Refacing cabinets is a quick and easy way to change the look of your kitchen without the mess and expense of a complete remodel. However, most DIY approaches involve self-sticking wood veneer or laminates. These will peel and chip over time and once the damage is done, it's difficult to repair.
How Long Does Cabinet Refacing Last? If your cabinetry is made from solid wood in good condition (i.e. your shelves and frames are still very strong) then you can usually expect a refacing project to last for another 15-20 years before needing a replacement.
With proper care, refaced cabinets can last decades, but a few factors will affect the lifespan and overall durability of your refaced cabinets, including: The original condition of your cabinets. Who performs the refacing and the quality of their work.
Your kitchen cabinets might peel for many reasons, including water damage, a poor paint job or high humidity. Areas near the sink and above the stovetop are especially prone to peeling, and it's an eyesore that can drive you batty.
Cabinet refacing is the process of replacing cabinet skin panels to give your kitchen a dramatic new look. Your cabinets may be scratched or cracked, or you may simply desire a change — much like replacing a perfectly good smartphone with the latest model.
One of the most common causes of peeling, bubbling, or cracking paint is that the surface was not properly prepared by cleaning, sanding and removing grease and dust before painting.
Thermofoil cabinets are a superb option, and they can be used in any room of your home. Because thermofoil is a cost-effective cabinet material, your kitchen can be revamped more easily by simply choosing a new color, finish, or style of door to be swapped out with the old.
Depending on the damage, you can either fix the existing laminate or reface the door to fix the problem without installing entirely new units. As a general rule, if there are any cracks in the laminate, the entire piece needs to be replaced; however, if there's only peeling, you can reattach the laminate with adhesive.
“You can paint over thermofoil, provided it isn't peeling. First, ask your local paint store for the correct primer, then apply the finish paint you wish to use. Most of the time, semi-gloss sheen is used on [thermofoil] cabinets.”
So yes, refacing cabinets is almost always cheaper than replacing them entirely. The only exception would be if you wanted to replace your old kitchen cabinet with VERY basic and cheap cabinets rather than refacing them with a more luxurious front-facing design.
Refacing is about 30 to 50-percent less than replacement. Expect to pay about $12,000 to $20,000 for contractor-grade cabinets. Best when the cabinet boxes are in solid shape and cost is an issue. Best when doing a whole-kitchen remodel or when cabinet boxes are in poor shape.
One way to make your kitchen remodel more cost-effective is to reface your kitchen cabinets rather than replace them. Refacing kitchen cabinets is the process of replacing just the cabinet doors while preserving the cabinet boxes. This is a great way to cut costs during your remodeling project.
As mentioned above, when you are refacing your cabinets, you are putting new material on top of the existing cabinet frames and replacing doors and drawer fronts. When refinishing cabinets, all you are doing is changing the finish, or color, of the existing materials.
Surveys have established that kitchens and bathrooms raise buyer interest if they have impressive finishes. As a result, refacing kitchen cabinets is an inexpensive way to improve your home's value. Refacing kitchen cabinets makes it possible to sell your house at a good market price with a better return on investment.
Choosing How to Recolor & Reface Cabinets
Some contractors reface cabinets by installing freshly painted doors, then painting the boxes to match. This means your cabinets will need to be painted a solid color, without the option of a natural wood appearance. What's more, these painters typically use latex-based paints.
Yes, laminate cabinets can be refaced as long as the cabinet boxes are in good shape. But if the cabinet boxes are weak or damaged, you may need to replace your cabinets altogether.
Good-quality wood glue and a clamp to hold the laminate against the core is a good way to repair laminate coating that is peeling. Once the glue has set and dried, you can begin to clean the cabinet doors and drawers.
Lifespan: Thermofoil kitchen cabinets remain in pristine condition for around ten years if it is properly maintained. For the average cabinet, this lifespan is relatively short, but if you're looking for something trendy that you're willing to replace or upgrade in a few years, then Thermofoil is the perfect option.
Absolutely. While it may be unfortunate that your thermofoil cabinet doors are peeling, in most scenarios the cabinet boxes are untouched and last much longer. Our Re-Door service provides customers the opportunity to replace their thermofoil cabinet doors with wood doors.
Thermofoil does have some drawbacks. Firstly, thermofoil doors and drawers are not entirely waterproof. If the laminate coating is damaged, and water seeps into the core, the cabinet can be irrevocably damaged.
You don't need a polyurethane finish if you've chosen a durable paint. You do not need to apply a polyurethane finish to painted kitchen cabinets if you've used a durable paint. If you chose a less durable paint, a clear polyurethane topcoat can help prolong its life by protecting it from premature wear.
Look for products labeled "peel bonding primer" or "peel stop." As long as the current coat of paint isn't chipping or peeling, you can apply these primers directly over top of the existing paint after a thorough cleaning.
It is worth the time to do this on painted shelves. Once the paint is dry (24 hours) roll on 2 light coats of Polycrylic on the top of painted shelves on the interior cabinets This seals the latex paint so you will never hear that latex sticky sound when you remove objects on the shelves.