Frequently asked Questions

Do you clean the kitchen before painting?

Yes, we use a specialised degreaser to prepare the surfaces before sanding. 

Do you sand? 

All cupboards & drawers are sanded down to remove any imperfections. We sand in between coats to give a flawless finish. 

Do you prime?

We apply two topcoats of adhesive primer on all of your kitchen. We also caulk any unsightly gaps once priming is complete with a flexible, paintable, acrylic caulk. 

How many topcoats will be applied? 

Minimal of two topcoats are applied to give the best coverage and for the pigment of the paint to pop in colour. Lighter colours often require more coats. 

What paint products do we use? 

This answer is slightly longer but particularly important! 

We achieve the perfect finish by priming all the kitchen in an ultimate performance, water-based primer-sealer. The primer is a stain killer and odour blocker. The high hiding formulation offers exceptional adhesion. It effectively primes, seals, blocks stains and locks in problem odours, while expertly sealing knots and sap streaks. With an ultra-low odour and innovative water-based formula, this primer contains only trace elements of VOCs (<0.1%). 

We then topcoat with two coats of premium, durable, water-based enamel paint. The paint is the newest generation, universal, waterborne, acrylic enamel, with high durability. Thanks to modern technology, the painted surface is resistant to mechanical damage, does not yellow over time and protects the painted surface against sun damage and high temperature conditions. It also has a neutral smell during application. With the paint being acrylic enamel, with high durability, this makes it resistant to cleaning and detergents too. 

The result is a seamless finish that is both long lasting and easy to clean and maintain. We only use paints which have been established in the kitchen and cabinet manufacturing market as the ‘go to’ products for hand finishing.

Will the paint chip? 

No, the paint we use is extremely hard wearing. The paint cures to form an incredibly tough film which can be cleaned and washed, and resistance to scrubbing. We always come back out free of charge if any touch ups are needed. It is rare but if it does happen, it is normally within the first few days due to the paint not having time to fully cure. We add rubber door stoppers on the backs of your cupboards and drawers to stop them touching the carcass while curing. These stay on once set. We repot, reseal any left-over paint, and leave our Aftercare Leaflet with instructions on how to handle your kitchen in the first couple of weeks. We are only ever a phone call away if you need us. 

Is the paint wipeable?

Yes, the paint we use is acrylic enamel, with high durability. Very resistant to cleaning & detergents. We recommend cleaning down with warm water and washing up liquid. Then wipe down with a lint free cloth. This way will remove any food spillages and water marks. 

Can I choose my finish? 

Yes, you will have a choice between:

Matt - 10% Sheen

Satin - 40% Sheen

Gloss - 80% Sheen 

Can we choose other colour palettes? 

Yes, we just love Farrow & Balls colour palette! But we can colour match to any other brand.

Will I have help with colour choice?

Absolutely! We love helping with colours, it’s the best part. It is also a particularly important part. 

We want you to be happy with the end result.

With colour choices, I always suggest ordering a colour fan from Farrow & Ball. They are £15.00 but worth it if you are unsure on colours. The colour fan is much larger than the free colour cards you can pick up in store.

If you see any colours you like, feel free to send them across to us and we can have a look to see if we have used them. If not, I can always find examples. 

Will I be able to get sample pots?

You can pick sample pots up at your local Paintwell store or order them from Farrow & Ball. They are £5.95 each online. 

When would you need my colour choice by? 

We will ask you for your colour choice the Tuesday before your job is booked in. 

Can we change the handles?

Yes, we can change handles. We ask for you to provide your own handles. If they are like for like there will be no additional charge. If a new handle design is chosen, that requires drilling & filling, then this will come at an additional fitting charge. This will be included in your quote provided.

Can you change my worktops?

We work closely with a highly skilled local joiner, Ian Ruiz at IR Joinery. Ian has 20 years experience in the trade and is extremely knowledgeable and skilled. He will be able to fit new worktops, and any joinery work you may need carrying out. 

Facebook - IR Joinery Winsford Cheshire

Contact Number - 07703 411071

What if my cabinets are de-laminated? 

