Should I Replace my Cabinets or Reface my Cabinets?

Over time, wear and tear can really affect how your kitchen looks. The grease, heat, and moisture from cooking and cleaning your kitchen can do serious damage to your cabinets. Those old dinged-up cabinets could also benefit from a modern new look. Most people’s first thought is to replace them. However, there’s another option, cabinet refacing. You may be thinking, should I replace my cabinets or reface my cabinets? There are pros and cons to each, so you’ll want to get all the information before you make your decision.

Cabinet Replacing

The simplest option, cabinet replacing seems like the go-to. However, cabinet replacement comes with its own issues. The contractors will come in, remove your old cabinets and build new ones. They’ll precisely level the cabinets. If the leveling is done wrong you’ll have more problems than just eggs rolling off the counter. Unlevel counters can actually end up cracking the countertops years down the road. Installing new cabinets can also leave you with worse quality cabinets than you started with. Many modern cabinets aren’t built to last and have a worse build quality than older cabinets. By replacing your cabinets it’s likely you’ll be getting a downgrade. Cabinet replacing usually costs around $15,000 to $20,000, for budget cabinets. A completely new kitchen costs $25,000 and up!

In addition to the cost being significantly higher, a complete cabinet replacement requires homeowners to not use their kitchen at all for at least a month! While this may be possible for some homeowners, many state this adds to the initial expense because of the need to eat out so often during the project. Meanwhile, our expert cabinet refacing installers always make the effort to plug in the refrigerator somewhere and replace the oven and sink ASAP. This means the homeowners can prepare food at home during the project if desired.

Cabinet Refacing

Thousands of people in Chicagoland are utilizing cabinet refacing as the best way to give your kitchen a new feel. Instead of entirely rebuilding the cabinets in your kitchen, refacing your cabinets replaces the faces of your cabinets. Not only do the new cabinet faces breathe fresh life into your kitchen, but the cabinet refacing also offers several other benefits.

When cabinets are refaced they can also be fitted with modern cabinet hardware like soft-close rails for drawers and lazy susans in cabinets. You also get to keep your original cabinet shells, which tend to be built better than modern cabinet shelves. Completely replacing your cabinets can take weeks, and you may not have access to your kitchen while they work. Refacing, however, takes a few days. Cabinet refacing usually costs 40-50% less than a full replacement and can give you a brand new look. It’s cheaper, and you keep the strength of the older cabinets.

What’s Right For Me?

Cabinet replacement is valuable if you want to change the shape or layout of your kitchen cabinets. However, if you’re looking to modernize the look of your kitchen without breaking your budget, then refacing is the best option for your cabinets. Not only is it less work and more expensive, but refacing can keep the bests parts about your cabinets and refresh everything you don’t like. Cabinet refacing also modernizes the internals of your cabinets, giving them the luxuries that new cabinets offer. Many companies offer cabinet replacement, but it can be more difficult to find people to reface your cabinets.

If you’re looking into cabinet refacing in Chicagoland, Contact Redo Cabinets. We’ll give you a free quote for your kitchen. Our cabinet refacing experts are unmatched in the industry. We offer many styles and colors so you can make your kitchen one of your dreams. Also, refer to our cabinet refacing specials to see our latest deals!