The Pros and Cons of Refacing Kitchen Cabinets

There’s a lot of people out there who are very attached to their kitchen cabinets. They love them the way they love that jalopy car they just can’t bring themselves to junk. In some instances, there is actually some sense to this sentiment, because kitchen cabinets, much like cars, are an expensive investment that should last you a decent amount of time, but cabinets, like cars, undergo wear and tear over the years, and at some point you will reach a tipping point, where the repairs cost more than it would be worth to simply invest in new cabinets altogether. So let’s take a look at the pros and cons, of refacing kitchen cabinets san diego as opposed to replacing them entirely.

#1. Cost

Having the kitchen cabinets refaced is about half the price of installing new ones from scratch. For folks that really like their kitchen cabinets. Basically, what installers will do is replace the doors and drawer fronts, covering the exposed face of the frames with new wood or plastic. Anything you can see is going to be targeted for a face lift. This will cost homeowners anywhere from $3000-$8000 whereas entirely new cabinetry can run up as high as $20,000.

#2. Older Cabinets are Higher Quality

Back in the good old days, before the mass production of homes, cabinets were custom built from quality wood, which when taken care of properly, would last for decades. Nowadays, the materials are cheaper, everything is cookie cut from a mold, and it’s built to be replaced every few years. Refacing the original design is a better option in some instances, though you can still find the same quality craftsmanship out there if you’re willing to pay the price for it. If you already have great cabinets though, you’re better off just refacing them.

#3. Lead

Kitchen cabinets that were painted prior to 1978 are likely painted with lead based paint. That means resurfacing them yourself, without taking the proper precautions could be dangerous if you were to inhale the flecks of paint. Refacing contractors have the proper equipment and can take the proper precautions.

On the other hand, the opposite argument can be made. If your cabinetry was painted with lead paint, it may be the safest option to rip it out entirely and start from scratch. Many people do just that.

#4. Plastic

This is a con for refacing. Contractors who use plastic laminates that look like wood are putting a cheap knock off on top of fine wood. The further away you get, the better it looks.

“For most people, the refacing the kitchen cabinets comes down the quality vs. cost,” says one installer from San Diego. “If the quality of the cabinets can be restored by refacing, then the choice is simple, reface the cabinets. When quality is lost then you have to consider replacing the cabinetry entirely.”