The good news? Cabinet refacing is affordable, sustainable and will yield the look of custom cabinets for a fraction of the price. The less-good news is that some cabinets simply can't be refaced. There are certain scenarios in which replacing your cabinets with custom or semi-custom options are the best solution for your kitchen remodel.
If you, however, are planning a major kitchen renovation that includes any type of cabinet remodel, contacting skilled and experienced professionals is always a wise move. Is it better to replace or reface your kitchen cabinets?
Is it better to replace or reface your kitchen
cabinets?
Even though refacing is a great, cost-effective way to upgrade your cabinets, here are some of the criteria that rule it out:
1. You have low-quality kitchen cabinets
If you moved into a home with ultra-cheap, low-grade cabinets (as in, the entire cabinet structure is made of particle board and/or other cheap materials) refacing isn't usually an option. It's true that Kitchen Magic reinforces existing frames using a proprietary double-lamination process, but we still need good bones to work with. If the bulk of your cabinet skeleton and interior structures are that cheap, compressed particle board stuff, we'll say ix-nay on the cabinet-cay effacing-ray.
2. Your cabinets have no sound structure
Sometimes, we take a look at the first cabinet and say, "Wow! Nice quality stuff here, this is perfect for...." and then we stop mid-sentence because when we open the second cabinet we observe a frame that is rotted, water damaged, or covered with mold. Maybe it's been chewed by a puppy or wood-hungry pests. There could be serious swelling or the wood is simply falling apart. Whatever the reason, if your structure is damaged beyond repair, we won't be able to reface the cabinetry. However, please let us be the final judges. Depending on the situation, we may be able to reface some and replace some, which still lowers your final costs.
3. You're completely changing the kitchen layout
The cabinet refacing process is designed for kitchens that will retain the same configuration—more or less. If you are going to completely change your layout, or are moving your kitchen to an entirely different room in the house, we'll design a new set of custom cabinets for you. You can only reface the cabinet boxes that remain in place, if the wall they are mounted to isn't staying, new cabinets will have to be installed elsewhere to replace them. In many cases, owners do partial layout changes, which means we reface the cabinets staying put, and design new ones for the kitchen island or peninsula.
4. Your cabinetry is made of metal
There was a time when metal cabinets and frames were popular, and we can't blame people for getting behind durable products. Unfortunately, those durable products are much harder to work with when it comes to cabinet refacing. We'll see what we think, but the odds are we'll recommend new cabinets in this case. And that reminds us, if you like the look of metal cabinets but don't necessarily want the metal, ask us about our cabinet doors that look just like stainless steel!
5. Strange odors are coming from your cabinets
Never mind, we don't want to know. Some cabinets just smell funky, musty, or downright bad. Hey, it's a kitchen—it happens. And we never judge. While we can reinforce the frames, we simply can't eliminate the funk, so you might just want to start from scratch with fresh materials. 'Nuff said.
When should I replace my kitchen cabinets?
Then there are the cases where homeowners think they need new cabinets when they really don't. Your cabinetry makes up 80% of the visual space in your kitchen, so by choosing top-quality refacing and refitting for your cabinetry—you get the impact of a full remodel with less stress, in less time, at an amazing value. A kitchen professional will know just what your home needs to get those dated cabinets up and running again!
Here are examples of scenarios that cabinet refacing is perfect for:
- You hate your cabinet door style—cabinet refacing fixes that, by replacing the doors, hinges, pulls, and knobs.
- You're ready for a different color/finish—new doors mean any cabinet color you want.
- Your drawer boxes are off-track or falling apart—we can fix/replace that.
- You want better organization—From converting cabinets to drawers, to lazy Susans and pull-out pantries... all that can be changed and enhanced via refacing too!
- You want additional matching cabinetry—as long as you work with us for both your custom and refaced cabinets, we'll make sure everything is as you wish.
- You want your cabinets to be taller—yep, change cabinet size, too.
The finest experts in kitchen cabinet remodeling
Are you looking for a reputable kitchen remodeling company? Our team of local experts at Kitchen Magic has the skills and experience to complete your project to your satisfaction. Whether you live in the Northeast, we’re at your disposal to help you find a custom solution. We will guide you through the design process and provide support at every step. To ensure your space is something you'll be proud of, choose from a wide selection of custom kitchen designs tailored to reflect your vision.
Contact us today for a complimentary in-home consultation and quote, we’ll be happy to discuss your preferences in more detail!
