Deciding what to do about your cabinetry is possibly the biggest decision of your kitchen remodel. With cabinets taking up almost 50 percent of your renovation costs, there’s one thing you should ask: to reface or replace? As general contractors in Ocala, FL, we at Tallen Builders understand the appeal of refacing your existing cabinets. But in some cases, new cabinets are the way to go. Here’s how to decide which direction to go with your own kitchen cabinets.
Refacing vs. Replacing
When refacing your kitchen cabinets, you are essentially covering the visible portions of the cabinets with a new veneer. This includes the doors and drawer faces. Refacing also includes replacing handles or knobs with updated hardware. Replacing your cabinets is exactly what it sounds like – replacing the entire cabinet structure.
The Process
Whether you choose to reface or replace, unless you’re an experienced DIYer, professional help is recommended. To reface the cabinets, the doors and drawer fronts will need to be removed. Next, the old surface of each door and drawer is sanded to prepare it for its new finish, which is either glued or nailed on top. Any nail holes are then filled, seams are trimmed, and the newly refinished cabinet faces can be reattached. Replacing your cabinets on the other hand is a bit more work. Old cabinets will first need to be removed, so all their contents must be taken out. While homeowners can remove the cabinets themselves, if they are not experienced they could cause some damage. A professional will remove them safely and they will also know how to take proper measurements for ordering new cabinets.
Cost
Refacing cabinets is considerably less expensive than replacing them. In fact, it’s usually about half the cost, depending on the size of your kitchen and the materials you use to reface the cabinets. Replacing cabinets can become expensive due to the hidden costs that pop up after you’ve gotten your quote. These costs include things like delivery charges, handles, trim and molding.
Finish Options
Without a doubt, replacing your kitchen cabinets offers many more design options than refacing does. Replacing your cabinets means you can choose virtually any color, material, size and design of cabinet that your budget will permit. When refacing your cabinets, you typically only have three options: wood veneer, plastic laminates and rigid thermofoils. While these factors can help sway your decision, what it should really come down to is your cabinets’ current condition and how happy you are with them. If your cabinets are made of cheap material or you don’t like their current layout, replacement is the way to go. But if your cabinets are still in good shape and it’s just their outer appearance that you’ve grown tired of, considering refacing them. If you’re looking into a kitchen remodel, we’d love to help. Give us a call or reach us on our contact form at Tallen Builders. You can also always find us on any of our social networks.
Today we answer the age old #kitchen #remodel question: to reface or replace your #cabinets http://t.co/JcYMCLa3d3
— Tallen Builders (@TallenBuilders) November 19, 2014