Reface Your Kitchen Cabinet Doors
You can, relatively inexpensively, give your kitchen cabinet doors a makeover through refacing. Starting from the basics, here are the answers to some frequently asked questions:
What Does it Mean to Reface My Kitchen Cabinet Doors?
Refacing is just that - putting a new “face” on your kitchen cabinet, as opposed to building kitchen cabinets from scratch. With refacing, your current kitchen cabinet doors and drawer fronts are taken off and replaced with new ones. The craftsman simply applies a self-adhesive to the old cabinet boxes and applies the new face. No cabinets are taken out and the layout of your kitchen remains the same. Essentially, there is no “construction” in the traditional sense, but the kitchen cabinet design changes.
The results are so impressive and natural that neither you nor your friends and family will know that you only replaced the fronts of the kitchen cabinet doors and draws.
In addition to performing the labor, a qualified, skilled professional will help you choose the kitchen cabinet design. Many craftsmen can even show you a 3-d computer generated model, using kitchen design software, of your job before it’s done. That way, you can examine the new kitchen cabinet design before actually doing the job.
What Materials Can I Use? Can I Match My Current Kitchen Colors?
You'd use the same materials as if you were building kitchen cabinets from the ground up - wood, including oak, maple, and pine, glass, metal, and plastic. The material you choose is dependent on your budget and your personal sense of style. But keep in mind that wood kitchen cabinet doors are usually more expensive than those created from other materials.
Does Refacing My Kitchen Cabinet Doors Cost the Same as Building Kitchen Cabinets?
Costs for refacing generally range between $2000-$6000, depending on the craftsman and style of cabinet. The final savings? Kitchen cabinet refacing can subtract up to 60% off the cost of new kitchen cabinets. (A cabinet replacement can cost tens of thousands of dollars!) In addition, a “new” kitchen will raise your home’s resale value, helping you defray the costs. Further, the job can be done fast, allowing you to enjoy your new kitchen in no time. It usually takes 3 to 5 business days to complete the job.
When is a Good Time to do Reface?
So when should you think about refacing? When your draws and kitchen cabinet design look worn or as if they came from your parents’ kitchen. Are your cabinets a 70’s lime green? Might be a good time to reface. Or, from a utilitarian point of view, if you have trouble opening or closing your cabinet doors, you might consider refacing.
Think about refacing your kitchen cabinet doors: you save money over building kitchen cabinets from scratch, get a job done fast, increase your home value, and enjoy a beautiful, modern kitchen cabinet design that looks brand new!