So you’ve decided that it’s time for a change in your kitchen. Maybe it’s looking a little bit outdated or the bright yellow cabinets that you loved ten years ago just aren’t doing it for you anymore. Whatever the reason, a facelift for your kitchen can be fun and just what you needed.

A cost effective and easy way to update the look and style of your kitchen is to consider refacing kitchen cabinets.  Cabinet refacing involves covering exposed frames with a replacement material such as a thin veneer of real wood or plastic laminate. Drawer fronts and doors are also replaced to match the new veneer. Knobs, pulls, hinges and molding are also updated to match the rest of the new décor.

According to professional cabinet installers, refacing kitchen cabinets is a wonderful alternative to total cabinet replacements. Cabinet refacing cost is about half as much as total replacements, it can save on time, hassle and is a fantastic green kitchen remodel idea due to the fact that it keeps your old cabinets out of the landfill.

The only drawback to refacing kitchen cabinets is that it keeps your kitchen’s current layout. If you’re not happy with the layout of your kitchen, you may want to consider a kitchen remodel with a total cabinet replacement so you can start at the beginning with a brand new layout.

Overall cabinet refacing cost for a typical 10 by 12 foot kitchen remodel can start anywhere from $1000 to $3000 for a laminate. If you’d rather have a real wood veneer you’re looking at spending $2500 to $6000 and costs can rise from there based on the size of the room or what type of veneer you prefer. When compared to a total kitchen cabinet replacement which starts usually around $4000 to $500 and up for stock cabinets and $8000 to $20,000 for custom-made cabinetry, this is a much more economically advisable solution.

If your existing cabinets are in good shape and structurally sound you should be a good candidate for refacing your kitchen cabinets. However, if your cabinets have water damage, are warped, or have broken frames they will probably not work for refacing. If your current cabinets are made out of particleboard, they may require extra fasteners and adhesives to make sure that the veneers maintain their hold and are secure.

So if you’re thinking about making some changes to your kitchen, consider a kitchen remodel that involves refacing your kitchen cabinets, it’s a cost-effective and beautiful solution to your kitchen woes.