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When you are thinking about remodeling a kitchen,you have two options, refacing your cabinets or replacing them. Refacing your cabinets is the least expensive way to go, this will consist of new looking cabinets without actually replacing the whole unit, it can be done anywhere you have cabinets. Refacing is fast and affordable and affords you the opportunity to get the new stylish look you love.Cabinet refacing is the most popular way to update tired, worn cabinets without disrupting the use of your kitchen for more than a few days. This process involves replacing the doors with new (or veneer or other material) doors usually made from oak, birch, maple or hickory. The choice of wood and stain is overwhelming. Oak is the least expensive. Cherry wood is the most expensive. The other option is to replace your old cabinets with all new ones, this option is more expensive but this will be a total package with all new hardware. This will give you a new look and the drawers and doors that will operate smoothly and close tight.
When it comes to deciding whether or not to replace the existing cabinets, it will come down to what the cabinets are made of, the current condition of the cabinets and the look that you are going for.
Construction of the cabinets- depending on when your house was built, if you are dealing with an older home, odds are your cabinets are made of solid wood vs particleboard or plywoood, which is what the newer cabinets are made of. Most name brand cabinets use particleboard or fiberboard for the sides of the cabinets. (RTA) Ready-To-Assemble cabinets typically use plywood for the sides of the cabinets. If your current cabinets are made from solid wood, it would be foolish to throw them out if you can simply reface them and get the same look you would get from new cabinets.
Condition of the cabinets- even if your cabinets are made of solid wood, their condition may not be conducive to refacing. Check the face frames to see if there is any splitting in the wood where the hardware would go, and check the joints to see how they are holding up... not all solid wood cabinets were built to the same standards, especially in really old homes, where the cabinets were probably built on-site specifically for the house by a carpenter. Check the drawers to make sure that they are sturdy as well.
Overall Look of the Kitchen- If you are for a modern look, odds are you will not be able to reface the old cabinets and get the look you are going for. In a lot of cases it will come down to the overall style that you are going for. If it is a rental property or you are flipping a property, simply painting the cabinets can make a world of different in creating a fresh, updated look. If you don't like the lines of the cabinets or the stain on the cabinets, and you don't like the look of painted cabinets, then replacing the doors and adding a veneer of wood that you can stain may be the way to go. If you are moving appliances around or plan on opening up some walls, then saving the cabinets may not make sense. New cabinets might cost more than refacing but there are a lot of new styles and finishes out on the market today that can give the room you are upgrading a whole new look, another reason to go new is to up-grade the materials used.
Remodeling your cabinets is a worthwhile investment and will give you the look you want for your home, which ever way you go new or refacing, your cabinet contractor will be a great resource for you in helping you to choose colors, styles, materials and they will be able to help you get the look you want that will fit into your budget. Relative Articles: |
Cabinet Refacing 