If you’re considering upgrading your kitchen, you’re probably thinking about replacing your cabinets. But before you go that route, ripping out all of your kitchen cabinetry and paying a hefty remodeling fee, you should consider refinishing or refacing your cabinets for a fraction of the cost! Refacing and refinishing are less expensive and the project generally takes less time to complete.
Replacing
Replacing means exactly what you think it means. Everything old is taken out and replaced with something new. When doing this, you can completely change the look of your kitchen, making the most dramatic of changes. With replacing, you have the option of changing the layout of your kitchen, moving plumbing or gas lines. This type of kitchen remodel is great for old, rundown cabinets that may even be chipped or cracked, but is the greatest disruption to your living space. You could be without the use of a kitchen for weeks during the remodeling process.
Refacing
Refacing, however, is more economical than replacing. Basically, the doors and drawer fronts are replaced, while the existing cabinetry is covered in a veneer to match them. This type of kitchen remodel offers a variety of options, from colors to finishes. Although the overall layout of the kitchen won’t change, the overall aesthetic can be easily updated, making your kitchen look fresh and new, even if your existing doors and drawer fronts aren’t in the best condition. Kitchen refacing is also a great option for those that have laminate kitchen cabinets because refinishing will not work on this type of material. The additional benefit of this is that a kitchen can be completely refaced in 3-5 days, giving you the least amount of disruption to your lifestyle.
Refinishing
Refinishing means that everything existing will still be in your kitchen, however, the paint or finish will be updated. This usually involves sanding and stripping existing paint off of the cabinets, doors, and drawer fronts, then staining and/or painting them to the newly selected color. This option allows for a lot of personalization because you literally can choose to paint your cabinets any color you want. This method is a go-to for many DIYers, hoping to save some money, but it can be quite time consuming and the finish may not be as durable.
Decision Time
When deciding between cabinet refacing, refinishing or replacing, there are a few things to keep in mind, including: the material of your cabinets, the layout of your kitchen, the look you want when all the work is done, and your budget.
If you’re looking to dramatically enhance your kitchen using high-quality products that create a custom kitchen look – with less disruption to your lifestyle – call us to schedule a free in-home consultation at 248-559-1200.