Kitchen Refinishing or Refacing? Learn Which Option Is Best For You.

Kitchen cabinets are both functional and a key component of a home's overall aesthetic. But over the years, cabinets can fall into disrepair, with colors faded or malfunctaioning handles and hinges, and before you know it, your most-used room can start to look run-down.

If a complete kitchen renovation sounds too expensive or time-consuming, consider a facelift for cabinets. Refinishing or refacing kitchen cabinets is a low-cost upgrade that can yield outsized style points.

What is cabinet refacing?

Cabinet refacing replaces the cabinet skin panels to give your kitchen a new look. It entails removing cabinet doors and drawer fronts to apply a new veneer over the existing surface. Refacing can also involve hardware replacements, such as hinges, handles, and drawer pulls. The upside is that the old cabinet boxes stay in place, so there's no need to worry about custom sizing or building time. Instead, they are repaired to match the new doors or surface material. Refaced cabinets look brand new and give your space a completely fresh look and feel.

Pros of Kitchen Cabinet Resurfacing

Less expensive, time-consuming, and disruptive. Rebuilding cabinetry is costly and time intensive, so refacing is cost-effective alternative. A total kitchen renovation or remodel can also be very disruptive. However, refacing allows you to continue using your kitchen throughout the upgrade process. Cabinet refacing takes precision, time, and know-how, but homeowners can learn the skills needed to do it themselves and shave off thousands on the cost.

A wide variety of styles. Cabinet refacing includes a variety of style and veneer options, including natural woods and laminates.

No major construction and added home value. It is also ideal if you have no desire to change your kitchen layout, just spruce up the room to make it more functional or attractive. Not to mention, refacing can easily pay for itself in increased home value.

Eco-friendly alternative. Last, most cabinets are made of MDF (medium-density fiberboard), which contains hazardous chemicals. They are difficult to recycle, making them likely to end up in a landfill where the chemicals can leach into the soil and groundwater. Refacing is a more eco-conscious alternative because the original cabinets are not destroyed or discarded, and there's no need to use new lumber for replacements.