Is there anything you can do besides replacing your scarred and broken kitchen cabinets?
When faced with largely unpaintable cabinets, the sole option until recently was to paint the cabinets, which was an adequate but challenging alternative to replacement. When cabinets start to show their age, homeowners no longer have to choose between cabinet refacing and cabinet replacement.
Although cabinet refacing has been around for quite some time (it is really an advanced kind of wood veneering), cabinet refacing as a cottage industry is relatively recent. The lines between cabinet refacing and replacement tend to blur because the two are so similar. The primary distinction is that refaced cabinets have a fresh appearance while retaining the same basic cabinet layout as new cabinets.
Refacing the Cabinets
Refacing, or resurfacing, is the process of changing the cabinet fronts and drawers and applying a new laminate or veneer surface material to an already assembled cabinet framework (boxes). Cabinet hardware and similar things are typically replaced at the same time.
The Replacing of Cabinets
To replace your cabinets is to do just what it says. Your current cabinets will be taken down and replaced with brand new ones that feature shiny new doors and hardware. The measuring and leveling processes are often handled by experts in the field.
REFACING THE KITHCHEN CABINET
A modest kitchen remodel consisting of resurfacing the cabinets could cost as little as $15,000 to $20,000 for a 15′ by 15′ space. If you can make do with less storage space or fewer cabinets, you can reduce your expenses. Comparatively, the cost of refacing cabinets is around a third to half that of new ones.
REPLACEMENT OF CABINETS
The cost of new cabinets for a kitchen remodel is frequently between 20 and 25 percent of the entire price. For a kitchen costing $165,000, that’s an extra $35,000.
The price tag may go up if you go for higher-end cabinets that provide you more design freedom and vibrant color palettes. On the other hand, as we discussed up top, this is something that should be considered as part of the project scope if you’re performing a comprehensive kitchen makeover so that you may design a room that is tailored to your specific needs.
Things to Think About Refacing or Replacing Kitchen Cabinets
Saving money is an alluring bonus, but that doesn’t always mean cabinet refacing is the greatest investment. A local cabinet refacing contractor can help navigate your selections and provide a cost estimate for your budgeting. In the meanwhile, here are some items to consider when selecting what will work for your setup.
Durability
Is the structure of your existing cabinets strong, or do they droop beneath a full stack of plates? If you have doubts about the overall condition of your cabinets, cabinet refacing is probably not going to serve you well. You might be happy for a little while, but when that bothersome shelf falls again, you’ll probably regret you’d spent for the replacement.
Cabinet Layout
If you always hit your cereal cabinet when reaching for a pan, or you don’t have enough storage for your fantastic coffee cup collection, cabinet refacing won’t address these annoyances. For additional storage capacity and improved functionality, you’re better off picking the total replacement.
However, if you’ve refined the workflow of your existing layout and would like to keep your kitchen’s overall aesthetic, refacing your cabinets is worth consideration.
Time
Refacing your cabinets normally takes a few days at most, whereas replacing them totally asks for more time and labor. This amounts not only to higher costs but extra time without your kitchen as well. But on the positive side, it’s the perfect reason to order takeout on repeat.
Appearance
Since you’ll be using the same cabinets after a reface as you did before, your style options will be more restricted than they would be if you were getting brand new ones. Meanwhile, there is a wide variety of innovative cabinet options available to you. Both ready-made and made-to-order options are plentiful. If money and time aren’t an issue, you might want to start from scratch and create a kitchen that’s completely you.
Cost
While refacing your kitchen cabinets will be less expensive than replacing them entirely, the tab can still pile up quickly. If you’re looking at more expensive gear, for instance, your project cost may easily equal that of a complete replacement. If that’s the case and you’ve got some time on your hands, get in touch with a cabinet installation in your area to get a quote and start comparing prices.
Kitchen Cabinet Refacing: The Benefits and Drawbacks
White kitchen cabinets that have been exquisitely refaced
Refacing your cabinets is often recommended as a way to improve your kitchen’s aesthetic value. Weigh the benefits and drawbacks of the venture before committing resources to it.
Advantage: Kitchen cabinet refacing saves money
When you compare the price of a cabinet refacing job to the price of new cabinets, it quickly becomes clear that this is one of the most cost-effective solutions to improve your kitchen’s aesthetics.
Negative: You can’t change the kitchen’s layout by refacing the cabinets.
If you want to give your kitchen a new appearance and feel, including a new layout, refacing your cabinets won’t do the trick. Although refacing solutions can freshen up your kitchen’s appearance, they won’t alter the structure of your cabinets or countertops significantly.
An Advantage: Refacing Kitchen Cabinets Reduces Your Impact On The Planet
When you replace your cabinets, you may find yourself with a lot of extra cabinet boxes. To reduce waste and help the environment, many people are choosing to have their cabinets refaced.
Negative: You Won’t Get Extra Storage Space from Cabinet Refacing Because refacing is only cosmetic, you won’t be gaining any extra storage space. That can only be achieved by a more extensive renovation.
Benefit: Your kitchen will have a brand new look after cabinet refacing.
You can make a lot of different decisions when you reface your cabinets. Your dream kitchen can become a reality by selecting the exact style, color, finish, and hardware that you desire.
In Conclusion, Kitchen Cabinet Refacing Can Be the Best Option in Some Cases
Refacing your kitchen cabinets is the best option almost always. You can’t go wrong with cabinet refacing unless you want more storage or a new kitchen plan. You can affordably improve your home’s aesthetics to your satisfaction.
Kitchen Cabinet Replacement: The Ups and Downs
Cabinet refacing is often the least expensive way to give your kitchen a facelift, but it isn’t always a choice. For this to be successful, your cabinet framework must be in fine shape and be amenable to refacing. If your cabinets are broken, rusted, or falling apart, refacing probably won’t be able to fix the problem.
If you are doing a complete renovation of your kitchen and would like new, larger cabinets or cabinets with a different layout, this can be a terrific alternative. The primary drawbacks of changing your cabinets are that it is more expensive, more labor-intensive, and more of a headache than just fixing the ones you have.
Good news is that Cabinet Magic will be there for you no matter what you decide. In order to assist you in making the best decision for your kitchen re-design, we provide free cabinet evaluations.
How kind to the planet are they, exactly?
Refacing Cabinets
Cabinet refacing is a green alternative because just the doors and fronts of the drawers and cabinets are discarded.
Replacing the cabinets
Everything from the cabinets’ packaging to their hardware ends up in landfills. Still, you can help recycle good cabinets by donating them to places like Habitat for Humanity’s ReStores.
