Painting Kitchen Cabinets in Tampa: When It's Worth It vs. Replacing

When painting cabinets makes sense

• Boxes are solid wood or quality plywood (knock — should sound dense)
• Doors are wood, MDF, or thermofoil in good shape
• Layout still works for how you cook
• Hinges and drawer slides are still functional or worth replacing

When to just replace

• Particle board boxes swelling at the toe-kick or sink base
• Water damage under the sink
• Layout fights you every time you cook
• You want soft-close, pull-outs, or different storage entirely

Tampa cabinet painting cost

• Standard 10x10 kitchen, brush and roll: $1,800 – $2,800
• Sprayed in-shop finish: $3,500 – $6,000
• Add hardware install: $150 – $300
• Add new hinges (soft-close): $250 – $500

Prep steps that make it last in Florida

• Degrease every door and box face with TSP — kitchen grease kills paint adhesion
• Sand all surfaces to dull the existing finish
• Bonding primer (BIN or STIX) — never skip on slick or thermofoil doors
• Two finish coats of cabinet-grade enamel (Emerald Urethane, Cabinet Coat, or Advance)
• Let cure 14–21 days before heavy use — humidity slows cure in Tampa

Color trends that aren't going anywhere

White and warm off-whites still resell best in Tampa Bay. Deep greens and navy blues on islands are holding strong. Avoid trendy peach and terracotta on the perimeter unless you're staying in the home long-term.