What we fix
- Chips. Dings from pots, toys, and vacuum cleaners. Filled, sanded, color-matched.
- Scratches. Surface scratches that have not gone through to wood blend out well.
- Handle wear. The worn ring where fingers grab every day. We refinish the spot.
- Water spots. Minor moisture marks near the sink, sealed and blended.
When touch-up is not enough
Widespread peeling, failing adhesion, or damage across whole doors means the finish itself is done. Then the right move is repainting, not patching. We will tell you which one you need.
Call (301) 679-9193 — send a photo and we will tell you if it is a touch-up job.
Our process for touch-ups
Small work, careful work.
- Photo or visit. Send a photo and we will tell you if it is a touch-up job or a repaint. Honest answer, no visit needed for the obvious ones.
- Color match. We match your existing finish — by eye, with samples, in your light. Close is not good enough.
- Prep the spot. Clean, light sand, fill if the chip is deep. The repair area stays small.
- Layer and blend. Thin coats, feathered edges. The repair disappears into the surrounding finish.
- Sheen match. The gloss level must match too, or the spot flashes in the light.
What blends and what does not
Blends: small chips, surface scratches, handle wear, minor water spots. These are localized damage on a sound finish.
Does not blend: peeling across whole doors, widespread flaking, finish that is soft or sticky. That is a failing finish, and spot repairs will keep failing with it. See repainting.
The tape test decides. Press tape on the finish and pull. Paint on the tape means the bond is gone. No paint means the finish is sound and touch-up will hold.
Between-tenant refreshes
Landlords love this service. A unit turns over, we come in for a day, and the kitchen photographs like new. Chips filled. Wear spots blended. Hardware tightened.
It costs a fraction of a repaint and keeps the unit competitive. Schedule it with every turnover. See commercial cabinet painting.
DIY touch-up kits
For tiny nicks, a matched paint pen works. Clean the spot, dab, let dry. Good enough for a chip the size of a grain of rice.
For anything bigger, the feathering and sheen matching need a practiced hand. A bad DIY touch-up is more visible than the chip was. When in doubt, send us a photo.
Preventing the next chip
Soft-close hinges stop the slamming that chips door edges. Felt pads stop the knocks. Wiping spills fast stops the moisture damage.
Most chips happen at the same spots: below the handles, at the trash pull-out, near the dishwasher. Knowing your hot spots helps you watch them.
When to call vs. DIY
DIY it: a nick smaller than a grain of rice. A matched paint pen, a dab, done. Clean the spot first.
Call us: anything bigger than a pea. Chips through to wood. Scratches you can feel with a fingernail. Wear rings around handles. Water spots near the sink.
Call us also when: the damage keeps coming back in the same spot. That signals a prep or moisture issue underneath, not just surface damage.
Do not DIY: peeling areas, bubbling finish, or anything where the paint is letting go. Covering failure with more paint wastes your weekend. It needs a pro assessment.
When in doubt, text us a photo. We will tell you straight whether it is a pen job or a pro job. No charge for the opinion.
What a touch-up visit looks like
We arrive with color matches mixed from your finish. You point out every spot that bothers you. We work through them one by one: clean, fill, sand, layer, blend.
Most visits run one to two hours. The repairs dry while we are there. You inspect in normal light before we leave.
We also tighten hardware and check hinges while we are at it. Small fixes, one visit, kitchen looks new again.
Book touch-ups any time. They fit between our larger jobs, usually within a week.
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