Replacing, Refacing, and Refinishing Cabinets: What’s The Difference?

As homeowners go through the kitchen remodeling process, there are a number of ways that they can update their kitchen cabinets. The most popular, refacing, replacing and refinishing, vary in cost and the processes they use to enhance the look of your cabinetry. While replacing focuses on changing out your old cabinets for new ones, refinishing coats old cabinets with glazes and finishes to make cabinets look like new. Refacing, on the other hand, keeps the original cabinet boxes but replaces the cabinet doors and drawers with new ones. Each process has its pros and cons, and should be chosen based on your specific needs and wants. Find out which process would work best for your next kitchen remodel with these tips!out the main causes of heartburn, if yours is something chronic, and what you can do about it!

Variations of Remodeling Your Cabinets

During the kitchen remodeling process, you will have to decide how you’re going to remodel your cabinets. The kitchen cabinets, doors and drawers are some of the first things that you notice when you walk into a kitchen, so you’ll want to make sure that yours look fantastic. The three most common ways to update your cabinets are refacing, replacing and refinishing. Refacing is one of the cheaper options as it primarily deals with replacing the cabinets “skins”, which are the doors and drawer fronts. The body of the cabinets, the “carcass”, is left but spiffed up with a new veneer to make your old cabinets look like new. Hardware like knobs, handles and hinges are usually replaced during this process, as well, to match the new doors and drawers that will be installed. Replacing is another option that homeowners opt in for as it allows you to start all over with brand new cabinetry. Replacing kitchen cabinets is the best option whenever the cabinets are heavily damaged and falling apart. This is also a great option for those who are changing the layout of their kitchen or completing a full-kitchen remodel. Lastly, refinishing is the cheapest way to update your kitchen as it works with the original cabinets by applying finishes to the entire frame and components of the cabinets. Refinishing is easy to do on a budget and for those wanting to update just their cabinets, it’s the most popular choice.

All three variations can work well within any home, but should be chosen based on how much you’re willing to spend, the structural integrity of your original cabinets and the end product that you’re wanting to create. Before choosing, however, it’s important to know what each option costs and how well they can fulfill your next kitchen remodel.

Pros and Cons

One of the first things that families look at when doing a kitchen remodel is the cost. As mentioned, refinishing is the cheapest option as it doesn’t involve buying and installing any new doors, drawers or cabinet boxes. Compared to the others, it can save you 60-70% when you do it yourself. For older cabinets, especially those made out of metal, it can be difficult to refinish them when they’re not made out of wood. Refacing, on the other hand, can save you 30-50% of the cost to replace, which is still great, but many times will need to be performed by professionals who can ensure quality and precise output. Refacing is often chosen as it is easily combinable with new cabinetry, works within a budget and you don’t have to remove the original cabinetry. However, refacing is not fool-proof; it will only work well if the structure of the original cabinetry is in good condition. Lastly, while it’s understandable why many people would like to replace old cabinets with new ones, it’s not very cost efficient. Sometimes you don’t have another option, especially if your original cabinets are heavily damaged or old, but replacing can cost anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 for the cabinets alone. For those on a budget, replacing usually isn’t the way that most people go. If you do have the extra cash handy, however, replacing is a great alternative if you’re looking to change the layout of your kitchen or renovate the entire kitchen.

How Refinishing Cabinets Saves You In The Long Run

Whichever option you choose to remodel your kitchen will be able to give you nice-looking cabinetry that will last for a long time. However, out of the three, refinishing is one of the best you can choose from to style your kitchen. Refinishing is cost-effective, and there are a variety of finishes and glazes that you can choose from to get the exact look that you want in your kitchen. If you’re looking for a simple finish, a solid finish works best with complex countertops, backsplashes and flooring. For a multi-dimensional, “rub-through” look, glazing highlights the grain of the wood and can be mocha, brown, black, gray or taupe. You can even add accent lines to the edges of your cabinet doors with pinstriping to highlight your cabinets and create an elegant look.

One of the best parts about refinishing your cabinets is that they remain completely usable throughout the entire process. The total process takes between 3-5 days to complete, and you can continue to use your cabinets while all the work is done for you. The refinishing treatment includes washing, hand-sanding, priming, caulking and spraying the finish onto the exterior of the cabinet frames to complete the look. Off-site at the shop, the doors and drawers will go through the same process, along with receiving three coats of commercial-grade acrylic coating to create a durable, furniture-grade finish. Not only will your cabinets look amazing after being refinished, but they will last you for years to come, too.

Call For A Free Estimate

At Summit Cabinet Coatings, we pride ourselves on producing the best-looking cabinets at the lowest price. Our finishes are second-to-none, and you will love how they accent your home. For a free estimate on your next project, call our office at (970) 282-9856. Call today to find out how you can get the dream kitchen that you’ve always wanted!