Kitchen Remodeling Tips: Should You Replace or Reface Your Cabinets?

Kitchen Remodeling Tips Should You Replace or Reface Your Cabinets

Kitchen Remodeling Tips: Should You Replace or Reface Your Cabinets?

Aside from being one of the major components of any home, kitchen cabinets are one of the first things people see when they visit your home. If your kitchen cabinets are already getting old and worn, it might be time for a kitchen remodel to spruce up their look.

When updating any kitchen cabinet, you can either reface it or rip out the old one and replace it with a new one. Before you make a final decision, there are many factors to consider first.

Are you planning a kitchen remodel soon? Are you tired of looking at your old kitchen cabinets? Check out the factors you need to consider before replacing or refacing your cabinets.

Quality

Although you refacing will change the look of your kitchen cabinet, it doesn’t mean the quality will be different. Getting a new door does not affect the quality of the whole cabinet box. While the new door may be constructed from a better material compared to the old door, nothing changes with the box’s quality.

There are times when contractors won’t even put new doors on your cabinet. They simply reface and resurface the existing door so you technically have the same exact thing you’ve been using for years–only with a new appearance.

Damage to Existing Cabinets

Do you have old cabinets that have been previously damaged? If yes, then the damage might still be there even if you reface them. On top of that, there might be additional damage to the structure or interior of the existing cabinets if you still hadn’t replaced them.

Refacing is good for minor upgrades but if your cabinets are already starting to fall apart, replacement is the way to go. It’s worth noting that refacing also doesn’t fix structural problems or rusting in your cabinets.

Installation Process

Kitchen Remodeling Tips Should You Replace or Reface Your Cabinets1It’s a common misconception that refacing old cabinets is a lot easier than installing new kitchen cabinets. The truth is, refacing old kitchen cabinets take more work and time because you need to get them veneered and stained with the door’s new color. This process is obviously more complicated than tearing everything down and starting fresh.

Since there is so much effort involved with transforming an old product, many homeowners opt for a new installation instead.

Difference in terms of Cost

Several years ago, most people opted to reface their cabinets instead of getting a new installation mainly due to the costs required. However, things have changed recently, as the cost of a full cabinet has gone down and the quality has increased. That means the cost difference is not that far from completely replacing your cabinets.

Color and Style

When updating your cabinets through refacing, your options as far as styles and colors are quite limited. It is the complete opposite if you get completely new cabinets, as you have all sorts of cabinet styles to choose from. During a kitchen remodel, you can actually change the overall look and layout of your space just by replacing old cabinets.

Ready to start your remodeling your kitchen? Here’s a guide on where to begin!