Cabinet Refacing

Cabinets can get beat up with the normal wear and tear that goes on in most homes. Installing fresh new cabinets can be a very expensive process and one that few are willing to cope with. Refacing your cabinets is a tried and true method of saving money while adding value to your home.

If the shelving core of the cabinet is sound and sturdy then cabinet refacing is a great option. Cabinet refacing is essentially, taking your old cabinet faces off and replacing them with new cabinet faces. Cabinet doors are clearly the most visible parts of the cabinet, you must be sure that the door you choose fits the style you are looking for in your kitchen. There are a variety of different options that you could go with.

The term “cabinet refacing” is often associated with the re-skinning of your existing cabinets with a thin veneer. But there are other options that exist for refurbishing your cabinets that don’t necessarily involve the application of a new veneer.

Cabinet Refacing Options:

Upgrading your existing cabinets can take several forms, each with their own cost and required level of work.

#1 Full Cabinet Refacing

The is the concept mentioned above whereby your cabinet face frames and sides are covered with a thin veneer and the cabinet doors and drawer fronts are replaced. This is typically the most expensive cabinet refurbishment option since it involves the most extensive work and labor.

#2 Cabinet Re-Dooring

Re-dooring involves replacing just the doors of your cabinets. This can still achieve a big visual change since the doors make up most of what you see. The challenge here is getting new doors that are a good color match with the rest of the cabinetry including the drawer fronts. It’s not so much of an issue if you paint your cabinets along with the new doors.

#3 Cabinet Refinishing

Cabinet refinishing involves changing just the finish, with no door replacement or veneering. The cabinet doors are usually removed to facilitate the refinishing process. Two examples of refinishing include painting and stripping/re-staining. Another type of refinishing involves faux finishing and decorative painting. Special paint textures and effects are applied to the cabinets to give them a new look and feel.

#4 Cabinet Reconditioning

Cabinet reconditioning comprises a deep cleaning and possibly touch-up of the existing cabinet finish. Over time, grease, dirt and oils collect on the cabinet’s finish and/or the finish coat itself wears off revealing spots of bare wood. Reconditioning refurbishes the finish so that it looks new or as close to new as possible. It’s the least costly cabinet refurbishment process and is usually the quickest and least invasive.

Any of these processes can be combined too. For example, you could replace your cabinet doors and recondition the existing cabinet boxes. Cabinet refacing is not only a cost reducer, but it also helps the environment. Instead of throwing away your full cabinet into a junk yard to rot and waste away, you will be keeping the core element of the cabinet and just replacing the look and feel of the cabinet, the cabinet door. This saves on the amount of material used, the amount wasted and it saves your pocketbook.

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