The Case to Reface

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by Scott Little
on Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Oh, the abuse kitchen cabinets take. Water, cooking grease, food spills, and fingerprints are facts of life. No wonder many look distressed after awhile, even when that's not the intentional finish.

When it's time to do something about the state of the kitchen, refacing rather than replacing cabinets can be an attractive option. Cabinets built years ago are often better constructed than modular, pre-built cabinets on the market today. The boxes may well last as long as the home they are in. If the basic quality of the cabinets is good, and if the kitchen layout does not need big changes, refacing can give cabinets a handsome new life far more economically than replacing them.

Refacing means removing and replacing the doors and drawer fronts. The exposed face frames of the cabinets can be replaced to match, or in some instances, covered with a veneer. Without expensive tear-out and replacement of the existing boxes, a typical kitchen can be refaced in a matter of days. The project starts with the craftsman removing the old doors and drawer fronts. For solid wood refacing, the face frames (the visible cabinet fronts) are removed as well. For a veneer, the existing surface is roughed up to accept the veneer. Care needs to be taken with this on cabinets constructed prior to 1978. Their finishes may contain lead and need to be handled properly to prevent lead dust.

The cabinet toe kick is removed and replaced, then the new doors and drawer fronts are installed. New hardware is mounted on the doors and drawers. The visible bottoms of the upper cabinets as well as the exposed side panels of cabinets will also receive new matching panels to complete the transformation into like-new cabinets. There is no need to match existing finishes, colors, profiles, or materials.

Other options include replacing the old center guides on drawers with new, side mounted tracks on rollers, or even euro-guides. New hinges can be installed. Pull-out shelves can be installed in lower cabinets to aid accessibility. Add a lazy Susan, or a wine rack, or flip-down drawer fronts. Refacing does not mean limiting cabinet functionality. To complete a cabinet refacing project, new countertops are often added as well.

There are extensive styles, colors, wood species, and finishes to choose from in refacing, so there is no problem finding exactly what you are looking for. Refaced cabinetry can give any look or feel. The final product may actually be superior to new, mass-produced cabinetry, without a compromise being made on appearance or decor. Refaced cabinetry is every bit as stunning as new cabinets, and there are fewer (read costly) issues with this method. There is no electrical or plumbing to move. Wall finishes do not have to be redone as would be necessary if stock cabinets were used for replacement. To get around those problems, custom cabinets could be used, but that adds up fast, too. A good craftsman can add extras like crown moulding, built-in furniture, or matching custom cabinets if needed to totally change the look and feel of the kitchen. You can put great carpentry in your kitchen, where you will see and appreciate it daily.

Refacing is not appropriate when cabinet boxes are not sound, or were poorly built to begin with; for rusty metal cabinets; or when the house itself has problems like settled or uneven floors that have caused the cabinets to warp. In instances where it is appropriate, though, the cost savings over cabinet replacement are significant. Much depends on the materials and options chosen for refacing, but refacing contractors stand by the statement that the cost is generally 50-60% of replacement.

A major benefit of refacing not yet mentioned is convenience. The work is typically done in two to four days, depending on the size of the kitchen, as opposed to weeks of mess and disruption for tear out and replacement. The kitchen is not really out of service. It is a greener alternative, as well. Less is hauled to the landfill with refacing, and there are renewable and low VOC products to choose from.

Don't forget bathroom cabinets. Refacing works for them as well. Most experts consider minor kitchen and bath remodeling among the highest for return on investment when reselling a home, ranging up to 90%, while major kitchen remodeling brings a far lower return. If you plan to sell your home at some point, spend your remodeling dollars wisely. And if you plan to stay in your home, why not make it as comfortable and efficient as possible?

For more information please see my website: www.encoreremodeling.com.

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About the Author - Scott Little

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Kitchen Encore
www.encoreremodeling.com

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