PORTLAND, OR · OWNER-OPERATED
Cabinet Refinishing in Portland, OR
Refinishing your cabinets is the highest-impact change you can make in a kitchen without tearing it apart, and it costs a fraction of replacement. Oxbow Painting refinishes kitchen and bath cabinets with a sprayed, factory-smooth finish in durable catalyzed and urethane products. Because cabinet work happens indoors, we do it year-round, and our scheduling is often fastest from October through April.
A sprayed finish, not a brushed one
The reason refinished cabinets can look like new is the spray finish. Brushing and rolling leave texture on doors you touch constantly, while spraying lays down a smooth, even coat that resembles the original factory finish. We remove the doors and drawer fronts, label everything, and spray them in a controlled setup, then finish the boxes in place with the same products.
Before any coating, we clean off the kitchen grease that defeats adhesion, scuff-sand every surface, and prime with a bonding primer made for slick cabinet faces. Skipping any of those steps is why some painted cabinets chip at the edges within a year. We do not skip them.
Durable products that survive a kitchen
Kitchen cabinets take abuse: fingernails, cleaning sprays, steam, and constant opening and closing. We use catalyzed and urethane-based cabinet coatings engineered to cure hard and resist that daily wear, so the finish stays smooth and washable for years rather than staying soft and marking easily.
We can refinish in the same color for a crisp refresh, change the look entirely, or do a two-tone kitchen with a different color on the island. We talk through sheen as well, since a slightly satin finish hides fingerprints better than a high gloss on busy kitchens.
Why winter is a smart time for cabinets
Exterior painting is weather-bound, but cabinet work is indoor work, so it runs all year. From October through April, when exterior projects slow down, our cabinet scheduling opens up and you can often get on the calendar faster. It is a good way to get a kitchen transformation done over the slower, rainier months and have it ready before spring.
What it costs: From $3,000
Most kitchen cabinet refinishing projects in Portland run from $3,000 to $7,000 depending on the number of doors and drawers, whether you change color inside and out, and the condition of the existing finish. That is typically a third or less of the cost of new cabinets. You get a written estimate after we count doors and inspect the boxes.
The Oxbow process
Estimate and door count
We count doors and drawers, check the boxes, and send a written estimate.
Remove and label
Doors and drawer fronts come off and get labeled so everything goes back exactly where it belongs.
Clean, sand, prime
Degrease, scuff-sand, and bonding-prime every surface for adhesion that lasts.
Spray and reassemble
Spray doors and finish boxes in catalyzed or urethane coatings, then rehang and adjust.
Products we use
- Catalyzed and urethane cabinet coatings that cure hard and washable
- Bonding primers formulated for slick, previously finished cabinet faces
- Degreasers to remove kitchen grease before any coating
- Satin and semi-gloss sheen options to suit busy kitchens
Who it is for
- Homeowners who like their kitchen layout but want a fresh, modern look
- Anyone weighing cabinet replacement who wants the same impact for far less
- Owners updating dated oak or honey-tone cabinets to a current color
- People who want the project done over the slower fall and winter months
Recent work
Get your cabinet refinishing estimate
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to refinish kitchen cabinets in Portland?
Most Portland cabinet refinishing projects run from $3,000 to $7,000 depending on the number of doors and drawers, the condition of the existing finish, and whether you change color inside and out. That is usually a third or less of the cost of replacing cabinets.
Is refinishing cabinets cheaper than replacing them?
Yes, significantly. Refinishing typically costs a fraction of new cabinets because you keep the existing boxes and layout. You get a dramatic visual change without the demolition, lead time, and expense of a full replacement.
Will the painted finish hold up in a kitchen?
Yes, when it is done right. We degrease, scuff-sand, and bonding-prime before spraying durable catalyzed or urethane coatings that cure hard and resist daily wear, fingernails, and cleaning. Proper prep is what keeps the finish from chipping.
Can I still use my kitchen during cabinet refinishing?
Mostly. The boxes stay in place and the doors come off to be sprayed, so you keep access to the interior of your cabinets through much of the project. We schedule the work to minimize the disruption and tell you the timeline up front.
Do you refinish cabinets in winter?
Yes. Cabinet work is indoor work, so we do it year-round, and our scheduling is often fastest from October through April when exterior projects slow down. Winter is a great time to get a kitchen refresh done.