Kitchen walls are the hardest interior surface to paint well and have last. The combination of cooking grease, steam from pots, food splatter, and repeated cleaning creates conditions that destroy standard paint faster than almost anything else in the home. Getting a kitchen paint job right means thorough degreasing before any paint is applied, the right product selection (a scrubbable, durable finish), and application technique that accounts for the complex geometry of a kitchen — around upper and lower cabinets, above the range, behind the refrigerator, around the exhaust hood.
Cornerstone Pro Painting has been painting Toronto kitchens since 2009 and we understand what this surface demands. Our kitchen paint jobs start with a professional degreasing that removes the layer of cooking residue that most homeowners don't realize is on their walls — and that, if not removed, causes paint adhesion failure within months.
Step 1: Surface Degreasing — Kitchen walls are cleaned with a commercial degreaser to remove cooking residue, grease, and any other contaminants that would prevent paint adhesion. This step is non-negotiable.
Step 2: Preparation — All appliances masked or moved where possible. Cabinets, countertops, and backsplash carefully masked. Holes patched and sanded.
Step 3: Priming — Previously stained areas and any bare patches are primed with a stain-blocking primer.
Step 4: Painting — Two full coats of a scrubbable, semi-gloss or satin finish product are applied in the correct order — ceiling first, then walls, working around the cabinet geometry.
Step 5: Trim & Detail Work — All trim, window casings, and the area under the upper cabinets are finished cleanly.
We use scrubbable, washable paint formulations specifically on kitchen walls — products that can be wiped down with a damp cloth without the paint surface dulling or degrading. This is not the same product we use on bedroom walls, and the distinction matters enormously for how long the kitchen finish looks good. Our licensed and insured painters work cleanly around your cabinets and appliances, and we leave your kitchen ready to use the same day we finish.
No. We work around your appliances and ask that countertops be cleared before we arrive. We mask cabinets, countertops, and the backsplash carefully before any painting begins.
Satin or semi-gloss. These sheens provide the washability that kitchen walls need. Flat or eggshell paint in a kitchen will mark and stain quickly and cannot be properly cleaned.
Yes. Kitchen wall painting and cabinet painting are separate services and are quoted independently. Many homeowners paint the walls with us first and address the cabinets in a subsequent project.
Not necessarily. We can paint behind the refrigerator if it is on wheels and can be rolled out easily. The area behind a built-in range is typically left if the appliance cannot be safely moved.
Kitchen walls (excluding cabinets) typically run $700–$1,100 depending on the size and configuration of the kitchen. Written quote provided after walkthrough.
Proper degreasing before painting is the most important factor. Most kitchen paint failures trace back to inadequate surface preparation, not paint quality. Our degreasing process addresses this at the outset of every kitchen job.
Free written estimate within 12 hours. No obligation, no pressure.