Home Improvement: Replace Or Reface Cabinets?
http://www.articlezone.com/Home-Improvement-Replace-Or-Reface-Cabinets/a350_1
AI Editor
By AI Editor
Published on 11/27/2007
A common home improvement project is cabinet
makeovers. But do you always have to
replace your cabinets? Learn about refacing as a better option.
A common home improvement project is cabinet
makeovers. But do you always have to
replace your cabinets? Learn about refacing as a better option. Home Improvement: Replace Or Reface Cabinets?
Do you want your cabinets to have a new look, but you’re not sure if replacing them is the best solution? Rather than spending thousands of dollars on redoing the entire kitchen with new cabinets, settle on something simpler and cheaper, as well as a far less invasive solution –refacing.
The cost
Refacing is much more like giving the cabinet a face-lift, yet at a lesser cost. Refacing cabinets will cost about $5000 compared to the $25000-$30000 on replacing every single cabinet in the kitchen. The most basic refacing project will consist of installing new cabinet doors and drawer fronts with matching plastic or wood veneer. The majority of jobs will take about two to four days to complete, depending on the size of the kitchen, as well as the extras.
The work
The work is also a “standardized progression” in itself, and is usually done by one or two craftsman. The work starts by taking off the doors and drawer fronts from the cabinets, as well as roughing up old finish on its side panels and face frames, making it ready for new covering.
After this is done, the new finish is glued or sometimes nailed over the old one. The nail holes are filled and its edges and seams are trimmed to make them unnoticeable. New moldings and panels are utilized to trim-out exposed undersides of upper cabinets and give them a “finished look”. The toekick of a base cabinet is replaced. Lastly, new drawer fronts and cabinet doors are attached, as well as new hardware is placed on all of them.
The finish
There are generally three finish alternatives for refacing cabinets, namely rigid thermofoils (RTF), wood veneer, and plastic laminates. Refacing laminates are available in an extensive array of wood-grain looks and solid colors. A somewhat more pricey alternative to RTF is laminates, but they usually lack malleability. This means that they are limited to being used on plain cabinet doors in comparison to RTF.
RTF can be molded and shaped in various styles, including cathedral and arched doors, eyebrow raised panel and raised panel. On the other hand, RTF comes in lesser solid color options compared to laminates, but RTF “wood-grain look” is more realistic.
Wood veneers are the most popular options, and it may be done in maple, oak, birch, walnut, cherry, or nearly all other wood type a customer can want.
Not for all
Refacing is an option that has exceptions –it’s not for all types of kitchens. Most significantly, it will not address any poor room layout. Some other considerations that rule-out refacing cabinets, include cabinets that are starting to fall apart; cabinets that were not built well to start with; rusting metal cabinets; and bigger structural issues. Having any of these problems would mean that refacing would not be the best option.
Beyond refacing cabinets
Selecting a material for finish can be a very important decision in refacing, but it is not the only vital decision to make. An especially popular alternative is to replace a drawer’s old wood center glide with side-mounted roller tracks. Some refacers even handle countertop and flooring installations to complete the room makeover. In any way, there’s always the option of going beyond cabinet refacing to improve the home.
Buyer beware
If you’re hiring a refacer to do all the work for you, beware of the work quality –this can vary widely, and poor refacing work will look really bad. It would be best to get recommendations from friends and try to visit the showroom of the company. If they don’t have one, they will usually send a representative to the home with samples. Be sure to spend enough time discussing its process and aesthetics with the representative.
So are you ready to reface your cabinets? Whether you choose to replace or reface your cabinets, a key to a successful home improvement project is to know all the pros and cons of the plan. Be sure you know what you’re getting into and what to expect from it.
The cost
Refacing is much more like giving the cabinet a face-lift, yet at a lesser cost. Refacing cabinets will cost about $5000 compared to the $25000-$30000 on replacing every single cabinet in the kitchen. The most basic refacing project will consist of installing new cabinet doors and drawer fronts with matching plastic or wood veneer. The majority of jobs will take about two to four days to complete, depending on the size of the kitchen, as well as the extras.
The work
The work is also a “standardized progression” in itself, and is usually done by one or two craftsman. The work starts by taking off the doors and drawer fronts from the cabinets, as well as roughing up old finish on its side panels and face frames, making it ready for new covering.
After this is done, the new finish is glued or sometimes nailed over the old one. The nail holes are filled and its edges and seams are trimmed to make them unnoticeable. New moldings and panels are utilized to trim-out exposed undersides of upper cabinets and give them a “finished look”. The toekick of a base cabinet is replaced. Lastly, new drawer fronts and cabinet doors are attached, as well as new hardware is placed on all of them.
The finish
There are generally three finish alternatives for refacing cabinets, namely rigid thermofoils (RTF), wood veneer, and plastic laminates. Refacing laminates are available in an extensive array of wood-grain looks and solid colors. A somewhat more pricey alternative to RTF is laminates, but they usually lack malleability. This means that they are limited to being used on plain cabinet doors in comparison to RTF.
RTF can be molded and shaped in various styles, including cathedral and arched doors, eyebrow raised panel and raised panel. On the other hand, RTF comes in lesser solid color options compared to laminates, but RTF “wood-grain look” is more realistic.
Wood veneers are the most popular options, and it may be done in maple, oak, birch, walnut, cherry, or nearly all other wood type a customer can want.
Not for all
Refacing is an option that has exceptions –it’s not for all types of kitchens. Most significantly, it will not address any poor room layout. Some other considerations that rule-out refacing cabinets, include cabinets that are starting to fall apart; cabinets that were not built well to start with; rusting metal cabinets; and bigger structural issues. Having any of these problems would mean that refacing would not be the best option.
Beyond refacing cabinets
Selecting a material for finish can be a very important decision in refacing, but it is not the only vital decision to make. An especially popular alternative is to replace a drawer’s old wood center glide with side-mounted roller tracks. Some refacers even handle countertop and flooring installations to complete the room makeover. In any way, there’s always the option of going beyond cabinet refacing to improve the home.
Buyer beware
If you’re hiring a refacer to do all the work for you, beware of the work quality –this can vary widely, and poor refacing work will look really bad. It would be best to get recommendations from friends and try to visit the showroom of the company. If they don’t have one, they will usually send a representative to the home with samples. Be sure to spend enough time discussing its process and aesthetics with the representative.
So are you ready to reface your cabinets? Whether you choose to replace or reface your cabinets, a key to a successful home improvement project is to know all the pros and cons of the plan. Be sure you know what you’re getting into and what to expect from it.