Find out how much your project will cost Browse All Project Categories The average national cost to reface cabinets is $6,649, with most homeowners spending between $4,278 and $9,021. This data is based on actual project costs as reported by HomeAdvisor members. How long does cabinet refacing take?While this depends on the company doing the refacing and on the size of your space, most refacing can be done in 2-4 days. This is a benefit not only for cost (less labor costs) but also, you should still be able to use your space while your cabinets are being refaced. Cabinet replacement is more expensive labor, parts and you can't normally use your space while the replacement is going on. Most of the work is done during the day so you should have full access to your area in the evenings. Ask your contractor if they plan on cleaning up at the end of each day so that you can utilize your space or if you will need to make other arrangements. The clean-up can be an additional cost added to you.
Find a Local Cabinet Professional Plastic versus wood veneers Driving up the price Refer a Pro who does this service and receive an Amazon Gift Card! Help us improve this article Was this page helpful? 5 - Extremely Helpful 4 - Very Helpful 2 - Somewhat Helpful 1 - Not Helpful Share your cost experience Help others plan and budget for their projects 2. Fort Lauderdale, FL 4. Las Vegas, NV 5. San Diego, CA 6. New York, NY 8. San Antonio, TX 16. Los Angeles, CA 21. San Jose, CA 27. Saint Paul, MN 33. West Palm Beach, FL 39. Fort Worth, TX Don't see your city?Refacing your kitchen cabinets includes covering the exposed frames with a thin veneer of real wood or plastic laminate.Doors and drawer fronts are replaced to match or complement the new veneer. New hinges, knobs, pulls, and molding complete the transformation.What are the Pros and Cons?Kitchen cabinet refacing pros:Costs about half as much as replacing cabinets.
Takes less time (a week or less!) and money.It’s less hassle than tearing out cabinets.You can still use your kitchen while refacing.It’s a solution because you’re not adding to the landfill.Kitchen cabinet refacing cons (there aren’t many):Refacing won’t fix a bad kitchen design.You might be tempted to spend more on exotic veneer and hardware (saving you less).What are Your Refacing Options?Your choices for the finished look of your cabinets are virtually limitless. Veneers are available in a wide variety of colors, patterns, textures, grains, and more, which you can mix or match to get a relatively low-cost kitchen facelift.Rigid thermofoil (RTF) doors, which feature a durable plastic coating over fiberboard, are an affordable alternative to wood or laminate doors.Plastic laminates come in hundreds of colors and patterns, are durable and moisture-resistant, and are reasonably priced. You can pick matching or contrasting laminates for your doors and drawer fronts.Real wood veneers include many standard species, such as oak, cherry, and maple, and you also can choose from an array of stain colors.
Wood veneers are the most expensive option. Wood must be carefully sealed to protect against moisture.Further customize and update the look of your cabinets with new kitchen cabinet hardware. What Does Refacing Cost?A professional cabinet refacing for a typical 10-foot-by-12-foot kitchen starts at around $1,000 to $3,000 for laminate. Expect to pay $2,500 to $6,000 for real wood veneer. Costs can rise to $7,000 to $9,000 or more for a large project with high-quality wood veneer.Finishing the project with new hardware (pulls, knobs, hinges) runs $2 to $4 per piece, up to $20 to $50 each for high-end hardware.In comparison, completely replacing old kitchen cabinets with new cabinets starts at $4,000 to $5,000 and up for stock cabinets; $8,000 to $10,000 for semi-custom cabinets; $16,000 to $20,000 and up for custom-made cabinetry.How Do I Know If My Cabinets are Good For Refacing?Refacing is feasible if your existing cabinet boxes are structurally sound and in good condition. Cabinets with water damage, warping, and broken frames are poor candidates.
Particleboard cabinetry sometimes requires fasteners, in addition to adhesives, to ensure that the veneer is secure. How are They Installed?A professional installer will come to your house to measure your cabinets and determine the amount of veneer required, the correct sizes and quantities for door and drawer fronts, and how much hardware is needed. Newly ordered doors and drawer fronts may take one to two weeks for delivery.When all the materials are in hand, your installer removes old cabinet door and drawer fronts, and prepares the surface of the cabinet boxes by washing the exteriors with a degreaser and lightly sanding the finish. Any significant flaws in the surface are repaired or filled to ensure a smooth, secure fit for the new veneer.The installer applies veneer to the cabinet faces and any exposed cabinet ends, then mounts the new doors, drawer fronts, and hardware. The process typically takes two to four days.Related:How Hard is it to Install Ikea Cabinets?Classy Cabinet Upgrades for Under $100Can I Do Kitchen Cabinet Refacing Myself?
