How to Save Money on Kitchen Remodel

What is Kitchen Cabinet Refacing?

Kitchen cabinet refacing is what gives your kitchen a new look, a facelift if you wish. It’s a restorative procedure, it does not change the fundamental appearance of your kitchen layout, just gives it a refreshed look. Kitchen cabinet door refacing can be done in a variety of different ways.

Your choices for the finished look of your kitchen cabinets are almost limitless. Chicago kitchen cabinet refacing companies offer faces in a wide range of colors, patterns, textures, grains and more that you can mix or match to get a relatively inexpensive kitchen cosmetic treatment.

Rigid thermofilm facades (RTFs), which have a durable plastic sheeting over fiberboard, are an affordable alternative to wood or laminated facades.

Plastic laminates come in hundreds of colors and patterns, are durable and moisture resistant, and are sold at reasonable prices.

Most popular are wood veneers, they include many standard woods such as oak, cherry and maple, and you can also choose from a variety of paint colors.

Kitchen Cabinet Refacing Process

So, what should you expect from signing up for kitchen cabinet refacing? There are several essential things to consider. A professional installer will come to your home to measure your cabinets and determine the amount of material required, the correct dimensions and quantities for door and drawer faces, and the amount of hardware and accessories if required. Normally refacing requires a day or two and involves the following steps:

• Removing the existing cabinet doors, drawers and faces (the drawers themselves will stay).
• Covering the cabinets faces with natural wood veneer or an RTF.
• Skinning (covering) the cabinet sides with wood veneer or laminate.
• Installing new doors and drawer faces.
• Installing new handles, drawer pulls, etc. Or using the existing ones if they're in good condition.
• Installing accessories, if required or desired.
• Pros & Cons of Kitchen Cabinet Refacing

For those considering giving their kitchen a new look, there are numerous remodeling ideas, refacing your kitchen cabinets is one of the best and quickest ways to renovate your kitchen and save money on your kitchen remodel.

Cabinet refacing has advantages and limitations, and it's worth considering these first before beginning the whole process. Below are the pros and cons of cabinet refacing.

Pros of Kitchen Cabinet Refacing

Refacing is a sustainable and more environmentally friendly option because it eliminates the disposal of cabinet boxes into landfills. Taking into account that most cabinet boxes are made of MDF (medium-density fiberboard), which contains a hazardous chemical, retaining these cabinet boxes by opting for cabinet refacing is the more eco-conscious way to go. Retaining the same cabinets also has the “save-a-tree” value, eliminating the need to construct new cabinet boxes.

Refacing provides a new look for almost half the cost of new custom cabinets. It is a really good option for those who don't want to spend a lot of money, but are really desperate to get a new kitchen. By investing only half of what you would spend for new cabinets you will get a full makeover for your tired looking kitchen cabinets.

If you really love your kitchen and want to keep the same layout, refacing is an ideal option. You get to keep the existing layout which obviously meets your needs and at the same time your kitchen will get a renewed look.

Despite not getting an entirely new set of kitchen cabinets, you still will have a choice of numerous kitchen cabinet refacing ideas. Refacing provides varied veneer options for both natural woods and laminates, there are plenty of different options to choose from.

Finally, if you ever consider selling your house, kitchen cabinet refacing can be a great selling point. It uplifts your kitchen and makes your house look more appealing to buyers - both of which may contribute to a higher selling price. The kitchen cabinet refacing cost could prove to be a valuable investment in your home.

Cons of Kitchen Cabinet Refacing

Retrofitting kitchen cabinets can be an inexpensive and quick solution, but it won’t work in all cases. Replacement is possible if your existing cabinet boxes and drawers are reliable and in good condition. Cabinets with water damage, warpage, and broken frames are poor candidates.

You’re probably excited and might be thinking of a do-it-yourself option, which is possible, but can be challenging. Installing replacement cabinet doors and fronts could be relatively easy, but veneering is a professional skill that may be best done by a qualified professional.

You have to keep in mind that kitchen cabinet refacing won’t give your kitchen extra space. If you are not happy with the existing cabinets' storage space, refacing may not be a good option, as kitchen cabinet refacing won’t give a space upgrade.

Cabinet refacing is generally less expensive compared to a complete cabinet renovation, but the costs associated with replacing hinges and hardware could add up. This may make it so that the cost of refacing becomes the same as the installation of entirely new cabinetry.

Is Kitchen Cabinet Refacing Right For You ?

By summarizing all of the above and weighing the pros and cons, we can tell that kitchen cabinet refacing is for someone who really loves their kitchen and wants to keep the existing layout, but is a bit tired of their old, shabby kitchen. They want to give it a little makeover. They are busy and preoccupied with everyday life, they don't want to spend much time or money on a complete renovation and they are mindful of nature. If the conditions described above correspond to your desires and opportunities, you are definitely the right candidate for kitchen cabinet refacing!