Kitchen cabinets are uncomplicated. They are essentially comprised of 5-sided boxes with interior shelving. Kitchen cabinets usually – but not always – have front facing hinged doors; sometimes with handles or knobs attached. Uncomplicated though they are, kitchen cabinets take up a lot of kitchen wall space and so greatly contribute to the overall look and feel of the kitchen. When your kitchen cabinets begin to diminish the look of your kitchen, it’s time to decide to either reface or replace the cabinets.
When to Reface
If your kitchen cabinets are structurally sound, you might be able to get away with simply having them refaced. Refacing entails removing the doors and hardware and installing new doors and hardware, including old or damaged hinges. Since the basic component of the cabinets needn’t be removed from the walls, refacing is significantly less costly than replacing the entire cabinetry. Refacing makes sense when the only problem with your kitchen cabinets is the look of the front doors.
When to Replace
Often, replacing kitchen cabinets altogether is the better decision. If kitchen cabinet boxes are warped, or if the wood or wood composite is significantly damaged, it’s easier to just replace the cabinets instead of trying to refinish the cabinet boxes. You should also replace cabinets if they are falling away from the walls, crooked, or structurally unsound in any way. Not doing so poses a hazard in the kitchen. Replacing kitchen cabinets involves removing the entire cabinet boxes and shelves. The process is much more involved and thus more costly than refacing. But the joy of having brand new cabinets usually makes the time and money worth it to homeowners.
After you reface or replace your kitchen cabinets, you’ll likely marvel at the transformation in your kitchen. As stated, kitchen cabinets are the single most noticeable feature in any kitchen. Whether you ultimately decide to reface or replace, your kitchen might look and feel brand new.
If you're interested in custom kitchen cabinets or cabinet refacing, contact the team at Extraordinary Kitchens today.