Cabinet Paint Showdown: PPG Breakthrough vs Sherwin-Williams Gallery Series

Cabinet painting has become one of the most requested services at Rock's Painting. Homeowners across Johnson City, Kingsport, and Bristol are discovering that refinishing cabinets costs a fraction of replacement while delivering a fresh, updated look. But not all cabinet paints are created equal. Here is how the two products I rely on most compare in real-world cabinet work.

PPG Breakthrough: The Durability Champion

PPG Breakthrough has earned its reputation in the professional painting community. This waterborne acrylic alkyd hybrid was engineered specifically for high-touch surfaces like cabinets, trim, and doors.

Why Breakthrough Excels

• Exceptional adhesion. Breakthrough bonds to previously finished surfaces, including glossy lacquer and polyurethane, without sanding to bare wood. Proper cleaning and light scuff sanding are still necessary, but you can skip aggressive stripping.
• Fast dry time. Recoat in 30 minutes under normal conditions. For production work, this means completing multiple coats in a single day. On a full kitchen, this translates to faster completion and less disruption.
• Outstanding durability. Once fully cured, Breakthrough resists fingerprints, food splatters, and cleaning products. Cabinets painted with Breakthrough stand up to daily use without chipping or wearing through at the edges.
• Brushable or sprayable. While I prefer to spray cabinets, Breakthrough levels well enough to brush doors in the field when spray is not practical.

The Honest Limitations

Breakthrough is available in a more limited range of sheens compared to some competitors. The finish, while smooth and professional, does not quite achieve the glass-like quality of dedicated spray-only products. For most kitchens, this distinction is invisible. But for high-end projects where absolute perfection is expected, the next product has an edge.

Sherwin-Williams Gallery Series: The Smoothest Finish

Sherwin-Williams Gallery Series Waterborne Topcoat is a spray-only product designed to deliver a factory-quality finish on cabinets and fine woodwork. It is a pigmented conversion varnish alternative that handles like a dream.

What Makes Gallery Series Special

• The smoothest finish available. When properly sprayed, Gallery Series lays down with virtually no orange peel and zero brush marks. The result rivals factory-finished cabinets from high-end manufacturers.
• Excellent leveling. The product self-levels as it cures, minimizing imperfections from spray technique. Even at high application rates, it does not sag or run.
• Beautiful depth. The cured finish has a clarity and depth that looks premium. Colors appear richer and whites appear cleaner compared to standard paints.
• Good chemical resistance. Stands up to typical household cleaners and kitchen exposure.

The Trade-Offs

Gallery Series requires spray application. It cannot be brushed or rolled effectively, which limits flexibility on jobsites where spray is not practical. It also requires more careful surface preparation and application technique to achieve its full potential.

Dry time is longer than Breakthrough, requiring more patience between coats. The product is also more expensive and less forgiving of application errors.

Head-to-Head Comparison

Which One Should You Use?

Choose PPG Breakthrough When:

• You need a durable finish that will stand up to heavy daily use
• You want the flexibility to brush doors or touch up in the field
• Speed matters and you need to complete the project quickly
• Budget is a consideration and you want excellent results without premium pricing
• The cabinets are in a high-use kitchen with kids or heavy cooking

Choose Gallery Series When:

• Absolute finish quality is the top priority
• You have a proper spray setup and controlled environment
• The cabinets are in a showcase kitchen where appearance is paramount
• The client expects factory-level results and is willing to pay for them
• You are doing built-ins, entertainment centers, or fine furniture

Our Approach at Rock's Painting

For most cabinet painting projects in the Tri-Cities area, we use PPG Breakthrough. It delivers the durability that kitchen cabinets need, dries fast enough to minimize disruption, and provides a smooth finish that homeowners love.

For high-end kitchen renovations where clients want the absolute best finish possible, we switch to Gallery Series and take the extra time to achieve that factory-perfect result.

Both products require proper preparation to perform their best. We clean all surfaces with TSP substitute, sand with 150-grit to provide tooth, and prime with either Benjamin Moore Stix or Zinsser BIN depending on the substrate. The topcoat is only as good as the preparation beneath it.

With 250+ projects completed, we have refined our cabinet painting process to deliver consistent, professional results. If you are considering cabinet refinishing, we would be happy to evaluate your project and recommend the best approach for your situation and budget.