Replace or Refinish Kitchen Cabinets – Which Is Better?
When it comes to deciding whether you should refinish or replace your kitchen cabinets, one of the first questions to ask yourself is are my current cabinets functional? What are your reasons for changing your cabinets? If you don’t want to change the set-up of your cabinets, refinishing them can give a dated color or stain a fresh new look without breaking the bank or putting you and your family through the hassle of a full renovation project. Updating hardware can also transform old cabinets making them look new again. Read on to find out the pros and cons of replacing versus refinishing your cabinets!
Perks of Refinishing Cabinets
It’s that time of year again-the time when everybody is Spring cleaning, spending time outdoors, and renovating their homes. One of the most common rooms in the home to update is the kitchen, specifically the cabinets and countertops. While most people know that they want to change things up a bit, they don’t know what to do and which option would be best for their kitchen. Between refinishing or replacing cabinets, there are a number of pros and cons that both share. When a company refinishes cabinets, they will wash, hand-sand, prime, repair cracks and blemishes, caulk and then spray the finish on the exterior of all of the cabinets; replacing cabinets simply removes those that are in your kitchen and installs new ones in their place. Refinishing is typically chosen over replacing because it is much more time and cost effective. Refinishing kitchen cabinets typically costs between $3,000-$8,000, which may seem overpriced, but replacing cabinets can cost DOUBLE that. Refinishing also allows you to use your kitchen during the renovation, since new cabinets aren’t being installed. If you decide to replace your old cabinets, you’ll have to find a place to put all of your cups, bowls, silverware and appliances until your new cabinets are installed. Most of our homes are very busy places, so this can be inconvenient for on-the-go families.
If you’re on a budget, refinishing is most likely the best option for you to choose. But if your cabinets have some old wear-and-tear that is affecting their structural integrity, replacing them might be your better choice. Make sure to do your research on the type of cabinets you want and what options are available to you before you decide between refinishing or replacing. The process in creating the kitchen of your dreams isn’t a hard one, but it does require having some knowledge on what type of design you are looking for to get the kitchen that you want.
5 Tips To Know When Cabinets Need Replacing
Replacing cabinets is a great alternative to refinishing, if you have the extra cash or your kitchen falls into one of the next five categories. While refinishing is the cheaper way to go, if your cabinets aren’t up to par anymore, refinishing will just become an extra cost before you eventually have to replace them. The following criteria should be considered when deciding between refinishing or replacing your cabinets:
- Your cabinets are cheap
- Cabinet structure is beyond repair
- You’re completely changing your kitchen’s layout/design
- The cabinetry is made of metal
- Your cabinets have an odor
First, cheap cabinets will not last long, even if you refinish them. Low-grade cabinets are usually made from particle board or other cheap materials that can’t stand the test of time. If you’re renovating, just scratch the old ones and replace them with something new. Next, cabinet structures that have suffered damage, whether it be a rotted frame, water damage or mold, should be replaced. Even if the cabinets were solid and sturdy when you bought them, once any form of irreversible damage is incurred, it’ll be cheaper for you to replace them. If you are changing the layout of your kitchen entirely or switching your kitchen to another room, replacing your cabinets will be your best option. You can always refinish the cabinet boxes that are staying, but if the wall that they are mounted to isn’t staying, choose replacement.
In the past, metal cabinets were popular for their durability. But as design taste and options have changed, metal cabinetry has become a thing of the past. Metal cabinets are great, but they are very difficult to refinish, so we normally recommend replacing them instead. Most contractors even include options for cabinets that look like stainless steel but without the metal, so you can still have the look that you want in a different material. Lastly, some kitchen cabinets have an odor or funk to it that just can’t be removed. You can reinforce the existing frames, but the smell won’t go away. In this instance, we recommend replacing the cabinets so that you can have nice-smelling ones that will do everything that you need them to do.
Get Your New Cabinets Today
Whether you decide to go the cheaper route with refinishing, or choose to replace your old cabinets with new ones, Summit Cabinet Coatings can help! As we help you renovate your kitchen, we make sure to create quality cabinets for the best price for your family. We use a variety of different techniques to keep your cabinets beautiful for years to come, without you breaking the bank. If you need help deciding whether you should reface, refinish or replace your cabinets, call our office today at (970 282-9856 for a free estimate on your next project! We are dedicated to your dreams of how you want your kitchen to look, and will be with you every step of the way. Call now to learn more!