Refacing or Replacing Kitchen Cabinets?

by Justin Boyle
Face Your Kitchen Columnist

The look and feel of a kitchen is important to any cozy home, and the right kitchen cabinetry goes a long way toward setting that perfect mood. If your cabinets are looking worn out, or if your new home's kitchen just doesn't feel quite right, consider refacing instead of replacing kitchen cabinets.

Project Costs and Labor for Replacing Kitchen Cabinets

Replacing kitchen cabinets can be a expensive proposition. Depending on the size of your kitchen and your choice of materials, cabinetry replacement can run you anywhere from $5,000 to $30,000 or more. Disposing of old cabinetwork, re-cutting all shelves and supports, and hanging cabinets and drawers can add up to a costly and labor-intensive DIY project, not to mention the expense of hiring professional contractors to perform the work.

Refacing costs vary as well, but in nearly all cases you are going to spend less on new cabinet doors for your existing fixtures than you would by replacing kitchen cabinets. Refacing your kitchen can also be an enjoyable DIY project for homeowners, and installing refaced drawers can be a great way to introduce yourself to self-sufficient home improvement.

When to Choose Refacing vs. Replacing Kitchen Cabinets

There are, of course, certain situations where replacing kitchen cabinets is inevitable. Simply refacing when there's water damage to shelves or other fixtures might only prolong the inevitable. For design issues, though, consider refacing instead of replacing kitchen cabinets. It can provide a fresh new look on almost any budget.

 

Sources:

• http://www.thisoldhouse.com
• http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,220605,00.html