Cabinet Painting vs. Refinishing vs. Refacing: Which Is Right for Your Gaithersburg Kitchen?
240-387-8427 · Estimates
Painting, refinishing, and refacing solve different problems at different price points — call 240-387-8427 and we'll tell you straight which one your Gaithersburg cabinets actually need.
Refinishing, refacing, and painting get used interchangeably, but they're three different services with different costs, timelines, and end results. Here's how to tell which one your kitchen actually needs.
Side-by-Side Comparison
How painting, refinishing, and refacing stack up across cost, timeline, and scope.
Painting | Refinishing | Refacing | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What It Is | New paint color applied over your existing cabinet boxes and doors | Stripping and restaining/recoating existing wood to renew its original look | New doors, drawer fronts, and veneer applied over your existing cabinet boxes |
| Cost Range | $ | $ | $$ |
| Timeline | Days to about a week | Days to about a week | 1–2 weeks |
| Best For | Cabinets in solid structural condition where you want a new color — most of Gaithersburg's laminate and builder-grade cabinetry | Wood cabinets you want to keep looking like wood, just refreshed — mainly an Old Town scenario | Cabinets you want a new door style or material, not just a new color |
| What Stays the Same | Cabinet boxes, doors, layout | Cabinet boxes, doors, wood look, layout | Cabinet boxes and layout |
Painting
- What It Is
- New paint color applied over your existing cabinet boxes and doors
- Cost Range
- $
- Timeline
- Days to about a week
- Best For
- Cabinets in solid structural condition where you want a new color — most of Gaithersburg's laminate and builder-grade cabinetry
- What Stays the Same
- Cabinet boxes, doors, layout
Refinishing
- What It Is
- Stripping and restaining/recoating existing wood to renew its original look
- Cost Range
- $
- Timeline
- Days to about a week
- Best For
- Wood cabinets you want to keep looking like wood, just refreshed — mainly an Old Town scenario
- What Stays the Same
- Cabinet boxes, doors, wood look, layout
Refacing
- What It Is
- New doors, drawer fronts, and veneer applied over your existing cabinet boxes
- Cost Range
- $$
- Timeline
- 1–2 weeks
- Best For
- Cabinets you want a new door style or material, not just a new color
- What Stays the Same
- Cabinet boxes and layout
Which One Is Right for You?
Match your situation to the right service.
My cabinets are solid, I just want a new look
Cabinet Painting. This is the most common scenario across most of Gaithersburg, given how much of the housing stock is 1970s-90s or newer laminate and builder-grade cabinetry.
I want to keep the wood look, just make it new again
Refinishing. Best for wood cabinets in good shape, mainly relevant in Old Town Gaithersburg.
I want new door styles or a different material
Refacing. A bigger investment than painting, but still well below full replacement — new doors and veneer over your existing boxes.
My cabinet boxes are damaged or I want a new layout
None of the above — when boxes are water-warped or you want a completely different layout, full replacement makes more sense.
Ready to Update Your Cabinets?
Get a straightforward, no-obligation quote from a licensed, insured Gaithersburg cabinet painting pro.
Comparison FAQ
Common questions about painting vs. refinishing vs. refacing.
Not Sure Which Option Fits?
Get an estimate and we'll walk you through what makes sense for your specific cabinets — no pressure, no obligation.