5-day kitchen painting workflow

A high-end professional process for kitchen cabinet restoration. Keep homeowners calm during the "messy middle" with real-time progress on every stage of the painting process.

  1. 1. Day 1: prep & masking

    Hardware removal, floor protection, and full masking of countertops/appliances. The room is now a sealed workspace.

  2. 2. Day 1: surface cleaning & degreasing

    Removing all grease, wax, and oils from cabinet surfaces to ensure a perfect bond.

  3. 3. Day 2: sanding & dust extraction

    Mechanical sanding of all surfaces with HEPA dust extraction to create the ideal profile for priming.

  4. 4. Day 2: bonding primer application

    Application of specialty shellac or oil-based bonding primer to prevent bleed-through.

  5. 5. Day 3: grain filling & detailing

    Filling wood grain (if applicable) and fixing minor imperfections for a smooth finish.

  6. 6. Day 3: first finish coat

    Applying the first coat of premium cabinet-grade enamel for color depth.

  7. 7. Day 4: fine sanding & second finish coat

    Fine-grit hand sanding between coats followed by the final factory-finish spray application.

  8. 8. Day 5: unmasking & cleaning

    Removing all tape and paper. Cleaning the workspace and restoring access to the kitchen.

  9. 9. Day 5: re-installation & alignment

    Installing doors/drawers and adjusting hinges for perfect alignment and soft-close function.

  10. 10. Final inspection & reveal

    ✨ 25-point quality check and final walkthrough. Your kitchen is ready for use!

Open the interactive version of this checklist — check items off as you work. Hotlyne turns any checklist into a live timeline clients can watch in real time.