Choosing the Right Specialist for Your Kitchen Makeover
If you’re looking into a kitchen makeover, you’ve probably already realised that who you hire matters as much as what you have done. Kitchen respraying is a specialist process — and not every tradesperson quoting for the job has the experience, equipment, or materials to deliver a finish that lasts. Here’s what I’d want you to know before you make a decision.
Why Specialist Spray Painting Is Different
A kitchen respray isn’t painting in the traditional sense. We’re not brushing or rolling paint onto cupboard doors. We’re applying specialist coatings through professional spray equipment — in controlled conditions — to achieve a smooth, factory-quality finish with no brush marks, no roller texture, and no compromise.
That distinction matters. Brush-applied paint on kitchen doors looks fine at first. Give it a year of daily use and the truth starts to show — chips, wear marks, and a finish that looks tired. A properly sprayed kitchen, with the right preparation and the right paint, holds up far better.
We use water-based, low-VOC paints from trusted manufacturers. The products we use are specifically formulated for kitchen environments — washable, durable, and resistant to grease, moisture, and everyday handling. It’s worth checking Tikkurila’s range if you want to understand the difference between a decorator’s emulsion and a professional kitchen finish.
What to Ask Before You Hire Anyone
Ask for a Detailed, Itemised Quote
This is the first and most important step. A professional outfit will give you a written quote that separates labour from materials and explains exactly what’s included. If you receive a vague figure with no breakdown, that’s a warning sign.
Unexpected costs mid-project are one of the most common complaints homeowners have with tradespeople. A clear quote upfront protects you. Don’t accept anything less.
Ask About Preparation
The finish is only as good as the prep underneath it. Ask any spray painter you’re considering how they prepare surfaces before applying paint. A professional process should include:
- Thorough degreasing of all surfaces
- Light sanding to create adhesion
- Priming where needed
- Proper masking to protect appliances, worktops, and floors
Skipping preparation steps is the fastest route to a failing finish. We take preparation seriously — it’s the part most people don’t see, but it’s where most of the real work happens.
Ask About the Paint and Process
Not all paints are equal. Ask what product will be used, and whether it’s designed for kitchen environments. Ask whether doors are removed and sprayed in a controlled workshop setting, or sprayed in situ.
At Ultimate Décor, we remove all cabinet doors and drawer fronts and take them to our dedicated workshop. This allows us to spray both sides properly, achieve a cleaner finish, and work without disrupting your kitchen more than necessary. You won’t need to empty your cupboards — the carcasses are sprayed in place.
Ask What Happens If Something Goes Wrong
A quality guarantee is the clearest sign that a company stands behind its work. We offer a 10-year guarantee on our kitchen respray work. That’s not a figure we arrived at lightly — it reflects confidence in the materials we use and the process we follow.
Check whether any company you’re considering is registered with a recognised trade body. TrustMark is a government-endorsed scheme that helps homeowners identify vetted, trustworthy tradespeople — it’s a useful starting point if you’re doing due diligence.
What a Professional Kitchen Respray Actually Involves
For most kitchens, the process takes around five days from start to finish. The doors come off on day one, go to the workshop, and are sprayed and cured there. Meanwhile, the carcasses, frames, and any in-situ elements are prepared and sprayed in your home. By the end of the week, your kitchen looks and functions like new — without the cost or disruption of a full replacement.
We can colour-match to Farrow & Ball, Little Greene, and most other major paint ranges. If you have a specific shade in mind, we can almost certainly achieve it.
You can find out more about our approach on our kitchen respray service page, and if you’re based in Surrey or South London, our Surrey spray painting page gives more detail on the areas we cover.
The Cost Question
A kitchen respray costs significantly less than a full kitchen replacement — that’s a fact worth knowing. But I’d encourage you not to let price be the lead factor when choosing who does the work. A cheap respray that fails after eighteen months isn’t a saving. It’s a problem you’ll be paying to fix.
We’re not the cheapest option. We’re the best option for homeowners who want a finish that lasts, backed by a guarantee, delivered by a team that’s been doing this since 2004.
Ready to Talk About Your Kitchen?
If you’re considering a kitchen makeover and want an honest conversation about what’s involved, call us on 0203 355 1495 or get in touch through the website. We cover Surrey and South London, and we’re happy to discuss your project before you commit to anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I look for when choosing a kitchen spray painting company?
Look for a company that provides an itemised written quote, explains their preparation process in detail, uses paints specifically formulated for kitchen use, and offers a long-term guarantee on their work. City & Guilds qualifications and verifiable reviews are also good indicators of a professional operation.
How do I know if a kitchen respray quote is fair and complete?
A fair quote will separate labour from materials and clearly describe the scope of work — including whether doors are removed, how surfaces are prepared, and what paint products are used. If a quote is a single figure with no explanation, ask for a full breakdown before you agree to anything.
Is a kitchen respray in Surrey worth it compared to replacing the kitchen?
For most homeowners in Surrey and South London, a professional kitchen respray delivers a factory-quality finish at a fraction of the cost of replacement — typically in around five working days, with no need to empty cupboards or manage a major building project. Provided it’s done by a qualified specialist using the right materials and backed by a proper guarantee, it’s an excellent long-term investment.
