Replacing vs. Refinishing Your Cabinets

Are your kitchen cabinets looking a little old and worn? Or are you just ready for a new and updated style? Whatever your motivation for getting new cabinets, stop for a moment and consider your options. You could replace your kitchen or bathroom cabinets entirely, or you could simply have them refinished.

Let’s look at the pros and cons of each of these options to help you decide which is right for you.

Refinishing cabinets

The main reasons why people choose to refinish or reface their kitchen cabinets over replacing them is because it is cheaper and involves less hassle. But it won’t be the best choice for everyone. If your cabinets are high quality and not too old or damaged, then a fresh stain or coat of paint could breathe some new life into them and create a style that’s more in-line with what you’re looking for. You can also change the hardware to give it a fresh look.

Refacing completely, rather than just refinishing, involves replacing the fronts of your cabinets and drawers, rather than replacing the entire cabinet. Wood cabinets are better for refacing, while you might not get great results with other materials. You can then choose the type of stain or finish you want for your cabinets.

Replacing cabinets

If your cabinets are damaged or were of cheap quality to begin with, then refacing may not be an option and simply refinishing them might not be good enough. Completely replacing your cabinets may be the more expensive and time-consuming option, but the results will last longer than if you were to refinish or reface them. This means you can wait longer before having to reface or replace them again in the future.

If you are completely renovating your kitchen, then you might even be altering its layout. Often, in this case, you will have to pull out your kitchen cabinets in the process anyway, so replacement is the better option. Plus, if you’re altering other aspects of the layout, then your kitchen cabinets might not be functional as they are. For example, the way a cabinet door opens may mean that it’s in the way of other elements.

So, whether you replace or reface your cabinets comes down to assessing your situation to decide which option is best. If you would like more advice on this topic and on designing your dream kitchen, get in touch with The Kitchen Center in Clemmons for our support.