When refacing, an installer removes the doors and drawers, laminates the existing cabinet boxes in the new color, style and material and then replaces the doors and drawers fronts with all-new. Refinishing requires sanding the existing cabinets, doors & drawers, then reinstalling all of the existing kitchen components.
You simply cover the cabinet face frame with self-sticking wood veneer and the end panels with 1/4-in. plywood. Then replace the old doors and drawer fronts with new ones. Refacing costs about one-third what new cabinets would cost, plus you can leave the countertop in place for even greater savings.
If you love the way your cabinets and appliances sit and function, refacing is a perfect option to retain the kitchen you love, but with a style update. Refacing your kitchen cabinets costs at least half as much as remodeling the entire thing. So you save a ton of time, money, and energy by choosing this option.
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.
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.
Cost of Cabinet Refacing
Typically, most homeowners spend between $4,151 and $9,238 on refacing cabinets. Kitchen cabinet refacing costs are determined by: Materials used: Wood veneers cost $2,500 to $6,000, and you can choose from woods such as oak, birch or walnut.
Using laminates to reface your cabinets often compromise their durability and reduces their life span. For higher end cabinet refacing services, your cabinets' old doors are replaced by solid wood doors. Wood veneer finishing is also used. These will yield much better and more long lasting results.
Whether it's because your cabinets have deteriorated or you've simply outgrown them and want a fresh new style, replacing kitchen cabinet doors can make a dramatic difference in your space, giving it a lift and making everything seem new.
During refacing, the framework of your cabinets (known as the cabinet box) remains intact. Meanwhile, other elements such as cabinet doors, drawer fronts, hinges and handles, will be replaced. You can also choose to install or replace countertops, tile backsplashes, lighting and more as part of your project.
Many people don't know that you can replace just the cabinet doors on your kitchen cabinets, which is a great way to get a fresh, remodeled look without a major price tag. Replacing just your cabinet doors, also known as cabinet refacing, can be a quick DIY project for most homeowners.
You can expect painting contractors to charge $50 to $100 per door, $120-$170 per cabinet, and $20-$30 per drawer. Painting your kitchen cabinets yourself will be considerably less expensive. Your base cost would be anywhere from $200 to $600, depending on the brand of paint and the supplies you will have to buy.
In general, high-quality cabinets can last up to 50 years. This sounds like an incredibly long period of time, but cabinets are in fact one of the longest lasting components of your entire kitchen.
Cabinet refacing can be a good, cost-saving option for kitchen remodeling if the existing cabinets are well-constructed and in good shape, and where a radically different look is desired.
Can You Just Replace the Cabinet Doors? You can definitely just replace cabinet doors. If you're up for a little bit of work with some basic tools, and maybe a spare set of hands to help, you can even do it yourself.
Can you paint veneer cabinets? You sure can! The key, like for any painted project, is in the prep and choice of primer and paint. Proper cleaning to remove all the grime and dust, sanding the right amount, and using the right adhesion-promoting primer can make a huge difference in the durability of the finish.
As mentioned earlier, cabinetry usually tends to be the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel. It can cost up to $15,000 even in a relatively minor remodel with a budget of about $30,000. In an upscale remodel, choosing kitchen cabinets can take up nearly 20 to 40 percent of the entire budget.
If you're like many homeowners, you plan to keep the existing layout of your kitchen exactly the same but wish to renew and update its look. Cabinet refacing, also known in the industry as cabinet resurfacing, lets you keep your existing kitchen intact while completely transforming its appearance.
Thermofoil cabinets are a unique type of cabinetry made using a vinyl that is heated and pressurized onto an MDF core. Usually only used for cabinet doors and drawer fronts, Thermofoil cabinets come in many colors, styles, and finishes — even made in textures that resemble solid wood.
Wood cabinets are ideal for painting, but any surface that can be scuffed with sandpaper can be painted. Laminate cabinets require a special bonding primer. The laminate must be in good condition for best results. Choose a high-quality paint.
You may wish to vacuum the insides of the kitchen cabinets if there's a lot of dust or cobwebs inside. Then, clean the cabinet by moving from top to bottom. For stubborn stains or smells, make a paste of baking soda with some water and pat it into place, leaving it for a few minutes before wiping it off.
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.
If you need to make an economical choice, painting is the way to go. Even if you are not forced into making the most economical decision, painting is still an attractive option because it gives you more money to spend elsewhere. New cabinets plus installation can cost almost half of your kitchen renovation budget.
Kitchen Remodeling Made Easy and Affordable.
Lowe's cabinet refacing with National Refacing Systems uses your existing cabinets while transforming your kitchen with premium-quality cabinet doors, drawers, hardware, and accessories.
What is Cabinet Redooring? Cabinet redooring simply means we replace your doors and drawer fronts with new ones in your choice of style that are color-matched to blend with your existing cabinet boxes. We replace your hinges and offer a wide variety of new pulls and knobs to complete the new look.