The short answer
Paint them if the boxes are solid, the doors are in good shape and you like the layout. A professionally sprayed finish typically costs $3,500–6,500 for an Ottawa kitchen and takes about one to two weeks, compared with tens of thousands of dollars and several weeks for new cabinets.
Replace them if the boxes are damaged, the doors are peeling thermofoil or the layout doesn’t work. Paint changes the colour, not the cabinet.
Painting, refacing and replacing compared
| Option | Typical cost | Time | What changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional painting | $3,500–6,500 | 5–10 days | Colour and finish; hardware if you like |
| Refacing | $8,000–18,000 | 1–2 weeks | New doors, drawer fronts and veneer on the boxes |
| New cabinets | $15,000–35,000+ | Several weeks, plus ordering | Everything, including the layout |
| Full kitchen renovation | $35,000–60,000 | 4–8 weeks on site | Cabinets, counters, backsplash, lighting and more |
New cabinets often mean new counters too, because counters rarely survive removal. That’s a big part of why replacing cabinets costs so much more than the cabinets themselves.
When painting works
- Solid wood or good-quality MDF boxes and doors, firmly attached and not swollen.
- A layout you’re happy with. Painting can’t add an island or move the sink.
- Counters you’re keeping or replacing separately.
- Oak from the 1980s and 90s. One of the best candidates, as long as you decide whether to fill the grain.
- Firmly bonded laminate or thermofoil, with a specialty bonding primer.
When painting won’t work
- Water damage: swollen particleboard under the sink or beside the dishwasher.
- Peeling or bubbling thermofoil: the film keeps lifting, and paint goes with it.
- Sagging shelves, broken face frames or loose boxes.
- A layout that doesn’t work for how you cook and live.
How long painted cabinets last
A professional cabinet finish typically lasts about 8 to 10 years before it needs touch-ups or a refresh, sometimes longer. What makes the difference:
- Degreasing. Cooking oil is the most common reason cabinet paint fails.
- A bonding primer made to grip slick factory finishes.
- A hard cabinet enamel, not wall paint, ideally sprayed in thin coats.
- Cure time. Enamel hardens over a few weeks; gentle use early on pays off for years.
Doors near the sink, dishwasher and garbage pull-out wear first. Keeping a little leftover paint makes touch-ups easy.
A quick decision checklist
- Are the boxes dry, solid and square? Paint.
- Do you like where everything is? Paint.
- Is your budget under about $10,000? Paint.
- Is there water damage or peeling thermofoil? Replace those parts.
- Do you want a new layout or an island? Renovate.
If painting is the answer, see kitchen cabinet painting. If it isn’t, our sister company Ryan’s Renos builds new kitchens. Either way, call or text 613-806-4000 and we’ll give you a straight answer.
The Ryan's Painting crewPrices are typical Ottawa ranges for 2026, before HST. Your price depends on the size of the kitchen, door style and the finish you choose.
