You can dramatically change the look of your kitchen with cabinet refacing, a process that has most of the benefits of cabinet replacement but at a fraction of the cost.

Changing the look of cabinets is usually a prime goal of kitchen remodeling. In fact, sometimes it’s the only thing necessary to give your kitchen the new feel you’re looking for. Far too often, cabinets that otherwise meet your layout needs and are in good structural shape are demolished and replaced just because the homeowner wants a new look. It’s kind of like getting rid of a perfectly good car just because you don’t like the color.

Cabinet refacing is basically a replacement of the “skin” of the cabinet. It is achieved by replacing the doors and drawer fronts and applying a new veneer over the existing surface of the cabinet body. Hardware such as the hinges, handles, and drawer pulls are usually also replaced during the process.

We remove the cabinet doors, take out the drawers and replace the front of the drawers (the rest of the drawers boxes remain intact). The front and side portions of the cabinet boxes are covered, either with natural wood veneer or RTF (Rigid Thermofoil), a melamine-based product. If necessary, new door hinges are added. Hinges in good condition can be reused if they are not visible or fit the style of the new look you want. We then install new doors and drawer fronts. New handles, drawer pulls, and other types of fixtures are usually installed but existing hardware can also be reused if they are in good shape and comply with the new look. We can also install optional accessories, such as crown molding, glass panels, lighting, or storage accessories. We usually require two to four days to perform this service, depending on the size of your kitchen.

Not all cabinets are able to be refaced. Some newer factory-manufactured boxes are not as sturdy as old cabinets, so they may not be able to accept new veneer and doors as successfully. Cabinets that are good candidates for refacing have sturdy box construction made of plywood or MDF panels that are smooth and in good condition because new veneers require smooth, solid surfaces in order to adhere properly. It’s best if the face frames are constructed of solid hardwood. Good hardwood face frames will accept veneers and can anchor new doors tightly. Ideally, the internal hardware (drawer tracks, internal storage elements) would be in good shape. If the drawers do not operate smoothly or if the cabinets do not have the shelving configuration or storage accessories you want, the expense of refacing may not be worth it. Give us a call at 619-878-3922 and we’d be happy to take a look at your project specifically to give you an idea if cabinet refacing is right for you.

 In addition to our cabinet refacing services, we can also take care of all these tasks: