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Kitchen Cabinets -
Reface or Replace?
A Comparison of the Pros and Cons of Refacing
and Replacing Kitchen Cabinets in a Kitchen Remodeling Project
By Mark J. Donovan
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Remodeling your kitchen will typically cost between $20K and $50K,
depending upon the size of your kitchen and what you want to
include in it for new features. One way to reduce the cost of a
kitchen remodeling project is to reface the kitchen cabinets
versus replace them. Refacing kitchen cabinets is akin to having a
face lift. Basically it’s a process of doing a little nip and tuck
and putting on some fresh make up. The end product looks quite
nice, but underneath the new look is the existing structure.
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Refacing Kitchen Cabinets
Refacing kitchen cabinets can vary in scope but typically involves
replacing the kitchen cabinet doors and drawers, as well as the
mechanical hardware on them. Wood veneers are also frequently
affixed to the exposed fronts and sides of the existing kitchen
cabinetry. With some kitchen refacing companies they can also
outright replace the entire drawer and drawer glide system to
provide the proper functionality, however it does raise the cost
somewhat.
Refacing, versus replacing kitchen cabinets, is often a good idea
if you don’t expect to live in the house for that much longer,
e.g. another year or two. If the mechanical aspects of the kitchen
cabinets are functional, i.e. the drawers still open and close
properly, it’s typically the more affordable way to go.
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The only real downside of refacing, versus
replacing the kitchen cabinets outright, is that you don’t
have the opportunity to add the latest kitchen cabinetry
features to your kitchen. However the costs savings can be so
significant with refacing kitchen cabinets, for many people
it’s an acceptable compromise to forgo the benefits of the new
cabinet features.
Replacing Kitchen Cabinets
Though refacing kitchen cabinets can save substantially on a
kitchen remodel, replacing kitchen cabinets have many other
advantages.
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First, as I just hinted to, you can incorporate many of the latest
kitchen cabinetry features in a new kitchen cabinet design. New
features include built in wine racks, interior cabinet lighting,
glass cabinet doors, and cabinet doors with rollout drawers, just
to name a few.
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them, also affords you the opportunity to completely change
the floor layout of your kitchen and possibly integrate into
it a kitchen island or breakfast bar. Replacing kitchen
cabinets also allows you to better utilize the existing space
in your kitchen due to the improved efficiencies of today’s
modern kitchen cabinet design tools and cabinet features.
Installing new kitchen cabinets also comes with warranties,
whereas with refacing kitchen cabinets, it’s a much more
nebulous situation. |
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So before going out and spending a fortune on replacing your
kitchen cabinets assess how long you plan to live in the home, and
obtain quotes for both approaches. Then determine what makes the
most financial sense, as well as provides you with the look and
functionality you desire in your remodeled kitchen. In some cases
the cost savings of refacing the kitchen cabinets may be
relatively small that it’s a better investment to spend the extra
money and simply replace the kitchen cabinets altogether.
For more
help on remodeling your kitchen, see HomeAdditionPlus.com’s
Kitchen
Remodeling Bid Sheet.
The
Kitchen Remodeling Bid Sheet
will help ensure that your kitchen remodeling project goes smoothly and you get
the finished kitchen you are
looking for. In addition, it will help to ensure that your remodeled kitchen will be accomplished on time and on budget.
How to Finance your Kitchen Remodeling Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
Related information on Kitchen Remodeling
Additional Kitchen Design Resources
Kitchen Faucets and Appliances from Amazon.com
Kitchen Remodeling Price Quotes For FREE,
No Obligation!
Fill out our 3-5 minute quick and easy form, and receive a free price quote
on kitchen remodeling from one of our prescreened and licensed kitchen
remodeling contractors. This process is free and there is no obligation to
continue once you receive your kitchen remodeling price estimate.
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