Repainting instead of refitting
Burwell has 1,173 households that own outright and 933 buying with a mortgage, by the 2021 Census. Painting sound units means nobody disconnects the sink or the hob, and the worktops stay put. At the visit Graham tests what the doors are made of. Timber and MDF take paint well once prepared, while some foil-wrapped doors won't hold it, and he'll say so before you commit.
Homes from 2000 onwards, about 500 in the village, are often too new for a refit to make sense, though owners may still want to change the colour they inherited.
How Burwell kitchen units are prepared
Grease is the enemy, especially near the hob and around handles, so every surface is degreased and then sanded with Mirka dust-free sanders. We prime with Zinsser and apply two coats of a woodwork eggshell or satin. Spraying with the Graco Ultra cordless airless sprayer pays off when there are many plain slab doors to do. Shaker panels and small kitchens tend to get hand-painted, because the set-up for spraying outweighs the time it saves. Our kitchen respray page shows how spraying is set up.
If the worktops are wood, sanding and an Osmo oil can be added to the same job.
Burwell at a glance
- 13 milesby road from our Landbeach base, about 22 minutesOSRM routing
- 76%of homes are owner-occupiedCensus 2021
- 34%of households own with a mortgageCensus 2021
- 28%were built 1983 to 1999VOA Council Tax stock
- 18%were built since 2000VOA Council Tax stock
- 93%are houses rather than flatsCensus 2021
How we approach kitchen cabinet painting
We'd label every door and drawer front, remove the hardware and work through the kitchen in an order that keeps the sink and fridge usable. After degreasing and sanding, chips are filled and a primer suited to the door material goes on. Top coats in Tikkurila, Farrow & Ball or Dulux follow, with tiles and worktops masked. The full method, products and FAQs are on our kitchen cabinet painting page.