Kitchen Cabinets: Reface or Just Buy New?

Question

Does anyone have experience with comparing the cost (and aggravation) of refacing kitchen cabinets versus just buying new? I honestly just install new cabinets and have no experience with only replacing the doors.

I recently priced out the cost of a standard shaker cabinet door for a 36 inch base cabinet and it was $57 for just plain poplar wood. So, two doors would be roughly $114.

The existing cabinets in these photos are laminate and they're in my Sister's newly purchased (35 year young) house from the 70s.

I'm looking for some thoughts and opinions. They are leaning toward buying IKEA cabinets with a shaker style. Thanks :)

Jeff
www.homerepairtutor.com

Shari · Answer

I lived in my previous home for 35 years and had the original kitchen cabinets refaced twice during that time since I did not desire or require any changes in cabinet placement. Then, the process was very affordable but the most recent time we had the cabinets resurfaced was approximately 15-18 years ago so I have no idea what the cost runs now. I was extremely pleased with the results but more importantly, we didn't end up with a kitchen renovation that was over-priced for our little 1950's 1300 sq. ft. ranch-style 'starter' home. Thought you and your sister might be interested in this link about a blogger who is currently in the middle of a kitchen renovation with IKEA shaker style cabinets: http://southernhospitalityblog.com/weeks-16-17-why-i-chose-ikea-kitchen-cabinets/#

Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com · Answer

Both refacing and replacement have their place.  While replacement is the ideal way of going, oftentimes a good quality face life with new doors is all that is warranted.

However the quality of the face lift has a big bearing of the success of the project.  I have seen face lifts where they nailed on thin plywood over all the fronts and stained them. Then I have seen where they used a wood veneer cut out in strips to follow the grain pattern of the stick built type. These oftentimes come out really nice if the person doing it is a craftsman.

You must figure in the time it takes to  remove and replace, What about counters? That adds to the cost as well. Do not forget the room itself. While I have seen little (OK) no homes in which the room was square or the floor level. All of these improvements along with floor to match the new  cabinet must be figured in.

Of course if the original cabinets were press board and cheep from the beginning, those that were stick built with plywood backs and sides oftentimes come out nice.

Nowadays replacement even custom doors are pretty reasonable to purchase. While many years ago they were simply built or updated on site.

So do not  just cost out the cabinet itself. Figure in tops, plumbing, floors and repairing walls all in the process.  Face lifting in these cases can be cheaper.

Home Repair Tutor · Answer

Thanks Shari for your comment. Good to hear you liked the refaced cabinets. I also appreciated the link to Southern Hospitality :)

Home Repair Tutor · Answer

I appreciate your feedback Woodbridge-it's always top notch!! You're absolutely right about factoring in the whole process. That's why I often to remodel jobs in the kitchen myself to save a little money on the labor. This is especially true when I renovate our rental properties.

I know for sure my sister will be replacing the countertop, sink, and faucet. We'll have to take a good look at what she wants in terms of style as well as functionality.

KMS Woodworks · Answer

Check out these articles I wrote. http://www.networx.com/article/about-cabinet-facing http://www.networx.com/article/wood-veneers-guide

Designs by BSB · Answer

My opinion?  If your sister plans to stay long term she should think long term.  Refacing is often times a bandaid.   But the bigger view from my perspective is the function of the space.   Ive been house hunting myself and find it kind of sad when people will spend $3K + on new granite counter tops but not consideration to the poor function of the layout/placement of appliances and poor functioning drawers, and lack of modern conveniences.

Julie Carroll · Answer

If the cabinets boxes were solid wood - reface.  But laminate - I'd replace if she plans on living in the house 5+ years.

Home Repair Tutor · Answer

Thanks Becky Sue and Julie for your tips. I'm thinking she should just replace them. They would like to stay in this house for probably the next 5 years. And a moderate kitchen remodel could be recouped when they go to sell the home. That's assuming our economy and home market come back to pre 2008 values.

Gregory Tim Johnson · Answer

Getting ready to do this in my kitchen an this will save u alot ,truly blessed to have came accross this idea,such a blessing an thanks alot...

Sandi K · Answer

I can't afford to replace mine, so I am refacing them myself, building the beadboard shaker style doors, etc., and then will do a custom paint and glazing finish. Solid wood, and in good shape, just plain; old; and unattractive to start with.

