Kitchen Spraying vs Replacement: Cost Comparison Guide Nottingham
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What's Covered by Spraying, and What's Covered by a Full Replacement
- Spraying: removal, degreasing and sanding of doors, drawer fronts and cabinet carcasses, followed by priming and multiple airless spray coats
- Spraying: dust-free mobile extraction so the rest of the kitchen stays usable while the work is underway
- Spraying: colour matching to premium palettes such as Little Greene or Farrow & Ball, plus minor repairs to chips or worn edges before painting
- Replacement: a free home visit, CAD design and an interactive floor-planning walkthrough before you commit to anything
- Replacement: bespoke or made-to-measure cabinetry built by City & Guilds trained joiners
- Replacement: plumbing, electrical and gas work carried out by NVQ Level 2/City & Guilds plumbers, Part P approved electricians and Gas Safe registered engineers
- Replacement: removal and disposal of your old kitchen under a registered waste carrier licence
- Both: a transparent written agreement before work starts, and a formal sign-off with a written installation warranty on completion
Not Included / Costed Separately
- Structural alterations such as removing a wall or moving a doorway -- these are surveyed and priced separately once the space is opened up
- Spraying of cabinets that are delaminating, water-damaged or coming apart at the joints -- paint can't fix a structural fault, so replacement or a hybrid approach is recommended instead
- Appliances aren't included in the base spray price, though they can be sourced and fitted as part of a replacement quote
- Work outside the kitchen footprint, such as wider flooring, decorating or utility room changes, unless it's added to the written quote
From First Call to a Finished Kitchen
- Free home visit -- A member of the team assesses your existing cabinets, talks through whether spraying or full replacement fits your budget and timeframe, and takes the measurements needed for an accurate quote.
- Design and written quotation -- For a replacement, CAD and interactive floor-planning software gives you a photo-realistic view of the finished kitchen before anything is ordered; for spraying, colours are matched against your chosen palette. Either way, you get a full written quote with no hidden extras.
- Written agreement -- Scope, materials, colour, timescale and price are confirmed in writing before any work starts, so there are no surprises once the team is on site.
- The work itself -- Spraying jobs follow the removal, clean, repair, prime, spray and reassemble sequence over a matter of days. Replacements bring joiners, plumbers, electricians, gas engineers and plasterers together as one coordinated project rather than several separate trades to manage yourself.
- Completion and sign-off -- The finished kitchen is checked over with you and formally signed off, and you're handed a written installation warranty alongside the 5-year labour and 2-year product guarantee.
Getting a Price You Can Rely On
The ranges set out earlier in this guide are a starting point for budgeting, not a quote for your specific kitchen -- the only way to get an accurate figure is a free home visit, since the number of doors, current condition and any repairs needed all affect the final price. As a guide, kitchens supplied and fitted by this business start from around £5,000, with flexible finance available through an FCA-regulated partner, subject to status, for homeowners who'd rather spread the cost of a full replacement.
Spraying and Full Replacement Side by Side
| Kitchen Spraying | Full Replacement | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | £600-£3,000 depending on kitchen size | £5,000-£50,000+ depending on specification |
| Typical timescale | 3-5 days | 3-8 weeks from demolition to completion |
| Expected lifespan | 5-10 years before a touch-up is needed | 15-20+ years |
| Disruption | Kitchen stays largely usable throughout | No functional kitchen for much of the project |
| Trades involved | Spray technicians only | Joiners, plumbers, electricians, gas engineers and plasterers, coordinated as one project |
| Best suited to | Sound cabinets that just look dated | Damaged cabinets, a poor layout, or outdated plumbing and electrics |
Why the Recommendation You Get Isn't a Sales Pitch
Whichever option turns out to be right for your kitchen, the same team quotes and delivers it, so there's no incentive to steer you toward the more expensive job when spraying would do just as well for less. In-house trades back that up: joiners hold City & Guilds qualifications, plumbers work to NVQ Level 2 and City & Guilds standards, electricians are Part P approved, and gas hob or range connections go through a Gas Safe registered engineer -- nobody on site is a subcontractor picked up for the week because it happened to be free. The spraying side calls on a narrower, more specific skill: matching a factory-style finish to a chosen palette such as Little Greene or Farrow & Ball takes a steady hand with the airless gear and an eye for how a colour actually reads once it's dry and sitting under kitchen downlights, which is something you only get a genuine feel for by doing enough respray jobs to know where the finish typically lets people down. It's a family-run operation rather than a franchise, so the person who visits your home for the free assessment is usually still on site when the last coat goes on or the final cabinet is fitted. Either way, the job is covered by a written agreement before work starts, a formal sign-off on completion, and the same 5-year labour and 2-year product guarantee whichever option you go with -- CITB and FSB membership sits behind that day-to-day standard of work rather than standing in for it.
