Cabinet painting is the single highest-ROI home improvement on the Bay Area. A factory-grade refinish costs a fraction of new cabinets and looks indistinguishable from custom millwork — when it's done right. Monarch sprays cabinets in our shop or in your kitchen using HVLP guns, catalyzed waterborne enamels, and a controlled-dust process most painters can't match. Doors and drawer fronts are removed, numbered, and sprayed off-site; boxes are masked and finished in place. The result is a hard, durable, factory-smooth surface that resists fingerprints, grease, and chipping for years.
Our Cabinet Painting Process
On-site assessment
We measure every door and drawer, evaluate hinges and hardware, and recommend the best path: spray in place, off-site spray, or hybrid. We provide a written estimate with material, labor, and timeline.
Removal & numbering
Doors and drawer fronts are unscrewed, labeled, and transported to our spray shop. Hinges and hardware are bagged by location for fast reinstall.
Strip, sand, prime
Existing finish is degreased and de-glossed. Fronts get two coats of high-bond bonding primer, sanded between. Boxes are masked, sanded, and primed in place.
Catalyzed waterborne topcoat
Two to three coats of Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel or Benjamin Moore Advance — sprayed, sanded, and re-sprayed for a glass-smooth, factory finish.
Reinstall + walk-through
Doors and drawers reinstalled with new bumpers. Hinges reattached. We test every door, adjust as needed, and walk the kitchen with you for sign-off.
Why Choose Monarch for Cabinet Painting
- Looks like new custom cabinets at 1/5 the cost
- Factory-grade, sprayed finish — no brush marks
- Hard, washable, fingerprint-resistant topcoat
- Color choices unlimited (deep navys, sage greens, bright whites)
- Project completed in 5–10 days, not 6 weeks
Materials We Use
- ● Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel
- ● Benjamin Moore Advance Waterborne Alkyd
- ● INSL-X Stix bonding primer
- ● HVLP spray equipment with on-site dust collection
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you really paint oak cabinets?+
Yes. The grain is the trick — we use a grain-filler step on raised-panel oak so the final surface is smooth, not striped.
How long is the kitchen unusable?+
You can use the kitchen the entire time. Doors are off-site for 5–7 days; counters and appliances stay clean and accessible.
What colors are popular?+
Deep navys, charcoal, sage green, and warm whites have been the top sellers for the past three years on the Bay Area.
Cabinet Painting in Your City
We deliver cabinet painting services across San Mateo County: