Aura is not the best product for this situation.

The Aura may state sanding is not required, but certainly does not say not to sand. Sanding is always a helpful step to ensure adhesion. Sometimes rolling the Aura can flatten out like a sprayed finish, but this depends on the skill of the applicator and using the proper tools. You should never touch up a sprayed finish with a giant paint brush. Also, remember that freshly applied paint can be sensitive for some time while it cures which can take up to a month. Just because some paint comes off when nicked does not mean no primer was used. The entire system will adhere better after full cure. Sadly, he won't be able to sand out brush marks, especially on freshly applied paint.

Look at what you started with. Look again. You’re not ever going to get those to be high end perfect. You’re aiming for better than it was, on a small budget. Or else you would have ripped those out and started over with new cabinets. You don’t end up with a Houzz magazine quality result starting with a 1971 plywood door as the base.

A budget paint job with house paint is what you paid for, received, and what the product underneath deserved. A better quality factory perfect coating with conversion varnish could have been done with a cabinet coating expert—-for more than it would have cost to replace those old antiques with IKEA cabinets. It’s what you should have done. That would have fixed the issues with them that you’re conveniently ignoring.

Getting way too picky over those results, with that as a starting point? Old saying about silk purses and sow’s ears are pretty applicable here. You’re just having buyers remorse over not spending this money ripping them out.

I guess I'm not very picky because I think they look pretty good.

WOW, GreenDesigns. So you think those pencil marks are acceptable in a budget paint job?

I can't believe they wanted to rehang the doors so soon after painting. And the drip in the groove. I'm an amateur DIY painter and I would not have let that happen.

Aura is definitely not a good product for this. Have it redone with BM Advance, SW Emerald, or General Finishes paint. You’re going to need to do it over with a shellac primer anyway - you’re going to get bleedthrough from your original cabinets sooner than later.

I don't subscribe to the Houzz mantra that you have to spend a ton of money to get a result you're happy with, so I think you're well within your right not to be satisfied with that paint job. It is not what I would expect from a professional and quite frankly, my DIY painted cabinets that I'm painting with a $70 sprayer and BM Advance look much better. I wouldn't pay for this.

I will pay for the job and move on. I just don’t want the guy sanding down the brush marks and rolling over it. I’m afraid that would be worse.

As an aside, the cost for the job is $2k.

A professional job should have cost $3000-$5000.

I would NOT pay these hacks for the job they did. As stated they did everything wrong.

Thank you cpartist. But my husband died some years back and I would really be scared to take a stand with the owner for fear of retaliation so I must pay the bill. I wish I had known better what my options were. Live and learn for sure.

From my experience you always sand prime before cabinets are painted. Did they seal with a top coat. If all steps were not taken they will get chip marks as used. The pencil marks can be touched up without brush mark by using sponge brush light tap. The 2000.00 is low so they cut corners in my opinion.

Due diligence was not done here about the processes and the expectations. 2K is a super low, low skills house painters fee, with no real prep, and using consumer grade products that aren’t really meant for cabinets. That’s exactly the low quality of job that you paid for, and received.

The average for an actual cabinet coatings Specialist pro to prep properly, and use a conversion varnish, would be 7-9K. If you had paid that, and received the job that you did, you’d have a gripe.

Thank you cpartist. But my husband died some years back and I would really be scared to take a stand with the owner for fear of retaliation so I must pay the bill. I wish I had known better what my options were. Live and learn for sure.

What type of retaliation would you be afraid of? As a consumer you do have rights.

I'm sorry you are going through this but please don't feel you're a helpless female.

Not filling and sanding the holes for the former hardware is a sure sign of a hack job. I changed the location of the hardware when I painted my cabinets. I can point out the filled holes on the back side of the cabinet doors, where I wasn't as careful, but there is no evidence on the front sides. There are brush strokes, because that's the finish I wanted, but if I'd expected a smooth finish from a pro, I'd be upset about your painter's 'repairs', too.

All in all, they look pretty good in the pictures. Once you get used to seeing them, all the imperfections, wont matter so much. I am sorry you are not happy, because 2,000 is quite a bit of money, and you should have been. Please dont let him sand on them, at least right now. Wait at least 3 months, so that paint is set hard, or you will have a huge mess. At that time, it may be something you can carefully do yourself.

Aura is $65 per gallon paint. 2K is fine. Don't listen to these blowhards on this forum who just want you to throw money in the garbage.

All of the additional labor to get a good paint job on cabinets, including the extensive prep, does cost more than the average labor to paint just a family room with large stretches of flat walls. It’s a lot harder. The materials and tools are significantly higher in cost.

I’ve had hundreds of jobs done. Some I specified colors only, and the homeowner hired their own, or did their own. Only a couple of A+ jobs in that bunch, and that was from DIYers who took it seriously that it would take weeks of time to do. Plenty of C level jobs, and a few F’s.

