Repair and Refresh While You Replace!

by Kirk Bangstad
Face Your Kitchen Columnist

Realtor magazine online reported that the average mid-range kitchen remodel in 2005 cost over $40,000. Refacing is a good alternative that can save over half of this cost, and also provide you with a good opportunity to make repairs to and refresh your kitchen along the way.

Kitchen cabinets are typically the most significant element of a kitchen remodeling. They can also be the most expensive. Going with cabinet refacing instead of total replacement can offer your kitchen a brand new look, as well as the chance to make some needed repairs.

Repairing While Refacing

During kitchen cabinet refacing, you have the chance not only to replace doors and drawers, but also make essential cabinet repairs, to drawer boxes, door hinges, and rolling shelves. A cabinet professional removes doors and drawers to reface all exposed surfaces of the cabinet boxes. Repairs are much easier with the full cabinet boxes exposed.

Refresh Your Style

You also have the chance to change the style of your cabinets during refacing. If you choose to replace your doors and drawers, you have a number of options. You can choose a more traditional, raised-panel or beveled doors, to keep your kitchen looking classic. To go more contemporary, choose 'flat-slab' fronts, or doors with no detail or beveled edge. Modern cabinet doors often feature frosted glass or plastic panels that can give your kitchen a sleek look.

Keeping Your Budget in Mind

When choosing new cabinet door and drawer surfaces, you should also take your budget into account. Plastic laminates are the most affordable cabinet surface. Wood finishes are more expensive and can take longer to install, but can give your kitchen an elegant look. Wood veneers are good alternatives to real wood finishes. Making the right choices can help make the most of your cabinet refacing project.

Sources

LA Times
Realtor Magazine Online

About the Author
Kirk Bangstad is an artist manager and singer working in Chicago, IL. His previous experience includes consulting for technology companies in the Silicon Valley and serving as a field director and publicist for a statewide political campaign. Kirk holds a B.A. in government from Harvard University.