Where the Spray Rig and Fitting Teams Reach
The mobile spraying equipment and the fitting teams both work out of a regional workshop rather than a single high-street branch, which is what makes it practical to book a respray in a city-centre flat one week and a full replacement in a Victorian terrace the next. The Nottingham Express Transit tram corridor through Beeston and Clifton is a fair marker for how far the spray rig travels within a day without it becoming an early start, taking in most of the city and its immediate suburbs. Further out toward Long Eaton and Derby, bookings tend to be a genuine mix of both services -- older terraced housing where the cabinets are often solid enough to spray, alongside newer builds where a full reconfiguration makes more sense. Around Mansfield and the towns to the north, replacement is booked more often than spraying, simply because the housing stock there skews older and box-style layouts that need re-planning are more common. Around Wollaton, spraying is frequently chosen to bring a classic Shaker-style kitchen back to a crisp finish without losing the traditional look homeowners want to keep near Wollaton Hall. Wherever you're based within roughly 15-20 miles of the city, the home visit is free either way, and it remains the only reliable way to work out which option actually suits your own units.
Book a Free Home Visit Before You Decide
Cabinets that are only cosmetically tired today can keep deteriorating, and if a full replacement turns out to be the right call, units and worktops often carry lead times of several weeks -- so it pays to get the assessment booked in early rather than closer to when you want the work finished. A free home visit gets you an honest recommendation and a full written quote with no hidden extras, and if spraying is the right fit, a kitchen that's usable again within days rather than weeks.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kitchen Spraying?
Kitchen spraying is a refurbishment technique that involves applying professional-grade paint to your existing kitchen cabinets, doors, and drawer fronts. Unlike DIY brush painting, professional kitchen spraying uses specialised equipment to create a factory-like finish that's smooth, durable, and free from brush marks or uneven coverage. This process can transform virtually any kitchen surface – from wooden cabinets to MDF, laminate, and even some types of vinyl. The colour options are nearly limitless, allowing you to choose anything from crisp whites and subtle creams to bold blues or contemporary greys. Finishes range from matte to high gloss, satin, or even textured effects that mimic other materials. Professional kitchen spraying differs significantly from DIY spray painting. While y
What Constitutes a Full Kitchen Replacement?
A full kitchen replacement involves removing your existing kitchen entirely and installing a brand-new one in its place. This comprehensive approach typically includes new cabinets, worktops, and often new appliances as well. With replacement, you have complete freedom to choose from a range of options: Custom-built kitchens: Designed specifically for your space with bespoke cabinets and features Made-to-measure units: Standard designs fitted precisely to your kitchen dimensions Off-the-shelf solutions: Pre-fabricated units available from kitchen retailers and DIY stores Today's replacement kitchens offer countless design possibilities, from traditional shaker styles to sleek handleless units, industrial looks or country cottage aesthetics. Materials range from natural wood to engineered s
How long does kitchen spraying last compared to new cabinets?
Professional kitchen spraying typically lasts 5-10 years before possibly requiring touch-ups, depending on usage and care. New cabinets generally last 15-20+ years before showing significant wear.
Can any type of cabinet be sprayed?
Most cabinet materials can be successfully sprayed, including wood, MDF, laminate, and some vinyls. However, extremely damaged surfaces or very low-quality materials may not achieve optimal results.
Will sprayed cabinets look as good as new ones?
A professionally sprayed finish can look remarkably similar to factory-finished cabinets. Most visitors won't be able to tell the difference between a well-sprayed kitchen and a brand-new one.
How much disruption should I expect during each process?
Spraying typically causes 2-3 days of moderate disruption, with your kitchen remaining partially functional. Full replacement involves 2-3 weeks of significant disruption, including periods with no functional kitchen.
What adds the most value when updating a kitchen?
For maximum return on investment, focus on quality worktops, good lighting, and a neutral colour scheme that appeals to a broad range of tastes. Design - Supply - Installation - Project Management Nottingham Kitchen Fitter You're One-Stop-Shop For Everything Kitchens 0115-824-4201