Why You May Want to Consider Cabinet Refacing

Oftentimes, homeowners get tired of their kitchen cabinet’s appearance and think they need to demolish cabinetry that is still in good structural shape in order to achieve a new look.  Cabinets that are structurally unsound or not designed will probably not look too much better after being refaced. Some cheaper kitchen cabinets are made from cheaper grades of particle board. If the old facing is badly worn, the particle board can get wet and swell and there may be no guarantee that the adhesive you use for refacing will adhere. It is probably prudent to repair the cabinets in a situation like this.

With cabinet resurfacing, also called refacing, one can still drastically change the style and feel of their kitchen but with a fraction of the time and money new cabinetry entails. Cabinet refacing is different from cabinet refinishing where the only thing changing is the finish or color of the existing materials. When you are refacing cabinets, you’re putting new material on top of the existing cabinet frames and replacing doors and drawer fronts. 

How Cabinet Refacing Works is Quite Simple!

1. First, the cabinet doors and drawers are removed.
2. Secondly, the cabinet boxes are covered with veneer or RTF (Rigid thermofoil).
3. Cabinet sides are then covered with wood veneer or a laminate.
4. If needed, new door hinges are added and then the new doors and drawer fronts are installed.
5. Finally, if necessary, new cabinet fixtures can be added.
6. Once these steps are completed, homeowners can install  accessories such as glass panels, crown molding, lighting, etc. to the refaced cabinetry.

Kitchen Remodeling can be overwhelming and time-consuming. However, cabinet refacing simplifies the process and offers you several benefits over new cabinetry.

 Benefits of Cabinet Refacing

• The total installation process can take anywhere from 3 to 8 days
• It’s ec0-friendly because it avoids any unnecessary waste to the landfills
• It is cost-effective using the existing cabinet boxes for structural support
• During the refacing process, the kitchen stays functional, which eliminates the time you don’t have a kitchen
• Refacing offers a wide variety of colors and finishes for cabinetry doors and drawers
• It can allow you to keep the layout the same, but update the style

Kitchen cabinets are often custom-built, and when they start to show their age, replacing them can be a costly proposition. Stock cabinets may be less expensive, but the prospect of replacing them can still be intimidating. Refacing is an alternative that costs about half of what professional replacement costs. Fortunately, cabinet refacing is a project most home DIYers can complete who have some workshop space, basic carpentry skills and a will to save money.

Cabinets with a small amount of face trim are simpler to reface. These “Euro-style” cabinets include flat slabs that can somewhat easily be concealed with new veneer. Furthermore, a large number of kitchen cabinets—possibly the majority—have doors and drawers with frame-and-panel construction.

The average cost for a cabinet refacing project is approximately $13,000. This estimate includes materials, certified and insured installers as well as project management. This estimate is based on 30 linear feet of cabinets (200 square foot kitchen).

Many older cabinets are made of solid wood, and these can make great refacing projects, producing cabinets that will last another 20 years or more. From a design standpoint, cabinets typically draw the most visual attention in the kitchen, so refacing them is probably the single best way to renovate your kitchen.