Detailed instructions and adhesive-backed veneers make cabinet refacing a feasible do-it-yourself project.Kitchen cabinet resurfacing instructions from Cabinet Doors Depot. If you have extra time, patience, the necessary veneering tools, and a knack for precision, you can save money by tackling kitchen cabinet refacing on your own.If you opt to do your own kitchen cabinet refacing, you’ll spend about $200 to $500 on average for materials. Specialized tools (rollers, blades, irons) add $5 to $60 to the cost.Related: Kitchen Remodeling Decisions You’ll Never Regret Save money on your kitchen remodel by refacing your cabinets instead of replacing them. Use these tips to make sure your current cabinets are up to snuff first. Photo By: Peter Salerno Whether you're planning a simple kitchen spruce-up or a complete overhaul, deciding what to do about your cabinets is one of the biggest decisions you'll make. New cabinets can take up nearly 50 percent of your total kitchen renovation budget, and functional cabinets can mean the difference between a kitchen that works and one that doesn't.
But what if you can't afford to buy all-new cabinets with the latest storage features and styles? Read on for our tips. Many homeowners today are saving money by refacing rather than completely replacing their existing kitchen cabinets. There are three primary ways to reface cabinets: 1. Refinish or paint existing cabinet and drawer fronts. 2. Install new wood or laminate veneer over existing cabinet and drawer fronts. 3. Install completely new cabinet doors and drawer fronts. Deciding which of these three options you choose comes down to budget. However you decide to reface your cabinets, complete the look with all new hardware. Pulls and knobs contribute a lot to your kitchen's style, swapping them out can take your kitchen from traditional to modern. When refacing the cabinets, consider freshening up the interiors too. They can be sanded, painted or veneered for a completely new look. Adding handy functionality, like pull-out drawers and rotating shelves, is another great option.
Fans of refacing say this mini-makeover can give a kitchen a whole new look at a much lower cost than installing all-new cabinets. "Cabinet refacing can save up to 50 percent compared to the cost of replacing," says Cheryl Catalano, owner of Kitchen Solvers, a cabinet refacing franchise in Napierville, Illinois. Cabinet refacing is also a much less involved process than removing old cabinets and installing new ones. "Refacing is an ideal option for many people because of its convenience," says Cheryl. "The process doesn't require removal of the appliances, so the kitchen stays functional while the work is being done." Even with the potential cost-savings, however, refacing isn't right for every kitchen remodel. Before making the decision to reface, rather than replace, homeowners need to consider a number of factors, starting with the "bones" of their current kitchen cabinets. "If they are not high-quality cabinets to begin with, it usually makes more sense to replace the entire piece," says Deborah Ramos, an interior designer in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Lorey Cavanaugh of Kitchen and Bath Design Consultants in Hartford, Conn., agrees. "The old adage about not throwing good money after bad comes into play here," Lorey says. Thoroughly inspect the interiors of your existing cabinets for any signs of water damage from plumbing, excessive wear and tear or faulty construction. Knowing when your kitchen cabinets were originally constructed is another consideration. "Don't spend money to refront products that are truly worn out." Says Gary Reynolds, a cabinet craftsman in North Carolina, "Cabinets built prior to the 1980s were generally built of better materials than newer ones. Back then, 3/4-inch plywood was actually 3/4-inches thick and particle board was used for floor underlayment," explains Gary, who handles both refacing and new cabinet construction. Another alternative for homeowners with older cabinets in good condition is to remove the doors altogether and convert their existing cabinets to open shelving. Interior shelves can be removed or reconfigured inside the existing cabinet frames for a thoroughly modern and updated look.
"With conversion to open shelving there is an opportunity to refinish interiors in another color from the exterior or add beadboard backs," Lorey says. However, even if your original cabinets are solidly built and in good condition, refacing or converting to open shelving may not be the best option if your current cabinet design or layout isn't efficient or functional. If the cabinets you have now aren't deep enough to hold your saucepans or tall enough to accommodate your cookie trays, replacing them completely may be the better option. "If a homeowner is looking for major design or layout changes, those can be better achieved by starting over," says Gary Reynolds. What about a mix-and-match option, where some existing cabinets are rehabbed while others are completely replaced? Experts say this is a practical and cost-saving option many homeowners overlook. "We often leave original glass upper cabinet doors and replace just the base cabinets to improve functionality," says Lorey.