Is it worth it (cost) to reface kitchen cabinets?

12 years ago

We are about to undergo a huge home renovation. I am trying to stay within budget and was wondering if it is really worth it to reface my cabinets. I am adding an island and pantry- will I be able to blend it all together?

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User

12 years ago

It's only cost effective if YOU can DIY the whole thing. If you have to pay labor, it's more labor intensive, and thus costly, than a simple replacement.

And that replacement allows tweaking the layout. Complete DIY means knwing how to measure correctly for the doors in order to get the right size, and staining and finishing yourself. As well as possibly knowing how to order the right hinges to change to hidden hinges.

Old cabs rarely have adjustable shelving or very many drawer stacks, or soft close high quality drawers. In other words, you really really have to love your current cabinets and layout to want to go to the significant trouble to live with them for another 20 years. Most cabinets aren't worth that money and effort unless they are original to a historic home.

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Comments (10)

PRO
Dytecture
12 years ago
If the cabinet boxes are in good condition the it would be a wise investment to save on costs with just refacing the doors.
suanlauren thanked Dytecture
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PRO
Sustainable Dwellings
12 years ago
May we have some pics of what is there, please?
suanlauren thanked Sustainable Dwellings
PRO
Kitchen Tune-Up - Newton, MA
12 years ago
As someone who installs both new cabinetry AND refaces existing cabinetry I would say it most certainly can be worth refacing. Get quotes on both. If the cabinet boxes are good quality and in good shape why trash them? If you need to substantially reconfigure then all new is usually called for, but tweaks and additional cabinetry can be done with refacing as well. We do it all the time. When comparing to new cabinetry be sure to understand the construction - are the boxes 3/8" particle board staples together or are they all wood, dado-ed and rabbeted? Lower-price new cabinetry is lower-priced for a reason.
suanlauren thanked Kitchen Tune-Up - Newton, MA
Nancy Travisinteriors
12 years ago
Sure, but refacing sometimes is as expensive as new. Ikea now installs and has great price.
suanlauren thanked Nancy Travisinteriors
ronniebent
11 years ago
I want to get new cabinets, and keep existing granite counter. I was told I have to resurface, unless I want a new counter too. Is that true? I also want to add a pantry cabinet, but it won't match resurfaced cabinets. I can't seem to do anything I want to do with it!
PRO
Cancork Floor Inc.
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
You might get a better response if you start your own thread...but never mind. If you want to keep the granite you would be best to leave it in place. In other words...don't move it. That means the most logical option then becomes: resurface the existing doors and mount back onto old cabinet boxes.

If you want to have your granite MOVED/removed, you run a HUGE risk of this being damaged/cracking/breaking. Therefore it is advisable to leave the counter top on the boxes, refinish/resurface the doors/boxes and reinstall.

A pantry can be built/finished in the same look quite easily....it would be a custom piece no doubt about it...but it can receive the same finish as the rest of the doors/cabs.

You can have what you want (move the granite slab, get NEW EVERYTHING and then reinstall granite)...but be aware of what you are ASKING FOR...you could be asking for a broken piece of granite at the end of the renovation.

This is why everyone is telling you to resurface the cabs...it is the EASIEST, most sure-fire way, to keep the granite in one piece....which is your goal.
nancy lindsay
11 years ago
I just would like to tell you we did a lot of research and went with American Wood Reface- we have had our kitchen for a year now and I have so loved it. Be careful when choosing a company, some only use a peel off like facing- ours is solid wood and the doors look like fine furniture verses raw wood with a couple of coats of stain. I can't say enough about this company- every single worker showed up on time and very professional- we were done in two days!!!!
STUART SAYRE
9 years ago
A year ago we refaced our kitchen and we couldn't be happier. We saved the granite and got all new cabinet doors and drawers. The installer was even able to reconfigure the existing cabinet boxes to add modern amenities like a garbage drawer, wider and deeper drawers, and soft-close hardware on all doors and drawers. When compared to my neighbors who did full new kitchen cabinets we spent 50% less. We used Reborn Cabinets in Orange County, CA.
smileythecat
9 years ago
We replaced our cabs, bc the insides were kinda messed up in places, and we didn't want to put a new countertop on old cabinets. seemed to make sense at the time.