Cabinet refacing can be a great way to breathe new life into your kitchen. It can also be a great way to save money, as you won't have to replace your cabinets entirely. Here's everything you need to know about cabinet refacing, from what to do and what not to do, to how much it will cost.

What is Cabinet Refacing?

Cabinet refacing is simply the process of giving your existing cabinets a makeover. This can be anything from sanding down and repainting the existing cabinet boxes, drawers, and cabinet doors, to replacing the old doors with new doors. Depending on the condition of your cabinets and how much work you're willing to put in, cabinet refacing can be a quick and easy project or a major undertaking.

What are the Benefits of Cabinet Refurbishing?

There are several benefits to cabinet refacing, including:

Affordable

One of the biggest benefits of refurbishing old cabinets is that it's often much cheaper than buying new cabinets. There's very little demo work, no cabinet design, no large material purchases, and no installation costs. Cabinet refacing is much cheaper than replacing all of your upper and lower cabinets. You can also just get new doors and drawer fronts and keep your cabinet boxes if they're in good shape.

Flexible

You can customize the look of your cabinets to match your taste and style. You can simply change the hardware, or you can sand, paint, get new hardware, and change the look of the cabinets completely. The amount of work is flexible depending on how much you want to do.

Manageable

It's a great way to refresh your kitchen without undertaking a full kitchen remodel. You can also choose to do your cabinet refacing projects in stages, so it doesn't have to disrupt your life too much.

Uplifting

The cabinet refacing process can add value to your home by improving your home's appearance. The real estate market is very competitive these days, so anything you can do to give yourself a leg up on the comparable homes in your area will help your home stand out among the rest.

What Are the Drawbacks of Cabinet Refacing?

There are a couple of potential drawbacks to cabinet refacing, including:

Cumbersome

You may have to replace some of your cabinets if the doors or cabinet boxes are too damaged to be refurbished. If your cabinets are old and falling apart, you might not be able to salvage and restore them. At some point, you just have to let go and install new cabinets. If you bought a fixer-upper, for example, the cabinets might be harboring mold, or they may be unstable. In that case, you will want to go the replacement route instead of refacing cabinets.

Limiting

You may not be able to achieve the exact look you want if your cabinets are in poor condition, or if they are in a particular style. Dark brown cabinets with a wood veneer from the 70's not doing it for you? You can change the color, hardware, and even the face of a cabinet, but sometimes it's just not enough to fulfill your vision. Sometimes, you just have to bite the bullet and get new cabinets.

How Much Does Refurbishing Kitchen Cabinets Cost?

The cost of cabinet refacing depends on a number of factors, including the size of your kitchen, the extent of the work required, and whether you do it yourself or hire a professional. Generally speaking, you can expect to spend anywhere from a few hundred to several thousands of dollars.

To get a better idea of what refacing your cabinets will cost, contact a local professional to come out to your home and give you a project estimate. You can also get an instant online estimate from some remodelers, like RUPP Family Builders. By visiting their website and filling out a short questionnaire, you can get an estimate in just minutes!

Should You Hire Professional Cabinet Refacing Contractors?

Whether you hire professional cabinet refacing contractors or do it yourself depends on your skill level and the extent of the work required. If you're simply repainting your cabinets and drawer fronts and replacing the hardware, then doing it yourself is probably fine. However, if you're stripping and refinishing your existing cabinets, or making major changes to the structure of the cabinet boxes, then it's best to hire professional cabinet refacing services.

A "How-To" Guide on Refacing Cabinets:

While we recommend hiring a professional to reface your cabinets, we also want to provide some insight into what it takes to bring your cabinets back to life. The concept is pretty straightforward, but since there are many ways you can reface and refurbish a cabinet, we will break down the process by category:

Cabinet Doors and Drawers

If you're changing the doors and drawer fronts of your cabinets, you will need to remove them first. This is a pretty easy process, but it's important to be careful so you don't damage the rest of your cabinet. You'll likely just need a drill or a screwdriver to remove the screws from the hinges. Make sure you have steady footing and make sure you can support the weight of the cabinet door once it is detached from the cabinet box. Once the doors and drawer fronts are off, you can sand down the surface of the cabinet and prepare it for painting or staining.

Painting

If you're painting your cabinets, you will need to use a primer before applying the paint. This will help the paint adhere to the surface better and give you a more even finish. When choosing a paint color, keep in mind that light colors will make your kitchen appear larger, while dark colors will make it appear smaller.

Once the paint is dry, you can install the new doors and drawer fronts. If you're having trouble finding doors that match your cabinets, you can always have them custom-made. This is usually more expensive than buying ready-made doors, but it's worth it if you want a perfect match.

Hardware

Installing new hardware on the cabinet doors or drawer fronts is a quick and easy way to change the look of your kitchen cabinets. You can find all kinds of knobs, pulls, and handles at your local hardware store, or you can order them online. Just make sure you get the right size for your cabinet doors and drawer fronts!

Ready to Upgrade Your Kitchen Cabinets?

Cabinet refacing can be a great way to give your kitchen a fresh new look. It's also relatively inexpensive and can be done on a weekend. Just be sure to do your research and plan ahead so you know what to expect.

You can do everything from sanding and painting cabinet frames and doors to installing new hardware on drawer fronts. Cabinet refacing can be a fun, enjoyable, manageable, and affordable way to make your tired old cabinets the look and feel of brand new custom cabinets.

To get started on restoring your kitchen cabinets to their former glory, get an estimate from a reputable cabinet resurfacing company like RUPP Family Builders. You can get a free cabinet refurbishing estimate using their online remodeling calculator, or you can call their kitchen remodeling experts to get more information over the phone.