topic Re: Does anyone have experience with refacing cabinets? in Kitchen

Does anyone have experience with refacing cabinets?

geegerbee — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 03:45:59 GMT

My cherry cabinets are ok, except for 1 drawer. I am thinking of changing to a lighter color like white on top and blue on the bottom. One company came to assess my needs. He started out at an estimate of $21,000. After 2 hrs. he gave me 3 discounts and was down to $11,800. I told him no, I needed other estimates. His company was going to replace the doors with an acrylic product. I understand painted ones don't last long. Some spray the doors. I am confused and would like some feedback please.

Re: Does anyone have experience with refacing cabinets?

Mindy D — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 04:24:04 GMT

@geegerbee wrote:
My cherry cabinets are ok, except for 1 drawer. I am thinking of changing to a lighter color like white on top and blue on the bottom. One company came to assess my needs. He started out at an estimate of $21,000. After 2 hrs. he gave me 3 discounts and was down to $11,800. I told him no, I needed other estimates. His company was going to replace the doors with an acrylic product. I understand painted ones don't last long. Some spray the doors. I am confused and would like some feedback please.

@geegerbee @Get quotes from national chains so you get an idea what it would they cost. Take a walk through Loews and Home Depot to see what some of the options are. I'm not suggesting that you use them for the cabinets. Just use them to get a feel for what you are dealing with.Unless your kitchen is as big as a super tanker $21k is exorbitant. After you get some ideas then start looking in your city. Take your time. I've had friends reface for well under 5k. One friend redid her cabinets with a gorgeous cherry wood. She got new, custom cabinets for the same cost as refacing. This was not under 5k. Another friend defaced her mica cabinets with wood doors. Hers ran about 6 K but this included a new sink, faucet, and some crown molding. Your refacing depends a lot on what you have now. This will be your substrate. When they reface cabinets you usually get new doors but they use thin wood veneer strips glued to cover the cabinet faces you have now. If your cabinets are genuine cherry, you might consider refinishing or painting what you have now. Look at Houzz . Com for ideas about what treatments are out there now. Google search kitchen cabinet refinishing ideas, painting, sesurfacing ideas. Check Pinterest too. There are a lot of choices. Take your time. There are also YouTube videos that show the process. If you want to add in more cabinets, that's possible too. Below bottom is Home Depot. Top is unknown refacing.

Re: Does anyone have experience with refacing cabinets?

geegerbee — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 04:29:42 GMT

;I know painting would be cheapest, but the hardware needs to be replaced and I understand the paint wears off after a while, especially around the handles. Thanks for the tips about going to Lowe's and Home Depot.

Re: Does anyone have experience with refacing cabinets?

panda1234 — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 08:56:03 GMT

Had this done ten years ago and regret it. It looks nice but I wish I just replaced everything.

Re: Does anyone have experience with refacing cabinets?

hick — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 10:08:47 GMT

I had this done almost 3 years ago when I moved into a condo that hadn't been touched for 30 years. The cabinets were oak. THe salesman said that if I were to paint the cabinets white, the oak grain would still come thru. So I had the choice of painting the cabinets a color or new ones or refacing. I wanted white cabinets.

I just didn't want to go thru the hassle of having the kitchen cabinets torn out.

I had the refacing done thru Home Depot contractor. They were great. They were pricey! I had some trouble in the beginning with the facing actually coming away from the cabinet. The company sent a person to fix it - he said that perhaps there was a problem with the adhesive that was used.

In any event, they fixed it and it's been fine since then.

I love how they look and was glad I did it.

Re: Does anyone have experience with refacing cabinets?

Janey2 — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 11:17:06 GMT

I refaced my cabinets about 8 years ago. I have a granite countertop that is in perfect condition. No one would guarantee that the granite would not crack if I went with new cabinets. I used an independent company. The guy sent me to a place to pick put new cabinets fronts. I have no regrets. Job was perfect. No one can tell that this was refacing. The cost was what some people spend on all new cabinets. The cost of labor is what it is, then the rest is what you pick out.

Re: Does anyone have experience with refacing cabinets?

AuntG — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 11:27:54 GMT

Yes, in a little 1950's ranch house I bought when I started working. Cabinets were solidly built by the carpenters, but were so plain. For a reasonable cost, I hired a refacing company to add doors, drawer fronts and new hardware. It couldn't have been nicer.

Re: Does anyone have experience with refacing cabinets?

jlkz — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 11:41:34 GMT

@geegerbee

Wherever there is constant use, such as door handles of any types, there will be little marks from finger nails. Over time, it can become " indented ".

I see this even on the shallow part of car door handles !

Many years ago, there was a vendor who sold Tips nail conditioner. She was famous for constantly hitting her nails on the table top. Well, she ruined the tabletop with her very strong nails. QVC finally told her to bring in her own " board " to use to drum her nails !

Re: Does anyone have experience with refacing cabinets?

gardenman — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 12:45:06 GMT

The white paint on my cabinets has yellowed so I recently bought a roll of white contact paper (vinyl) and I'm experimenting with using that. I've done one cupboard door and it looks great. If you're good at wrapping gifts, then wrapping a cabinet door (a relatively flat one anyway) is pretty much the same. I just give it a good scrub with a degreaser, dry it off, wrap the door with the vinyl, smooth it out and so far, so good. I'll be doing more over the course of the summer. The contact paper was cheap (under $9 for a long roll) and looks like a perfect paint job when applied. I've had the one door done for several weeks now and it still looks as good as when I put it on. I'm not sure how it'll work over the long term, but for now, it's working well. I'll likely do all of the cupboards before I'm done.

Re: Does anyone have experience with refacing cabinets?

