Cabinet Refinishing vs Replacement: A Columbus Homeowner's Guide

Most kitchens in Central Ohio don't need new cabinets — they need a new finish. Here's an honest comparison so you can spend money where it actually moves the needle.

The cost difference is dramatic

• Refinishing a typical 30-door Columbus kitchen: $3,500–$7,500
• Replacement with mid-range stock cabinets + install: $12,000–$25,000
• Custom cabinets (semi-custom, soft-close, plywood boxes): $25,000–$50,000+

Refinishing typically delivers 70–80% of the visual impact for 20–30% of the cost.

When refinishing makes sense

• Your cabinet boxes are solid wood or quality plywood (most pre-2015 Columbus homes qualify)
• The layout works — you don't want to move the sink or add an island
• You like the door style or it's neutral enough to live with
• You want to be back in your kitchen in 5–7 days, not 6+ weeks

When replacement makes sense

• Boxes are particleboard and sagging or water-damaged
• You're changing the floor plan
• You want soft-close everywhere, deep drawers, custom organizers
• The current door style is dated in a way paint won't hide (heavy thermofoil, oak cathedral arches)

What a Paintly cabinet project looks like

1. Day 1: Doors and drawer fronts come off and head to our spray shop. Boxes get masked and prepped on-site.
2. Days 2–4: Boxes get sanded, primed with a bonding primer, and sprayed with a cabinet-grade enamel. Doors are sprayed under controlled, dust-free conditions.
3. Days 5–7: Doors come back, get rehung, and new hardware (if you're upgrading) goes on.

You cook in your kitchen the whole time. There's no demolition, no countertop replacement, no plumbing work.

Does refinishing hurt resale?

No — when it's done right. A professional spray finish in a current color (warm white, soft greige, deep navy island) reads as "recently updated" to buyers. A DIY brushed-and-rolled job reads as "deferred maintenance." The finish quality is everything.

Get a real number for your kitchen

The fastest way to compare is to use the instant estimator — it'll give you a refinishing range based on door count and finish in under a minute. Or book a free in-home consultation and we'll walk through both options.

Related reading

• Our cabinet refinishing process
• 2026 painting prices in Columbus