Refinish or Replace Kitchen Cabinets?

Cabinets are an important part of your kitchen, both in look-and-feel as well as functionality and easy of use. Replacing all of your cabinets can be very costly depending on what you need, these projects an get quoted as high as $18,000 for detailed kitchens. There are alternatives to full replacement, existing cabinets can be refinished for a much lower cost, and it’s often times a good option if the circumstances are right.

Cabinets need to hold your plates, pots and pans, they end up bearing a fair amount of weight. Their construction needs to be sturdy with strong fasteners. They also see daily usage and need to be able to take a beating and recover well from stains and wear and tear.

Kitchen cabinets are a pricey endeavor. A recent study found that most homeowners spend between $25,000 and $50,000 on kitchen renovations with a good portion of it dedicated to cabinets. They are the biggest element in your kitchen, after all.

Since the cabinets in your kitchen get a lot of use, and trends change, changing out your cabinets may seem like the only option. Turns out, it’s not. If the wood is in good condition, you could take a chance on a refinishing job.

Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets

Refinishing your cabinets can be a good idea if your current layout and design is functional and your cabinets are in good shape. By adding a new stain or paint, you’ll have the chance to update the look of the cabinets, while utilizing the current configuration. The addition of new and updated hardware can give your room a new feel. This will save when you get to the bottom line.

When looking at refinishing your cabinets there are a few considerations to put into place. Answer these questions:
Are your cabinets made of particle board?
Are your cabinets more than 10 years old?
Are they made of lacquer?

If the answers are no, you could be able to refinish the cabinets and save money. Refinishing cabinets is not a cheap prospect, but it is more affordable than a full cabinet replacement.

Replacing Kitchen Cabinets

If your cabinets have significant wood damage, rot issues from a leaking sink, or poor construction, it might be worth the cost of a full replacement. All of these things can be fixed with some light carpentry but if the cabinets are low quality materials to begin with – it might make sense to get something new rather than touch up low quality cabinets.

Any of the following may mean replacement is a better option:

Water damage
Warping
Soft spots
Mold
Poor quality material

Always look at the functionality of the space when it comes to decisions of cabinetry. If the cabinets don’t work in the space they are in, replacing them might be the only answer.

Learn more about our cabinet refinishing services. When you are ready, schedule a free, in-home estimate with our team.

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