Contractor Risk
Five Red Flags Hidden in a Cheap Cabinet Refinishing Quote
A low number can conceal missing prep, vague coatings, and exclusions that surface after work starts. Use these checks before choosing a proposal.
7 min read · Evergreen guide
The scope says “paint cabinets” and little else
A useful quote should explain cleaning, surface preparation, repairs, primer, finish type, application method, included surfaces, hardware handling, and expected schedule. Vague language makes it impossible to compare proposals or hold anyone to a finish standard.
If the contractor cannot describe the system before the project, the crew is likely deciding it during the project.
The coating has no clear identity
Interior wall paint and cabinet coatings solve different problems. Cabinets need a finish designed for blocking, abrasion, repeated cleaning, and hand contact. Ask for the product family and why it suits the substrate.
Also ask how long the finish takes to cure. A surface can feel dry while still being vulnerable to pressure, moisture, and aggressive cleaning.
Important work appears as an undefined extra
Look for exclusions around damaged doors, grain filling, caulking, interior surfaces, new hardware holes, hinge changes, masking, and touchups. Not every item belongs in every project, but each should be explicit.
The best quote is not simply the lowest total. It is the clearest promise of what will happen, what will not happen, and what a completed kitchen should look like.