Kitchen Cabinet Refacing: Make your Home without Breaking the Bank

by Karin Mangan
Face Your Kitchen Columnist

The kitchen is often the hub of a household. Wear and tear from constant use means that it can start to look scruffy long before the rest of your property.

To Reface or Replace? That is the Question

Replacing your kitchen can be costly, messy, and time consuming. The same results can often be achieved by refacing your cabinets. Before you decide, ask yourself three questions:

1. Are you happy with the layout, storage, and countertop space in your existing kitchen? Or is the layout pretty much determined by the position of windows, doors, and plumbing? If so, replacing your cabinets probably means replacing like with like.
2. Are you planning to sell your home or remodel in the near future? If so, cabinet refacing can provide a new look to entice prospective buyers or a stop-gap before larger-scale remodeling work.
3. Are your existing cabinets in good condition, with drawers that open easily? If so, you can change the cabinet doors, drawer fronts, hinges, knobs, side panels, face frames, and moldings so that everything matches and the whole kitchen is revamped.

Great Results, Half the Price

Refacing your kitchen cabinets usually takes only a few days and costs a lot less than replacing the kitchen. You might also be surprised by the range of finishes available. Antique or ultra modern, glazed, matte, or distressed finishes, wood or laminate--whatever you choose to achieve a quality new look. Price, look, and durability are all affected by your choice.

A Do-it-yourself Kitchen Makeover?

Unless you are a skilled DIY enthusiast, you should hire a professional cabinet contractor to ensure that the job is finished to a high standard. Get several quotes, ask for references, and seek recommendations from friends, neighbors, or relatives.

About the Author

Karin has a PhD and has been researching and writing articles on a wide range of subjects for over 10 years.