Cabinet Refacing Pros and Cons

Cabinet refacing is basically just gluing a layer of veneer onto your existing cabinets, and adding new doors and hardware. This isn’t the correct option for some cabinets, as the cabinets still need to be squared and in good general condition for the veneer to be properly applied. Any cabinets in poor repair can not be refaced, unless they are fixed prior to the operation. This is a good DIY project that virtually anyone can do, and the results can be spectacular, and the cost is often lower than that of even cheap kitchen units.

There are many reason people should consider cabinet refacing as a part of their kitchen remodel, most of which are listed below:

• The cost is minimal: to replace the cabinets in most kitchens, you’re looking at a price tag of at least $5000, or more. With a refacing project, you will generally only spend a few hundred at most.
• It’s easy to find the colors you need: These veneers come in many colors, nearly any that you could possibly need for your kitchen.
• It’s easy to install: the veneer cuts with a knife and the glue is easy to apply.
• The finished product looks great: if done correctly, many people wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between new cabinets and those that have been refaced.
• A modern look: the veneers come in all kinds of styles, so you can update the look of your cabinets so they look modern no matter when your cabinets were made.
• Less waste: although some cabinets can be recycled, or donated to a second hand store, some cannot be, or will never be sold by these places, refacing will help keep some materials out of the landfill.
• A more expensive look: the veneers are made from more expensive lumber, or at least to look like it, so your kitchen can look better than it really is.

There are a few cons to cabinet refacing, but none are too significant:

• Measurements: you will need to measure every line on your cabinets before you reface them, some of these measurements take a long time, and if you’re not comfortable, you might need to hire a professional.
• Cannot always be used: while refacing can be done to most cabinets, your cabinets may need to be squared up or have pieces replaced before you can reface them, if you can at all.

Cabinet refacing is a great idea for people who are on a tight budget for their kitchen remodel, if their cabinets can be refaced, it will cost a fraction of the replacement cost and look just as good.

More Reading:

http://www.squidoo.com/cabinet-refacing-q-and-a

http://poseidonh2o.tumblr.com/post/3187223180/cabinet-refacing