Cabinet resurfacing – what is it? A LOT of people ask us about “resurfacing” their cabinets. Usually, what they mean is that they want their cabinets updated, but maybe they’re not quite sure what that process looks like. So what is cabinet resurfacing? Well, the truth is – cabinet resurfacing isn’t anything!
Cabinet refacing, cabinet painting, cabinet replacing, cabinet re-dooring, and sometimes even cabinet refinishing may be options for your kitchen. Cabinet resurfacing, on the other hand, is more of a vague term that doesn’t actually refer to a specific service (though we understand that it sounds like a nice option!).
If the idea of “resurfacing” has been floating around in your head, you’re not the only one! (In fact, you might be surprised at just how many people mention this term!) Let’s narrow it down and figure out what you might actually be looking for in terms of updating your kitchen or bathroom cabinets.
Options for Updating Your Kitchen Cabinets
A lot of people are hoping to achieve a fresh look in their kitchen, but aren’t exactly sure the best way to do this. There are actually a number of options available when it comes to updating your current cabinets. These choices can range from hundreds of dollars to tens of thousands. Obviously, this range and the number of options available can create an overwhelming situation for many homeowners.
As a small, family-owned and operated business, we have the time to really listen to our customers and help you figure out the best option for your space. In fact, one of our favorite parts of the job is getting to consult with you to hear about your goals and help you figure out the best plan for getting the greatest value in your kitchen. If you’re ready to get started and want to chat, reach out to us!
And if you just want to learn more about the options, keep reading!
The options for updating your kitchen cabinets include:
- Cabinet refacing
- Cabinet painting
- New cabinets
- Cabinet re-dooring
- Cabinet refinishing
1. Cabinet Refacing
The first option is refacing. Kitchen cabinet refacing is arguably the best solution for updating your kitchen cabinets in many homes. The benefit of cabinet refacing is that it gives you an entirely new look at a fraction of the cost of new cabinets.
Refacing involves replacing your outdated doors and drawer fronts with new cabinet doors in the style and color or wood species of your choice. The existing cabinet boxes are kept, which significantly cuts down on the cost of new cabinets. We apply a painted or wood veneer to your existing boxes, which allows them to match the new doors perfectly and makes your cabinet boxes look like new.
Other common upgrades in the refacing process include new hardware, soft close hinges and drawer glides, molding, pull out drawers, and new storage solutions.
Refacing is an excellent solution for homeowners who want to save thousands on the cost of new cabinets, but also want more of an upgrade than simply applying paint to the existing cabinets. Refacing completely transforms the look of your kitchen at a fraction of the cost. It also has the benefit of keeping the mess in your kitchen to a minimum (no paint fumes or major construction), and allowing you use of your appliances morning and night during the process.
Find out more about what cabinet refacing costs!
2. Cabinet Painting
Cabinet painting is another popular option. Painting involves simply using paint to apply a fresh coat and/or a new color to your existing cabinet doors, drawers, and boxes.
While painting does give a fresh look and new life to your existing cabinets, it doesn’t change the style of your cabinets or update any outdated hardware. Although painting is usually less expensive than cabinet refacing, it offers less options and requires you to give up the use of your kitchen during the process. However, it is a great option if you already like the style of your cabinets, and your doors and boxes are in good condition.
You can learn lots more about the pros and cons of cabinet refacing vs. cabinet painting in our blog post: Cabinet Refacing Vs. Painting: What’s the Difference?
Or read our story about painting our own kitchen cabinets, and how it inspired Veracity Cabinet Refacing!
3. New Cabinets
New kitchen cabinets might be a good option for you if you:
- Want to do a complete kitchen makeover and change the entire layout of your kitchen or cabinets, or
- Your current kitchen cabinetry is in pretty bad shape
There’s a spectrum of options for new cabinets, from cheap, big-box store cabinets like you would find at Home Depot or Lowe’s, to custom cabinets made by a professional cabinet maker. Whatever option you choose for new cabinets, they will almost always be more costly than repainting or refacing your cabinets. You’ll also want to keep in mind that, unless you’re well-versed in carpentry, you’ll want to hire a professional installer to ensure that your cabinets fit correctly and are level.
Depending on the quality of your original cabinets, your brand new cabinets may or may not be a quality upgrade, depending on where you purchase them. (Home Depot cabinets are a totally different product than custom-made, solid wood cabinets.)
The benefit of getting all new cabinets is that you can totally replace your old cabinets if they’re in bad shape, and you can change the layout of your kitchen. (With refacing, additional cabinets can be added, but the entire layout cannot be changed.) If you want a full kitchen remodel, you’re probably a good candidate for new cabinets!
If you don’t already have plans for a complete kitchen renovation, do keep in mind that getting new cabinets installed can be disruptive in terms of the time it takes and mess it can cause in your home.
Read more about whether refacing or replacing your cabinets is best for you!
4. Cabinet Re-Dooring
The next option is cabinet re-dooring. Re-dooring is often a good choice for homeowners whose cabinets have been previously painted. Cabinets that have had a DIY paint job cannot have new veneer applied, because most store-bought paints cannot be trusted to form a strong, lasting bond with the veneer.
Fortunately, the cabinets can still be re-doored, which means replacing the old doors with new, updated doors, without applying a new veneer. Many of our clients who choose this option end up applying a fresh coat of paint to the face frames themselves, which actually cuts the cost in comparison to the regular cost of cabinet refacing. This is a great way to upgrade the door style and change the look of your kitchen, even if a previous DIY project keeps you from a full refacing job.
5. Cabinet Refinishing
Lastly, cabinet refinishing means applying a new finish or new paint to your existing cabinet doors and cabinet boxes. With refinishing, all of the components will stay the same. Refinishing requires sanding or stripping the cabinets completely before applying your new finish.
Refinishing can be a good option if your cabinets just need to be brightened or freshened up. In addition, it’s fairly inexpensive compared to the other options. The downside to refinishing is that the style, doors, face frames, and cabinet boxes will still look virtually the same, except with a fresh finish. Unfortunately, refinishing doesn’t remedy outdated cabinets.
Cabinet Resurfacing Isn’t An Option, But Refacing, Painting, Replacing, Re-Dooring, and Refinishing Are!
Now that you know all of the options, we hope that it’s a little easier to make the best, most informed decision for your kitchen, laundry room, or bathroom cabinet renovation. There are a lot of factors that go into the decision about how to upgrade your kitchen cabinets. The most common factors include:
- Cost
- Kitchen layout (and whether or not you want this to change)
- Condition of your current cabinets
- Style upgrades
- Practical upgrades (hardware, storage solutions, etc.)
We’re located in mid-Michigan and love the opportunity we have to serve our surrounding area by providing options for updating cabinets in the most important spaces in the home. We understand that it can be confusing to try to figure out which option is the most practical and of most value for your space. If you’re still not sure what option is best for your kitchen, don’t hesitate to reach out. Send us an email at veracitycabinets@gmail.com, or schedule a phone call today! We’re happy to help!