What is the difference between cabinet refacing and refinishing?

Author: Mr. Johnnie Cronin  |  Last update: Wednesday, June 29, 2022

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.

Is it better to refinish or reface kitchen cabinets?

Cabinet refinishing is a good—and affordable—option if you want to freshen up and modernize your kitchen. If you want to completely transform the look of your kitchen, then cabinet refacing is the better choice.

What is the difference between resurfacing and refacing cabinets?

Refacing is like getting new cabinets. Whereas resurfacing basically freshens up your cabinets, refacing gives you completely new components. Since the cabinet fronts and doors will be replaced, you have the freedom to choose any new door design, finish, and material that you want.

Is it cheaper to resurface or replace cabinets?

Cabinet refacing costs about 30-percent to 50-percent less than the cost of replacing cabinets in a full kitchen.

How much should cabinet refacing cost?

Cost of kitchen cabinet refacing in 2019

Reports from HomeAdvisor™ note that the average national cost to reface cabinets is $6,684, with the majority of homeowners spending between $4151 and $9238.

What is the Difference Between Cabinet Refacing and Refinishing?

How much does it cost to reface a 10x10 kitchen?

A professional cabinet refacing for a typical 10-foot-by-12-foot kitchen starts at around $80 to $100 per linear foot for laminate materials only. Expect to pay the same, $80 to $100 per linear foot, for wood veneer materials.

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 refinishing kitchen cabinets worth it?

Refinishing these hardy cabinets, instead of replacing them, can both conserve wood and money. Opting to refinish, rather than replace, kitchen cabinets is more cost-effective, too; Ballard says it can save you up to $5,000. Of course, if your cabinets aren't wood, refinishing may not be an option.

Are cabinet resurfacing worth it?

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 better to paint 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.

When should cabinets be refinished?

If your cabinets are damaged or have cosmetic imperfections like scratches, holes, fading stain, or chipping paint, you may want to consider upgrading. If the cabinet doors are truly damaged beyond repair, refacing them may be your only option.

Do you have to remove the cabinets to refinish them?

You don't have to remove the cabinet doors to repaint them, so leave them on their hinges if you're not going to replace them. However, it is easier to paint the cabinet's façade with the doors off. You can paint the hinges to match the cabinets or mask them with painter's tape to keep them as they are.

Can you paint cabinets that have been refaced?

Can I Paint Cabinets That Have Been Refaced? You can give your cabinets a new look by replacing them with Refacing cabinets and then painting them. Surfaces must be thoroughly prepared and the paint must be used correctly in order to achieve this.

Can you refinish cabinets that are not wood?

Yes You Can Paint Laminate! What is laminate, you ask? It can basically be any type of furniture, cabinets, or wood-like product that is made by attaching a thin layer of printed plastic (sometimes called Melamine or Thermofoil) to a substrate of plywood or particle board.

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.

How much does staining kitchen cabinets cost?

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.

What does resurface cabinets mean?

Resurfacing kitchen cabinets, also called refacing, essentially means giving your existing cabinets a facelift that transforms their look, style and texture without the hassle, cost and mess of gutting and replacing them.

Can you reface cabinets that have already been refaced?

You can almost always reface cabinets that have already been refaced. The process is relatively the same.

Does painting kitchen cabinets look good?

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.

Do refinished cabinets chip?

Will Painted Maple or Wood Cabinets Chip? Yes, they will. But this can be said of ANY painted wood or MDF.

How much does it cost to refinish oak cabinets?

You'll pay between $4 to $25 per square foot, which includes labor and materials for staining, lacquering, varnishing, painting, shellacking, or glazing. The overall price depends on a number of factors, including the type of refinishing you choose and the cabinet's location within your home.

How often should kitchen cabinets be painted?

With proper care of professionally painted kitchen cabinets, you can expect your newly painted cabinets to last 8-10 years. However, there are a few things that can drastically shorten this timeframe, leaving you needing them repainted 3-4 years later.

What do I need to know about cabinet refacing?

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 do MDF cabinets last?

It is vital to ensure you keep your MDF cabinets dry. If exposed to a pronounced amount of liquid or moisture, they could become soggy and begin to disintegrate. At Deslaurier, our MDF comes with a 20 year warranty. But, if cabinets are properly maintained there is no reason they shouldn't last over 25 years.

Does Lowes do cabinet refacing?

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.

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