Nancy C · Answer

how about no doors... seeing so many open face cabinets today and they look sooo nice... of course not on all of them if they are for the foods and things you don't want seen... but you could do a lot of open and save on the doors

Chris S · Answer

When we bought our current house, the cabinets had been refaced.  Initially they looked good.  Once we had been in the house a few months, we noticed that the sheeting they put on the boxes was not a quality job.  We replaced the cabinets, changed the floor plan and are thrilled with our new kitchen.  BTW we plan to live here at least 15 years.

Laura S · Answer

Because they are laminate and not real wood, I vote for replacing.  Ikea does have very nice cabinets

Melissa W · Answer

Kitchens are a great investment if your thinking of selling in the next couple of years or so.. normally you can expect to get 80 percent of your investment back.

BONNIE J · Answer

MY SON-IN-LAW GOT ME ALL NEW UPPERS & A NEW BOTTOM PART 4 BETWEEN KITCHEN & L.R., THEN PUT ON ALL NEW DOORS & HARDWARE WE PICKED OUT TO USE.  HE WOULD SAY RE-FACE, BUT HE ALWAYS HELPS PEOPLE ADD, CHANGE, ETC TO MAKE THEIR KITCHENS AS EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE FOR THE SPACE THEY HAVE TO WORK WITH!!  THE ''BOXES'' ARE NOT THE IMPT PART--IT IS WHAT PEOPLE SEE!!  AND RE-FACING SHOULD MEAN THE DOORS/DRAWERS  ARE NEW, NOT JUST COVERED!  YOU CAN DO SO MUCH WITH SOME OR ALL OF THE BARE BONES YOU HAVE, IF IN GOOD SHAPE!!

Diane H · Answer

Laminate???.... Replace!!!

Linda Z · Answer

I re-faced 30 yrs ago. the cabinets were in great shape. solid wood. I painted them about 8 yrs ago and they still look great with the new knobs.

Kevarchery · Answer

Its not worth the work.. If you have a good budget buy new. Im a cabinet builder and custom wood worker .. Dont waste your time .

Marilyn B · Answer

I recentl had my cabinets refaced and love the craftmanship and they gave me a free cabinet. American Cabinets Refacers did an outstanding job.

Betty Reese · Answer

Our cabinets are solid wood (ash) --when we redid our kitchen  we bought new doors because we wanted a different style.  We were able to buy enough ash doors for around $1,000.00.  We stripped the existing cabinets and then stained existing cabinets and the new doors in a 'cherry' tone.  added a little trim and they look really good.  Very proud of them and we saved at least $9,000.00.

Kate S · Answer

If they were wood, I would reface them, but since they are not, I would replace them with the best wood ones you can afford.  Once you have wood ones up there, you can later paint them or reface them and it will be worth it because they are wood, not laminate.

Mary Jeanne Botteon · Answer

Replace. Laminate will not stand up well to refacing. That works very well with solid wood cabinets.

Home Repair Tutor · Answer

Thank you all for your great feedback. I love posting questions like this because of the wonderful discussions and suggestions.

Donna · Answer

Before you buy new make sure you can find exactly the sizes you need.

Deb lamica · Answer

We refaced our cabinets. Home depot did a great job.  They use the existing box frame of your old cabinets, and you get new doors, hardware, etc.  I was also able to get interior roll outs and it was awesome

Deb lamica · Answer

Note to above post, we had repainted the exsisting cabinets a couple years prior, and it was so labor intensive and hated the way they turned out

BONNIE J · Answer

DEB, MY SON-IN-LAW DOES REFACING 4 HOME DEPOT, PLUS HIS OWN BUSINESS CALLED ''KITCHEN MAGIC''!

BONNIE J · Answer

MINE WERE ''VERY'' OLD & PAINTED!  AS SOON AS HE SAW THAT I HAD TO HAVE NEW ONES!  TOP & NEW PART WERE ALL NEW BUT BOTTOMS WERE LEFT & HE GAVE ME DRAWERS THERE & ON THE NEW BOTTOM PIECE!

Shawne D · Answer

We just contracted with Home Depot to reface our cabinets in our new (to us) house.  To replace the doors, drawers and to reface the boxes it was just over $11,000 and that is with a discount.  It was much more than I anticipated especially since there aren't many cabinets to begin with.  Will post before/after photos once the work is done.

Home Repair Tutor · Answer

Thanks Shawne for your update, please let us all know how your remodel turns out :)

Kitchen Cabinets: Reface or Just Buy New?

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