How to get your kitchen ready for cabinet painting (and live with it during the job)
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The short answer: empty every cabinet and drawer, clear the counters, set up a small cooking station outside the kitchen, and keep pets and kids out of the work area during the day. The crew covers counters, floors, appliances and the backsplash, finishes the doors away from the kitchen, and cleans up each day, so most families still use the kitchen in the evenings. A typical job runs 4 to 6 working days.
Your checklist before day one
Use this list in the days before the crew arrives. Most of it takes an evening or two.
- Empty every cabinet and drawer that is being painted, shelves included
- Clear the countertops completely, including small appliances, knife blocks and fruit bowls
- Take down anything hanging on the cabinet doors: towel hooks, calendars, child locks
- Pull the toaster, coffee maker and microwave cart out of the way if they sit against cabinets
- Move the kitchen table and chairs out of the walkway if the room is tight
- Clear a path from the front door or garage to the kitchen
- Decide where the crew can park and set up (garage or covered patio works well)
- Confirm your color and sheen, and your hardware plan (keeping it or changing it)
- Set up a temporary cooking and dish station (see below)
If you are changing hardware, have the new pieces on hand before the job starts. Old holes are filled during sanding and repair, before primer, so that decision needs to be made early. See should you change cabinet hardware when you paint.
Packing the cabinets without losing your mind
Plastic bins with lids are the easiest way to empty a kitchen. Label each bin by where it came from (“left of sink,” “pantry pull-out”) so putting things back is quick.
Keep a small “daily kit” in one bin you can reach: a pan, a pot, a few plates, cups, utensils, coffee, and the snacks the kids actually eat. Everything else can go in a spare room or the garage. In a Tucson summer, keep food and anything that melts indoors rather than in a hot garage.
Under-sink cabinets count too. Pull out the cleaning products and trash can so the crew can clean and mask that box.
Where to cook during the job
You will not lose the kitchen for a week straight, but daytime cooking is out while the crew works. Plan simple meals for 4 to 6 days.
| What you need | Easy option |
|---|---|
| Coffee and breakfast | Coffee maker and toaster on a table in the dining room |
| Hot meals | Slow cooker, electric skillet or the grill outside |
| Cold food | Keep a few easy meals in the refrigerator |
| Dishes | Paper plates, or wash up in a bathroom sink or laundry tub |
| Evenings | Most families use the kitchen once the crew has cleaned up |
The grill is a real advantage in Tucson for most of the year. Fall, winter and spring evenings make outdoor cooking easy.
What the crew protects
You do not need to cover anything yourself. On every PAINTR cabinet job:
- Counters, floors, appliances and the backsplash are covered before work begins
- Walls next to the cabinets are masked
- Doors and drawer fronts are removed, labeled and finished away from the kitchen, so the spray work is not happening over your counters
- Cabinet boxes and face frames are masked, and the work area is cleaned up daily
That daily cleanup is what lets most families get back into the kitchen in the evening. For the full sequence, see how we paint kitchen cabinets, step by step.
Pets, kids and fresh air
Pets: keep them in a closed room, a crate or out of the house during working hours. Doors propped open, masking paper on the floor and fresh finish on the boxes are all things a dog will walk through.
Kids: make the kitchen off-limits during the day and remind them not to touch the cabinet boxes in the evening, even when they look dry.
Ventilation: our cabinet enamel is waterborne, but fresh air still helps. Opening a window or two and running the range hood fan or the HVAC fan keeps the house comfortable. During monsoon season, check the forecast before leaving windows open.
After the doors go back on
Once doors and drawers are reinstalled and adjusted, you can use the cabinets right away. The finish keeps hardening over the next few weeks, so:
- Put dishes back gently rather than sliding stacks across shelves
- Skip harsh cleaners and abrasive pads
- Do not stick tape, labels or hooks on the doors yet
- Close doors softly; bumpers help
More on this in how to care for painted kitchen cabinets and do painted cabinets hold up in Arizona.
An average Tucson kitchen costs $3,500 to $6,250 for professional cabinet painting, with three options (Standard, Premium, Elite) on every quote and a Price Lock Guarantee. Qualified customers can spread it over up to 24 months at 0% interest through our financing.
Get a number for your kitchen with the instant price calculator, or read more about our cabinet painting service.
Curious how much a professional cabinet refinish costs for your kitchen? Try our instant price calculator. It takes about 30 seconds.
Cabinet Painting in Tucson: prices, process and photos
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to empty my cabinets before they are painted?
Yes. Empty every cabinet and drawer that is being painted, including the shelves inside, so the crew can remove doors, clean and mask the boxes without working around your dishes and food.
Can I use my kitchen while the cabinets are being painted?
Mostly, yes. Most families use the kitchen in the evenings during the job. The crew covers the counters, floors, appliances and backsplash during the day and cleans up the masked boxes at the end of each day.
How long will my kitchen be out of commission?
A typical Tucson kitchen takes 4 to 6 working days from prep to reinstall. Plan for simple meals during that stretch rather than full cooking.
Where are the cabinet doors painted?
Doors and drawer fronts are removed, labeled and finished away from the kitchen. The cabinet boxes and face frames are finished in place.
What should I do with pets during cabinet painting?
Keep pets in a closed room or out of the house during working hours. Open doors, masking paper and fresh finish are not a good mix with curious dogs and cats.
