Cutting Corners: Kitchen Cabinet Refacing in New York City

by Kirk Bangstad
Face Your Kitchen Columnist

New Yorkers, because of their extremely high cost of living, often need to cut corners during a kitchen remodel to stay within budget. Kitchen cabinet refacing is a good way to save money. According to the National Association of Home Builders, the average Kitchen Renovation is $25,000. A staffer at the association guessed that the price in New York City might be double the national average. Many homeowners in New York City simply can't afford this price tag, and must find ways to stay within their budget while designing a dream kitchen.

Cabinet Refacing is Cheap but Looks Great

One of the best ways to cut corners without sacrificing quality is to invest in a kitchen cabinet refacing project. Cabinet refacing involves affixing a wooden or laminate veneer to the surfaces of your worn out kitchen cabinets. These veneers can be made out of the poshest wood styles, but since they are so thin, they don't cost much. Once the new surfaces are on and a stain is added to blend the old with the new, your kitchen cabinets will look brand new. Most contractors agree that kitchen cabinet refacing costs about a third of the total cost of installing new kitchen cabinets.

In addition to saving a few bucks, New York City homeowners can also save some time with a cabinet refacing job. Typical kitchen remodels can make your kitchen inaccessible for weeks. Since space is at a premium in the Big Apple, the loss of a kitchen can become very uncomfortable. A cabinet refacing job usually only takes a few days at most, so you can enjoy your kitchen's facelift without too much frustration.

If you live in New York City and need to pinch a few pennies, invest in a kitchen cabinet refacing project. The savings you'll experience may make your next NYC $20 movie ticket less painful.

Sources:

• New York Times

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.