Is It Better To Paint Your Walls Before Or After Installing New Countertops?

When it comes to remodeling your kitchen, the order in which each project is scheduled is quite a dance, and depending on what your renovation entails, the scope could change the recommended sequence. While professional general contractors can certainly streamline this process for you based on experience and familiarity with specific subcontractors, painting may be something you would prefer to DIY rather than hire out. Either way, the big question becomes: At what point does the wall paint happen in the project timeline, specifically before or after new countertops?

Let's start with the easiest answer, which is that if you are getting new cabinets, you will typically paint the walls before the new cabinets (and, therefore, countertops) go in. This is because it allows you to skip taping off the new cabinets, meaning they can achieve a better, more even coat (usually with a sprayer) in less time with no obstructions or risk of splatters/spills on new cabinets. However, if you have no plans to change the cabinet frames, what does that mean for the timing of the wall paint? Well, ask a painter and you will get one answer, but ask a countertop installer, and you are likely to get another. The truth of the matter is that it can be done either way, but it is essential to be aware of the pros and cons of each option so you can properly prep your space and get the best results in the end.

If you opt to paint the walls before cabinets are installed, the major advantage is that it is you do not have to protecting them from splattering paint. You can achieve a smoother, better finish at a faster pace. Plus, you have no chance of paint spills on your new cabinets and counters, which gives many people peace of mind for such a large investment. If you paint after cabinets are installed but before countertops come into play, you still have to cover and protect your cabinets while awaiting the arrival of your countertops.

On the flip side, if you paint before counters, the wall can sometimes sustain nicks or more substantial damage during the countertop installation process, meaning touch ups will be required after they are in (use this refillable paint pen hack to easily make small paint touch ups). Touch ups are typically a routine part of a painter's process, but it is best to make sure that the order of work is clear up front so there are no surprises or hidden fees. Finally, countertop installers may discourage this sequence of events, preferring to work with an unfinished wall surface, but this is usually because they do not want to worry about damaging your newly painted walls, so talk things through with your fabricator to verify before painting.

If you decide to install countertops before painting the walls, the biggest advantage is that you can better visualize and pick the wall color with the countertops already in place. It is one thing to see two small samples together or a paint swatch next to a slab in a showroom, but installation day is the first time you see your full countertop in the space and its lighting. Your thoughts on wall color may change when you see the countertops installed, so waiting to paint could prove to save you a lot of time and money.

The biggest disadvantage is that you are putting your beautiful new slabs at risk of paint splatters and spills. Be sure to thoroughly tape off and protect new counters before painting the walls behind them to avoid pricey damage. Additionally, this extra step of protection means more time and labor for a painter, so it could be more expensive if you hire it out.

Regardless of the order you decide works for your project (and consult a professional if you aren't sure what is best), there are two other related items worth noting. First, if you plan to paint the ceiling, this will always come first before cabinets, wall paint, or countertops because, thanks to gravity, paint drips fall downwards. Secondly, while wall paint can be done before or after new counters, tile or wallpaper backsplashes are nearly always installed after your countertops.