two finish coats. Hinges and handles go back on last, or new ones are fitted if you supply them.
Our dry air lets each coat dry to the touch fast, but cabinet paint still needs time to cure hard. For the first weeks, treat the doors gently and wipe them with a soft cloth only. Wood moves with the seasons here, as furnace heat in winter dries it out, so fine hairlines at door joints can appear on painted cabinets. That is normal for wood. Ask us at the walk-through how to clean and care for the new finish.
Cabinet painting in Salt Lake City: common questions
Can you paint 1990s oak cabinets white?
Yes. Oak takes paint well when it is degreased, sanded and primed with a stain-blocking primer. The grain will show a little through white unless it is filled first. We can show you a sample door both ways before you decide.
Can I use my kitchen while the cabinets are painted?
Partly. The doors and drawers are off for several days, and the frames are masked while they are painted. You can usually reach the sink and appliances in the evenings. We agree the plan with you before we start.
Can you paint laminate or thermofoil cabinets?
Sometimes. Sound laminate can be painted with the right bonding primer. Thermofoil that is peeling at the edges is a poor base, and those doors are better replaced. We look at the doors and tell you plainly.
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.