Kitchen Cabinets…Reface or Replace?

People that need to do something to improve the look of their kitchen sometimes don’t even know that there is an alternative to replacing the kitchen cabinets that it’s not repainting them, and few that know about it are not sure when it is possible and worth it to do it.

It easier to list when is not a good idea to reface;

• If saving 40% to 60% compared to replacing it is not important for you
• If you don’t mind having workers in your house sometimes for several weeks
• The inside of your cabinets (boxes) are worn out, cracked, rotten etc.
• The layout of your kitchen it is not working for you any more so you want to drastically change the configuration. (Minor changes or adding extra cabinets like an island or a pantry are still possible with the refacing service).

How does refacing works?

The boxes are not removed so the layout stays basically the same, new cabinet doors will be installed and exposed surfaces will be resurfaced with a matching material; the goal is to insure that the old color is not visible anymore.

It will be a brand new kitchen at a fraction of the cost and the only part that stays old is the inside of your boxes. (The inside of a new kitchen might not be white but it does not match the outside 99, 9% of the cases anyway).

A crown molding, light valances, fluted fillers, cabinet posts and numerous decorative moldings of matching material could be installed if you want to go the extra mile.

The functionality could be improved installing soft closing pull-out drawers, pots and pans drawers, lazy susan etc.

The entire job could last from 3 to 6 working days according to the size and you can still prepare dinner for the family because appliances won’t be touched.(Save few $$ in restaurant expenses).

It could be done by an handy homeowner cutting the cost of refacing of an extra 50%.

Advantages of refacing

It’s valuable because you will get the result you want with half of the cost.

It’s painless and fast because there is no disruption.

It’s convenient if you want to save your existing countertop especially if it’s granite or any other solid surface.

It’s green because you are recycling your existing cabinet boxes.

Different options

There are basically four main different options in choosing the material to reface your kitchen cabinets;

• Wood: many different species are available that could be combined with different stains and door styles, sky is the limit. Of course the most obvious way to go if you want to impress and if you want the look to last thru the years. Wood cabinets are not suggested if you don’t appreciate the inconsistency of natural product.
• Thermo foil: a good way to go for a kitchen in a condo or small house or if you want to have a solid color look and you want the consistency that only vinyl could give you, it is not the best option if you want it to last for many years or if you want to optimize the return of your investment with a “Wow effect”
• Laminate: the most economical way to go but not the richest looking, ideal for very low budget project when quality and style are not important.

Tips from the expert

The best way to make sure you are choosing the right company is what everybody recommends: references, references and references, phone people and ask them if it’s possible to see the final product and stay away from companies that are not willing to give you references.

If you are doing it yourself make sure you educate yourself with Books or DVD’s before you even start.

Good luck,

Frank Silletti (President)

CABINETREFACINGTOGO division of TECHNO KITCHEN REFACING Inc.

This entry was posted on Friday, February 12th, 2010 at 6:15 am and is filed under Cabinet Refacing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.