We remove all the failed laminate, sand, prime, and then apply the finishing coat to the MDF. We also dispose of the laminate.

Do I have to empty my kitchen?

No, we only ask for surfaces and drawers to be cleared, and any glass fronted cupboards as we paint inside of them. 

Can I use my kitchen while work is happening? 

Absolutely, we ask for you to be careful around the sink area when paint is drying and maybe not to cook a homemade meal. But you can definitely make a cup of tea and toast! 

How do you protect my work surface and flooring?

We use hard surface floor protector and cardboard worktop protector. This stays down during all work. We do not use dust sheets as we find they can hold particles and dust which can become airborne when moving around. 

Do I need to be home?

No, we arrive at your property between 8am - 8:30am to begin work. We ask for someone to be home when we arrive on the first day so we can say hello and have a chat. But from there we can work in your home and post the key back through, or whatever arrangement suits you. Daniel is fully DBS checked. 

Do you do everything in-situ? 

Yes, we do everything in your home. 

Do you take off the cupboard doors?

Yes, we have drying racks we set up. We prefer to remove cupboard doors, so it allows us to get to all parts of the kitchen. 

Are you noisy on site? 

Absolutely not. We understand people work from home or may have small family members, so we keep noise to a minimum. The only noise would be from our screwdriver when removing the cupboards and drill if new handles are being fitted. We would inform you beforehand if you're working from home. 

Sprayed or hand painted? 

What a great question! We would say the difference between them both is your choice on what you want your kitchen to look like. Sprayed kitchens give a factory finish, while hand painted is a bespoke look. 

Sprayed kitchens are slightly more difficult to touch up, and cannot be repaired as conveniently if damaged. While in comparison, hand painted would be a slight sand and touch up with a brush or roller, on site. Hand painted kitchens do not require as much protection and sheeting up as when spraying a kitchen. The kitchen is still functional while we work. 

We do not deter clients away from sprayed kitchens, we can only inform you of the benefits of hand painting. We believe it is a personal choice. 

Of course, it takes longer to hand paint and most kitchens cannot be completed in a day, but the detail and finish when hand painted is worth the time and effort to create a beautiful finish. We use a combination of traditional painting with brush & roller and modern materials, so we create a truly stunning hand painted kitchen. 

Our experience?

When choosing a specialist hand painter to paint your kitchen you need to look for the preparation they undertake before painting, products they use, and skill set they have gained with experience. It is not just about how the finished product looks; it is all the smaller details that will guarantee the longevity of your hand painted kitchen. 

We have been hand painting kitchens for 11 years.  We are truly knowledgeable and experienced within this specialist trade. We learn something new everyday and are never afraid to try new products from the top leading brands. 

Is there a guarantee with the work?

The paint we use is extremely hard wearing. The paint cures to form an incredibly tough film which can be cleaned and washed, and resistance to scrubbing. The primer we use is a fantastic adhesive for the topcoat to adhere too. We always come back out free of charge for any touch ups if needed within the first 5 years. This warranty is a sign of confidence we have with the service we provide.

What happens to my deposit if I cancel?

The customer has the right to cancel this transaction (or any single part of the whole job) within 5 business days from the date of the labour being agreed but with a minimum of 14 full days before the work is due to be started. If the customer wishes to do so, they must inform the contractor via e-mail and/or text. Upon receiving a notice of cancellation, the contractor will return 100% of any deposit within ten (10) business days. If cancellation is made after midnight of the 5th business day, the contractor will retain 10% of the total labour price (the deposit), plus any moneys for non-refundable items already purchased (mixed colour paints). 

We are very reasonable with our deposit. We understand life and work can overlap. So, if you wanted to change your date, we would always transfer your deposit to the new date. 

Can I repaint my kitchen in the future?

Absolutely! It would be the same process again. The joy of paint! You can change as often as you like with us.

What other services do you offer? 

We can hand paint tiles, house doors, garage doors, furniture, walls, and woodwork too. We offer all services of painting. 

If you have any more questions, feel free to ask and we will be happy to help.