When is Kitchen Cabinet Refacing the Best Option?

by Kirk Bangstad
Face Your Kitchen Columnist

Statistics show that cabinet refacing is much cheaper than replacing old kitchen cabinets, but sometimes, cabinet replacement is the only option. Here is a list of scenarios when kitchen cabinet refacing is a good idea.

• Older Cabinets--If you have an older home, chances are your older kitchen cabinets are sturdier than those made these days. If they're still in good condition, but just need a facelift, cabinet refacing is the way to go.
• If you like the way your kitchen cabinets are configured, why go through the hassle of tearing them down and putting up new ones in exactly the same place? You can reface them and make them look like new without moving them.
• You have enough storage space in your existing cabinets, so there's no need to add more cabinet. In this scenario, a simple cabinet refacing job is probably all you need.
• Your cabinets only need minor repairs. Most kitchen cabinet refacing contractors will perform minor repairs to your kitchen cabinets as part of a cabinet refacing project. These minor repairs include shoring up sagging cabinets and replacing worn hinges, among others.

When Kitchen Cabinet Refacing Won't Work

About the only time you can't really get away with cabinet refacing is when you have pretty damaged cabinets. Water damage is often a reason home owners say goodbye to their old cabinets. If the wood inside a kitchen cabinet is soft or rotted because of water damage, no refacing job will fix it.

If you want to save money on your kitchen remodel and your kitchen cabinets fit into one of the scenarios listed above, go with cabinet refacing. It's an easy decision.

Source

• Arizona Star

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.