CelticCrafter — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 13:00:21 GMT

@geegerbee wrote:
;I know painting would be cheapest, but the hardware needs to be replaced and I understand the paint wears off after a while, especially around the handles. Thanks for the tips about going to Lowe's and Home Depot.

Home Depot doesn't do it anymore. At least not the one by us.

Re: Does anyone have experience with refacing cabinets?

ScrapHappy — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 14:21:49 GMT

I had a small kitchen where I used to live. They were the standard builder grade kitchen cabinets that were turning yellow. Had them refaced to cherry, not real dark, but cherry. The fronts of the cabinets were all replaced and the sides and the rest were sanded down and refinished to match. The guy did excellent work. We liked it so much, we did the cabinets in the master bathroom. Thi was over 10 years ago, maybe even closer to 12 or more. I believe the kithen cost about $7000 - $8000 and the bathroom was probably around $3000 or a little less. Looking back, I should of done a white or cream. I remember the guy suggesting that, why I didn't, I don't know. Where I live now, it's very popular to do this. Many seem to go with a painting company.

Re: Does anyone have experience with refacing cabinets?

ECBG — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 15:49:03 GMT

With the high costs described here, you might want to look into cabinets during 4th of July sales.

Right now because of the pandemic there is a supply issue with lumber causing costs to sky rocket.

You might want to wait a year.

Re: Does anyone have experience with refacing cabinets?

fthunt — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 15:59:32 GMT

When we replaced our kitchen cabinets - it was easy. Visited a cabinet showroom - selected style and wood choice........cabinets were completely 'finished' - inside and out. Cabinets came in boxes - carpenter removed old cabinets - opened the boxes -and installed new cabinets. Done! Less time & labor.

Painting cabinets never look professional - scratches - dirty fingers - paint can chip and peel.

New cabinets will add value to your house.

Re: Does anyone have experience with refacing cabinets?

RespectLife — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 16:32:34 GMT

I do not believe it is necessary to replace.

REFACE is by far the more economical way to go IF you are not wanting to change your layout. NO one will ever know if they are done correctly.

Will add just as much value to a sale.

Keeping our layout, replacing estimates were $40K and up for different, real wood brand new cabinets. Total tear out (such a waste as they were in perfect condition) and complete replace.

For $8K we refaced with wood doors and drawers. All other areas were refaced with a wood overlay.

Custom stained our window and microwave shelf to match.

Added 8 new recessed lights

Changed two door cabinets to pull out drawer cabinets. They custom built them.

Completed in 2 days.

Re: Does anyone have experience with refacing cabinets?

Hoovermom — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 13:35:04 GMT

I am in the process of repainting my kitchen cabinets which are 20 years old. I had 5 contractors come through with estimates up to $45,000. My kitchen is huge (51 cabinet fronts) and I am in shock how great they look (3 coats sprayed with sanding between each coat). With this redo I am getting quartz countertops (had Corian which looked brand new), new lighting, backsplash, new hardware and new sink. Very pleased.

Re: Does anyone have experience with refacing cabinets?

sometimesQVCaddict — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 12:06:45 GMT

I would suggest #1 first & foremost getting any kitchen remodel/reface/replace job done by a professional who specializes in kitchens/cabinets/millwork. Research what you want done. I'm in people's homes (tiny homes to multi million dollar estates) for my business & I've seen it ALL. Spending more money doesn't necessarily equate to getting a job well done if it is done half @@@ or by someone who doesn't speciaize in what you want done. The same with going super cheap-it shows!

If they are true solid wood and in good shape, you could get them repainted or stained another color. Mine were solid wood, but in bad shape & 60 years old. I gutted the whole room after saving many years to be able to do so.

Re: Does anyone have experience with refacing cabinets?

geegerbee — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 20:27:57 GMT

I am the original poster. I was told I can't get new cabinets installed without damaging the relatively new granite countertops. That's why I am looking at refacing. Otherwise I would get new ones.

Re: Does anyone have experience with refacing cabinets?

TurnerGal — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 19:46:15 GMT

@geegerbee wrote:
I am the original poster. I was told I can't get new cabinets installed without damaging the relatively new granite countertops. That's why I am looking at refacing. Otherwise I would get new ones.

@geegerbee curious if you made a decision. I have a 22 year old house with beautiful oak cabinets. They are darker oak and arched on top and look very out of style. My kitchen is very dark. I do have a lot of cabinets and drawers. I got one estimate for painting that was over $5300 and he wasn't sure the grain would not show thru. I have granite counter tops that are 15 years old. I may replace at some point but not right now. I found someone that replaces but he has been putting me off for two months to come out and give me an estimate. I did get another estimate yesterday that they would make custom doors and drawer fronts and paint a lighter color. That estimate came in around $7000. I am leaning towards that. I was thinking if the painting came in around $2500 I would probably try that and possibly in 10 years reface or replace.

Re: Does anyone have experience with refacing cabinets?

HonestLife — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 01:25:38 GMT

@TurnerGal My truthful opinion is to wait until you can afford replacing the cabs and saving countertops. You may save money in the short run by resurfacing, long term it's just not a great solution. You can check into Cabinets To Go or find a reputable remodeling company. If you can, visit Houz dot com. You will find oodles of ideas and request local vendors to give you free ideas/quotes. Good luck!

Re: Does anyone have experience with refacing cabinets?

Nightowlz — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 01:26:49 GMT

@geegerbee wrote:
;I know painting would be cheapest, but the hardware needs to be replaced and I understand the paint wears off after a while, especially around the handles. Thanks for the tips about going to Lowe's and Home Depot.

@geegerbee

I read online about having issues with the paint around the hardware since that's the most used area.

We will finally be finished with our remodel next week.

We decided to go with stained cabinets since we are getting older. We don't want to deal with the touch ups involved with painting.

$11,800 seems high IMO.