In cases where the cabinets are ruined, refacing may not work out perfectly and total replacement would be the best option.
Kitchen refacing is simply giving a facelift to your old or outdated kitchen by adding veneers. Normally, it involves cabinet refacing including cabinet boxes, refacing of drawer fronts, doors and the addition of wood veneer. For the total replacement of cabinetry with new ones, you will pay at least $26,400 for a standard-sized kitchen. If you go the flat-pack kitchen way, prepare to pay around $13,200. According to experts, an average kitchen reface costs a minimum of $23,760 and a maximum of $36,960. According to the customers, costs range from at least $6,600 to $39,600. In Australia, you will pay a technician for kitchen refacing around $74 per hour. This pricing is subject to change depending on the work involved in the cabinet refacing project. If it's a complex job, it means more features are required and therefore all these will translate into more expenditure. The kitchen size also sways the costs. Renovations in big kitchens cost more compared to small ones. Material choice will also determine the amount of money to be spent.
Cabinet refacing costs around $2,373 on the low end with a top cost of around $10,508. If the cabinets are completely damaged and you need new ones, prepare a budget of at least $5,280 for stock cabinets. Semi-custom ones will cost at least $10,560. Custom-made cabinets cost more - a budget of around $21,120 should be enough.
If you hire a professional to do cabinet refacing in a standard kitchen, prepare a minimum of $1,320 and $3,300 for laminate and wood veneer respectively. It could go beyond $11,880 if you choose top-quality wood veneers for a huge kitchen.
If the cabinets are not badly damaged and your budget is tight, repainting them is one of the suitable options for cabinet refacing in your kitchen. Repainting the cabinets could cost around $1,584. The actual price will however depend on your chosen labour and the size and number of the cabinets to be painted.
It is best to go for an expert technician when you want to reface cabinets. This is because a professional will give you valuable suggestions on how to lay out your cabinets, appropriate cabinet doors and design as per your needs. When you weigh up the costs, it may be cheaper to replace the kitchen cabinet doors.Top quality kitchen cabinets can last for more than 50 years whereas low quality ones will not go beyond 20 years. A standard lifespan guarantee provided by most manufacturers is that the cabinets will last for at least 25 years before needing a cabinet replacement.
Kitchen cabinet refacing is usually done when the cabinet condition deteriorates or just to keep up with the current trends of modern kitchen designs or as part of a home improvement project. Water logged cabinets and a termite infestation can damage the cabinets and prompt premature refacing.
Well-kept quality drawer fronts, cabinet boxes and cabinet doors will last longer.
To attain at least the 25-year cabinet lifespan, go for cabinetry that's made of top quality material. Certain timbers are ideal for kitchen doors, but can come at a price. Ensure that they are not in contact with water and always look out for termite infestation to avoid kitchen cabinet damage. It's also advisable to hire a qualified professional to do your cabinetry work for better services.Kitchen refacing is part of kitchen remodel that includes the addition of wood veneers to drawer fronts and cabinet doors to improve the kitchen's appearance. The refacing of the kitchen has its own negative and positive effects and they should all be factored in during a kitchen remodelling project.
Some of the pros of refacing include the retention of the kitchen layout. There are also several style options from different veneers, be they laminate or wood. Additionally, you can reduce costs by refacing them as compared to replacing them with new cabinets. Refacing is also environmentally friendly as it reduces the cutting of more trees to make new cabinets. Replacing kitchen cabinet doors can be an expensive project.The cons include wood veneer requires finishing, which has additional procedures like staining and varnishing. Secondly, layout adjustments are impossible as refacing does not provide an opportunity to change the kitchen design. The next con of refacing is that the interior of cabinet boxes remain the same or an update will mean incurring high costs.
It's difficult to do refacing yourself especially if you lack the skill and patience. Finally, costs can pile up and stretch beyond your cost estimate and eventually save nothing. Always weigh the pros and cons before you settle on either refacing or replacing.
Refacing cabinets is more affordable as compared to total replacement. Different cabinet refaces have different lifespans depending on the material used. For example, cabinetry refacing done with a semi-gloss paint finishing will last beyond 10 years with fewer touch-ups across the years. When matte finishing is used to reface, the cabinetry will have a lifespan of at least 15 years to a maximum of 20 before displaying signs of tear. Cleaning the cabinetry can also prolong the lifespan as it eliminates the piling of dirt and bacteria that could lead to cracking and rotting of wood. Good organisation of items on the shelves uniformly distributes weights and minimises damages. Repainting is also a good practice that ensures the longevity of the cabinetry. It's also good to ensure that appropriate humidity is maintained in the kitchen cabinetry to ensure there's no wood rotting. Keeping the kitchen clean and tidy minimises pests such as mice, cockroaches and rodents that could otherwise damage the wood.