Jobs where I controlled the contractor choice generally come out better. As you would expect! Yes they cost more. Because more work and better products were being used. I made sure of it. I‘ve never had any paid job be less than 5K that I would judge done A+ well, or that used products designed for cabinets and not trim. Those poorer quality jobs in the beginning, with “semi gloss enamel” are where I developed my guidelines for choosing better contractors and better products. Mistakes teach you. If you’re willing to learn. Unfortunately for homeowners, by the time they learn from mistakes, their once or twice in s lifetime job is over with and they don’t get to use that knowledge on a future job.

Price is based on the amount of work happening, so of course there is a correlation to quality. How can there not be?

I don't think $2,000 is low. That's a lot of money to spend on a paint job. I would make a list of your issues and discuss them with the owner. If he doesn't fix it, post bad reviews online to let other customers know.

Owner was here today to collect his check. He insisted on lightly sanding and rolling 3 doors on one side of the room so I could see if it would correct the mistakes. As far as I can tell it doesn’t negate the fact they should have been sanded to begin with - just looks like a thick coat of paint (side by side photo). I learned that he used Stix as the primer (Aura paint) (no top coat). So maybe they didn’t sand the primed coat?

If they even let it dry fully? I know that the spraying was done outdoors - temperatures here in GA have been up to 99 degrees. Again, the doors were taken Wednesday after 5 pm and returned for hanging Friday morning.

He didn’t correct the pencil marks on the drawers but I had already decided I was limited in what I would allow him to do.

Since it sounds like (according to the insight I have been provided here) that I will have to repaint anyway.

Thank you all for your help.

And actually this side where holes were not sanded has started to warp (bubble?).

He came to collect his check? Did you pay him?

I'm concerned about the "retaliation" comment that you made. I've been bullied by contractors before. Sounds like he's gaslighting you.

If you haven't paid yet you should continue to withold payment until he fixes things. Since he's tried several times to fix them, you can fire him (depending on your state's laws). In my state (Texas) you have to give the contractor a chance to fix and if that fix fails, or he refuses to try, then you can fire him. You could try to determine how much value he has provided, and give him partial payment. But if you have to start completely over with a new contractor, you probably didn't get much value.

If you feel threatened, have a friend or neighbor with you any time he comes over, whether he is trying to fix things again, or he comes to ask for payment. If he has a key to your house, get it back.

I am sorry you are having these problems. While sanding is important, I used a "no sanding necessary" primer (Zinsser) about 20 years ago on old kitchen cabinets that I put in my laundry room and one bathroom vanity. Over all, it has held up very well - though I admit neither room gets the wear and tear of a kitchen. Also, the original cabinet surface, while finished, was not glossy. The primer did take several days to cure and was initially easy to chip, but eventually hardened up. This does not help your issues with brush marks etc, but lack of sanding does not necessarily mean the paint will chip off totally. Even well done painted over finished wood cabinets experience the need for touch ups which is why I consider painting over previously finished wood cabinets to be a stop gap measure while saving for new cabinets to replace worn cabinets. With touch ups the cabinets can be presentable for many years as it can take some time for many to save up for new cabinets. I do have two friends with new white custom kitchen cabinets - both have chips on the pull out trash - so even expensive painted kitchens can need occasional touch ups.

Even when the paint job comes out wonderfully, I usually caution against expensive counters / backsplash on painted over previously finished wood cabinets. Often, the paint job does not hold up over the long haul (> 5 years) and new cabinets become necessary - then the new counters and backsplash are wasted. If you plan on continuing improvements - keep them sensible and low cost - laminate counters rather than stone. You can have a sweet and functional kitchen without spending a fortune. If your layout is good, and your cabinet boxes in excellent condition, you could consider refacing in several years. it is great your cabinets are so tall. I hope you are able to get a discount and or repairs to your present paint job - but the kitchen is looking pretty:)

I paid the man his bill and I will move on. As jhmarie stated I will consider this a stop gap measure until I can save for new cabinets. I am realistic as to the value I got and it was never my intent to dispute an individual’s hard work. If the tannins don’t bleed through I will be relieved. Also realistic there will be no granite countertops. But I’m loving all the inspiration I get from Houzz. You guys are awesome. Thanks again.

I’m sorry your cabinets turned out not as you hoped. But I have to say they look very pretty, I hope you can enjoy them even if not perfect!

I am sorry that this happened to you. Although others have mentioned they didn't think $2000 was enough for a proper job, I disagree. Yes, maybe they wouldn't be the perfect good as new look that you would get with a true cabinetry shop, but there is still no excuse for pencil marks, bubbling paint and not filling holes. You are justified in your frustration. But as I am someone that dealt with a nightmare contractor, I understand how sometimes it's just not worth the fight. I could have drawn it out into a long legal battle, but in the end my sanity was more valuable. I do think your home looks lovely and I hope that you can enjoy it until such time that you can get it redone :)

It is the job of the contractor to explain any time they plan to do work that isn't to industry standard. That should never be on the non-professional person/homeowner. If I pay for a painter to paint my home, regardless of the amount, I shouldn't expect him to quote me $1k and not prime unless he tells me that. I hate when all these pros on her blame the homeowner. That means your professional is the problem. Don't expect nieve homeowners to know all the things you do.