It's way better if you can paint first. We just primed because we wanted to pick out a color after the cabinets & lighting were done - but now I have to get a tiny brush and do all the edges around the crown & cabinets sides... one of those task on the 98% done list.

Flooring or cabs is the age old debate but I think flooring if the type of flooring you are putting in can go down first - it just seems simpler to me.

Once the rough in electrical and\or plumbing is inspected and the drywall repair is done I say paint (then flooring). Paint will get nicked, scraped and need touch ups maybe even another coat on some walls but it is still easier than having to paint everything after the cabinetry goes in as far as I'm concerned. To be clear I'm a big advocate of making all your major decisions before you demo.

I had the same question, and was advised to paint first. It was much simpler to paint the large unobstructed spaces (we had lots of drywall repair requiring priming and painting) and then have the cabinets installed. There was minimal damage to the paint during the cabinet and appliance installation--truly just a couple of spots to touch up-- and everything looks great.

Thanks for the replies. It did seem to be the most logical sequence, and yes I agree with your excellent words of wisdom caryscott on making all major decisions before demo. It's just another case of my second guessing things after seeing messages referencing painting yet to be done of some in progress kitchens.

I will only have 2 end walls exposed so if I ultimately hate my paint choice it will be easy to slap up a new color with only a little bit of that little brush work that Bethv speaks of. Not a lot of fun I'm sure especially if there is a lot of cutting in to be done.

We painted one coat before, one coat after.

my boss has been in business for 20 years:

~tear out
~cabinets
~countertops (granite, caesar stone, soap stone, ect)
~tile on floors or woood (your chioce)
~splash (backsplash)
~paint (last!) No one can mess up your walls at that point an you can change paint color if you don't like!
(cover cabinets and countertops and flooring well with the thick plastic from hardware store)

Also: I tell all my customers: You can have a color idea in the beginning: but don't let it drive you crazy worrying over if 'all' going to look right together: in the end!

One thing at a time: that's my best advice: (although have a plan)

Masking and covering is MUCH harder than touching up a few nicks in paint. I am in the 'paint first' camp! :-)

another paint first. Or at least prime, first coat of paint. We aren't finished yet, still need counters, but at least the walls only need some touch up after counters are installed.

If DIY then paint first. It is quick and easy to paint an empty room. Yes you will have to touch up after. Also, If you did your own drywall and it's not so good, it will be obvious and fixable at this point.

If it means calling in a painting crew twice, maybe not.

I say if you don't really know what color you want to paint your kitchen ... still paint first, before anything at all goes in. Use white or a nice light base color, or like us, a paint that didn't get used on another project. That way while you're trying to figure out what the final color will be, your kitchen will still have some semblance of completeness after everything goes in.

The night of our kitchen demo we cleaned and painted all of he walls just because they looked horrible after tearing down the cabs and such. Imagine the contractors surprise when they arrived the next morning to pea green (or monkey-doo as I liked to call it) walls! LOL We used up an old can of paint that we didn't like but couldn't return to the store. At least we know the walls under the cabs and backsplash are clean and painted. I hope no monkies took offense at our choice. :-)

Jodi-

katienic,

Choosing virtually everything doesn't work for everybody and has its' pros and cons but the threshold for "just get it over with so I can get back into my kitchen" hits some sooner than others and it is a lousy place to have to make decisions from for most folks.

Even if you have a pro paint, after the cabinetry it can go from 50-70% roller job to maybe 20%, that is going to cost you in time and thus money with a pro.

In the process of remodel now. Our process was:

Drywall and finish
Prime and point
First coat of actual color being used

Then after flooring, cabinets, trim, etc, Final coat includng any additional point ups required. This allows for a good clean edge around all trims and cabinets and having a clean unmarked walls at the conclusion of the project.

I finally made it back to the boards and found the message all the way on page 7. I forget just how active this forum is and how quickly discussions move along.
Thank you to all who weighed in on the question since my last post.
I had a good chuckle over the monkey-doo paint colour Jodi. If that's what you called it no wonder the store didn't want it returned! LOL.

The reasons make sense for both choices of before or after. Thanks Petra for adding the note about the reflective nature of the granite. That is something I'll definitely keep in mind.

I'll talk with the carpenter and see if he would be willing to put the second coat on after install.

All I can say it I wish I painted the ceiling first. Now the painter has to get really close to the crown.