Cabinet Refacing

There may be no need to replace your entire kitchen or bath to get the look you want. Cabinets that are in good condition can be made to look new again and dramatically alter the appearance of your kitchen with cabinet refacing. You get all the benefits of new cabinets without the high cost and inconvenience a kitchen remodel can cause.

What Exactly Is Cabinet Refacing?

When a cabinet is refaced, the exterior surfaces (doors, drawer fronts) are replaced with new ones. The cabinet faces and exposed parts of the boxes are covered in a matching veneer. Most of the time hinges, pulls and handles are replaced to complete the updated look.

Cabinet refacing can be an ideal solution for renewing the appearance of your kitchen if the cabinet boxes are in good shape and are of good quality. If the layout of the kitchen suits you and all you want is an updated look, this option works very well.

Cabinet Refacing Process

The entire cabinet refacing process takes just a few days to complete.

Each cabinet door and drawer is removed. The drawer fronts are detached from the drawer boxes. New drawer fronts and cabinet doors are fabricated to replace the doors and drawers.
To cover the frame fronts of the cabinet boxes, a natural wood veneer or thermafoil is applied to the frame fronts with special adhesives.
The sides of the cabinets that are exposed are also covered with a wood veneer or laminate product.
New cabinet doors are installed with new hinges (if necessary). Drawer fronts are attached to the existing drawer boxes.
Hardware is installed or replaced with new.

Cabinet Refacing Cost

Bobvila.com estimates average cabinet refacing costs at $7,132 in the U.S. The typical range of costs extend from $4200 to almost $10,000 according to the home improvement guru.

With new kitchen remodeling costing anywhere from $15,000 to over one hundred thousand dollars, the cost of getting that new kitchen or bath look you desire with refacing looks quite a bit more attractive.

There are several factors to consider when considering the total cost of cabinet refacing. These include:

Material Type and Quality – The three main types of cabinet covers (laminate, high quality veneer and thermofoil, and real wood veneer, will be a large portion of your overall costs. Laminate is about 80% less per linear foot than real wood veneer, with high quality veneers falling right in the middle range.
Size of the Kitchen or Bath – Refacing projects are priced by the number of cabinets and drawers as well as the linear feet of cabinet faces and fronts that need to be refaced. The larger the space, and the more cabinets, the higher the price of the project.
Labor – A significant portion of any quote for cabinet refacing will be for the labor involved to prep the cabinets as well as the labor to remove and reinstall doors and drawers. Labor can amount to 50% or more of the total project cost.
Location – Your geography will impact the cost of your refacing project. Higher labor markets will see a much higher price than lower priced labor markets.

Benefits of Cabinet Refacing

The lower cost is one of the factors that draw people into considering refacing their cabinets. But there are other considerations that make refacing a smart choice.

Changing the style of the door and drawer fronts is a way to update the look of an outdated kitchen or bathroom. The range of colors, door styles and wood finishes is quite extensive. You will most likely get the exact look you want from a refacing as you will with a complete cabinet replacement.

The amount of time you are without the use of your kitchen or bath and its cabinets is significantly lower with a cabinet refacing. This process takes days, not weeks or months.

Refacing is an eco-friendly choice as you are not sending your cabinet boxes, which probably have plenty of life left in them, to the dump. The installation process uses less energy, too, than a complete remodel.

Cabinet Refacing Before and After

You can get the same look as all new custom cabinets with the added convenience of quick installation and high quality materials. Your appliances won’t need to be moved while your cabinetry is updated saving time and labor costs. Existing countertops can be reused, or if you prefer, you can use the opportunity to get new countertops at the same time.

Save Money on Your Cabinet Refacing Project

To save the most money on your refacing project, here are some tips to help you save the most money.

Get quotes from three to five local, highly rated companies. We can help you with that!
If you can reuse your hardware, you will save significantly on the cost of new hardware. You can also consider having your hardware replated if it is worn or the wrong finish. Replating is a fraction of the cost of new hardware.
Go with a simpler profile for your cabinet doors and drawers. Raised panels, glazing and fancy moldings will increase your costs.
Options such as under cabinet lighting and soft close hinges are not inexpensive and can be eliminated if you are reaching your budget limit.

FAQS

1. Which is less expensive, reface or replace cabinets?

It is cheaper to reface kitchen or bathroom cabinets than to replace them. With the high cost of materials, and the supply chain issues we are currently experiencing, you might be better off refacing your cabinetry to get an on-time, on-budget kitchen or bath makeover.

2. How long is the process to reface cabinets?

The typical kitchen or bath will take from 3 to 5 days, depending on how many cabinets you have. If you are refacing several cabinets in a few rooms, this might take longer.

3. How long will refaced cabinets last?

Assuming your existing cabinet boxes are solid (not warped, or rotted or misshaped), you can expect from twenty to thirty years before the cabinets need to be refaced.