Is it cheaper to refinish kitchen cabinets?

Author: Prof. Joanne Nienow IV  |  Last update: Friday, July 1, 2022

Refinishing kitchen cabinets is way cheaper than refacing. It can cost $5 to $10 per square foot, including labor and materials, stain, varnish, lacquer and paint.

Is it cheaper to refinish kitchen cabinets or buy new ones?

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.

Is it worth it to resurface kitchen cabinets?

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.

Is it cheaper to paint or refinish kitchen cabinets?

The cost to paint kitchen cabinets is lower than you might think—certainly lower than replacing or even refacing them. On average, homeowners spend $809 to repaint the doors and cabinets in their kitchens, with a typical range of $395 to $1,234.

Is it cheaper to refinish or reface cabinets?

If budget is your main consideration, refinishing is often the cheaper option. Estimates have shown that refinishing cabinets costs about 2/3 the cost of refacing, and refacing costs about 70 to 80 percent the cost of installing replacement cabinets.

HOW MUCH does CABINET REFINISHING cost

Is it cheaper to paint cabinets or replace them?

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.

What is the difference between refinishing and resurfacing kitchen cabinets?

What is the difference? 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.

How much does it cost to stain new kitchen cabinets?

Prices to stain your cabinets typically range from $1,500 to $5,000, depending on how many cabinets you have and their material, but can go up from there based on many different factors.

Can kitchen cabinets be professionally painted?

If you're feeling anxious about painting your cabinets yourself, you might want to consider having them professionally painted. Professional painters have the skills and expertise to get the job done as quickly as possible, while making sure the final result is one you'll be happy with.

What is cabinet refacing?

Cabinet refacing is essentially a replacement of the cabinet "skins"—removing the doors and drawer fronts and applying a new veneer over the existing surface of the body ("carcass") of the cabinets. The hardware—the hinges, handles, and drawer pulls—are usually also replaced during refacing.

Can kitchen cabinets be refaced?

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.

How long does cabinet refacing last?

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.

Is it better to repaint or replace kitchen cabinets?

Price out replacing your kitchen cabinets and painting will look better and better. The cost to paint a kitchen is typically 1/3 to ½ the cost of replacing. The paints applied to cabinets are also very durable and will last just as long as new cabinets in most cases.

Is it better to strip or sand kitchen cabinets?

Sanding is usually better than stripping. To begin with, stripping is a lot more work than stripping with a paint-and-varnish remover, except in cases where the old finish has flaking off. You must sand through this coloring all the way to get an even color for refinishing once you have cut through it.

Can I replace cabinets without replacing countertops?

Yes! Refacing the cabinets — whether it's under your existing countertops or throughout your entire kitchen — can create a whole new look, just like a full cabinet replacement renovation.

What is the most expensive part of a kitchen remodel?

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.

How much does it cost to remodel a 12x12 kitchen?

12×12 Kitchen Renovation Costs

This is close to the standard size kitchen which is usually between 150 and 175 square feet. Budget roughly $26,000 to $52,000 for a kitchen renovation this size.

Is staining cabinets easier than painting?

Both are solid options that look and perform differently. Painting your kitchen cabinets will completely cover the wood grain for a smooth, modern look, while stain will get absorbed by the wood for a natural, traditional aesthetic that's long-lasting and easy to maintain.

How long does it take to refinish kitchen cabinets?

Macfarlane estimates that refinishing kitchen cabinets can take anywhere from four to eight weekends, or between 60 and 130 hours. This time frame depends on the size of your kitchen, and it may need to be adjusted depending on the extent of the work.

How much does it cost to change the color of kitchen cabinets?

Average cost of painting kitchen cabinets professionally. The average cost of painting kitchen cabinets is $100 per drawer face and $175 per cabinet door. This usually averages out to a cost of $5,000 for a medium-sized kitchen. However, the cost commonly ranges from $3000 to $10,000.

Is it hard to Restain cabinets?

Cabinet refinishing is one of the easier DIY projects, all you will need are some supplies, power tools, and adequate space to work on the cabinets. You won't even have to strip down the old finish from your cabinet doors unless you are looking to make a drastic color change.

Should I refinish my oak cabinets?

To remove surface checking and other signs of wear, golden oak cabinets must be refinished. The process of refinishing golden oak cabinets is the same process used for any wood cabinet.

Can I put new doors on old cabinets?

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.

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