Cabinet Refinishing VS Refacing: What Should I Choose?
Are you ready to transform your kitchen into the space you’ve always wanted? When it comes to your cabinets, you may be wondering if cabinet refinishing or refacing is the right choice for you. In this article, we’ll take a look at all the factors to help you decide. You can also use the links below to jump ahead!
Table of contents
Cabinet Refinishing vs Refacing: Cost Breakdown
Kitchen renovations can completely transform your home—after all, “the kitchen is the heart of the home” has a lot of truth to it! However, cost is often a huge consideration when deciding what to do with your kitchen. You’ll have to choose whether or not to replace your appliances, if you want new flooring and countertops, and of course, what to do with your existing cabinets. Painting and refacing are both more cost-effective than entirely replacing your cabinets, which can cost upwards of $20,000 for a mid-range renovation. Now, let’s take a deeper dive.
Cabinet Refacing
Average Cost: $15,000 + HST
Key Components:
New doors and drawer fronts.
Optional new hardware (handles, knobs, and hinges).
Veneer or paint for exposed cabinet boxes.
Cabinet refacing involves keeping your existing cabinet boxes (also called “carcasses”) and replacing the doors, drawers and hardware. Because refacing allows you to keep your cabinet boxes, it is less invasive and therefore less costly than a full replacement. New cabinet doors and drawers are added to the boxes, and the boxes are covered with paint or veneer to match the new doors and drawer fronts.
Cabinet Refinishing
Average Cost: $6,500 + HST*
Key Components:
Keeps the original doors and drawer fronts.
Focuses on restoring or updating the appearance of the original materials.
Cabinet refinishing is an excellent way to bring new life to your existing wooden cabinets. Back in the 1980’s and 1990’s, many kitchens were built with solid oak or other hardwood cabinets. Now, while those styles may look dated, the cabinets themselves are strong, sturdy and high-quality. There is really no need to replace high-quality cabinetry—refinishing can help homeowners get that modern look.
Refinishing involves removing the cabinet doors and repainting or restaining the existing doors and cabinet boxes. Some refinishing companies will also offer additional services such as wood grain filling to give your cabinets a smooth look or handle hole reconfiguration to allow you to add different handle styles to your updated doors and drawers.
* This is the average cost for cabinet refinishing by 180 Transformations based on our 2024 data.
Cabinet refinishing can bring new life to your existing kitchen
Considerations: Time, Appearance and The Process
Cost is usually not the only factor that homeowners are considering when making this decision. Renovations are exciting, but they can also cause homeowners some stress as may disrupt their usual routines. How long the process takes, what to expect from the process and what the finished product will look like are all important factors to consider.
How Long Does Cabinet Refinishing vs Refacing Take?
Refinishing: Approximately 5 days
Refacing: Approximately 7-10 days
Cabinet refinishing is typically a bit faster than replacing. At 180 Transformation, our team can complete the process in five business days. While refacing is a relatively quick process as well, it may take a week or longer depending on the scope of the project. Cabinet refinishing creates minimal disruptions to your home, while refacing is a bit more invasive—although for both processes, your kitchen will be somewhat or entirely inaccessible during the renovation.
What Will My Finished Cabinets Look Like?
Refinishing: A clean, modern, refreshed look to your existing cabinets
Refacing: A new, different look to your cabinets
Both cabinet refacing and refinishing can refresh your kitchen and help you achieve the new style you’re hoping for. With cabinet refacing, you can completely change the door and drawer style. Because of this, cabinet refacing might create a bigger change, but that entirely depends on what you choose! With cabinet refinishing, you keep your existing doors and drawers. However, as we mentioned above, some refinishers can smooth out your cabinets, creating a smooth look rather than the existing wood grain finish. Plus, a new coat of paint can go a long way!
Before and after a cabinet refacing project by 180 Transformations
Cabinet Refacing vs Refinishing: What’s The Process?
Refinishing: Removes cabinet doors and drawers and restain or paints them.
Refacing: Removes cabinet doors and drawers and replaces them with new ones.
Both processes require some time and may take around one week to complete, depending on the size of your kitchen and the complexity of the project. If you want to know what to expect, here’s a breakdown below.
Cabinet Refacing
Preparation:
Existing cabinet boxes (frames) are inspected for structural integrity.
Doors, drawer fronts, and any hardware (hinges, knobs, pulls) are removed and discarded.
Veneering or Laminating:
The exposed surfaces of the cabinet boxes (e.g., sides and face frames) are cleaned, sanded if necessary, and then covered with a veneer or laminate to match the new doors.
This step ensures the cabinet frames blend seamlessly with the new design.
New Components Installed:
Brand-new doors and drawer fronts are installed. These are pre-finished to your chosen colour, material, and style.
Matching moulding or trim is added as needed for a polished look.
Hardware Replacement:
New hinges and handles or knobs are installed to complete the transformation.
Final Touches:
Adjustments are made to ensure everything aligns and functions perfectly.
Cleanup involves removing dust, debris, and excess adhesive or veneer.
Is Cabinet Refacing Right For Me?
If your kitchen is in need of an update and you are ready for new cabinets, refacing might be the right choice for you if your existing cabinets are in poor condition, severely damaged or made out of materials such as laminate or acrylic.
With cabinet refinishing, the original doors and drawers are kept in the process
Cabinet Refinishing
At 180 Transformations, we specialize in high-quality cabinet refinishing. Every company will have their own process, but we’ll showcase ours below.
Preparation:
Our team begins by prepping your space with a sealed-off work station to ensure that your home remains functional throughout the transformation process.
We’ll complete an intensive cleaning process of your cabinets for optimal paint adhesion
Cabinet Transformation
Using state-of-the-art airless and air-assisted sprayers, we achieve a factory-smooth finish that can’t be achieved with a brush or roller.
We use the highest quality wood coatings sourced from Italy (Renner) to give your cabinets lasting durability.
Installation
We carefully install your cabinet doors back on your cabinet boxes.
Final Inspection
Seeing our client’s vision come to life is our number one goal, which is why we guarantee your satisfaction!
Is Cabinet Refinishing Right For Me?
Time to get the dream kitchen you’ve always wanted? Cabinet refinishing is a cost-effective way to transform your kitchen into the space you’ve always wanted. If you have solid wood cabinets that are in okay condition, cabinet refinishing is a wonderful way to both keep your high-quality cabinets and achieve a modern look.
Refinishing Your Cabinets In The Waterloo Region? Trust The Team at 180 Transformations.
“Absolutely love the transformation our kitchen has gone through! George, Matt and the team at 180T are true professionals and were meticulous with every detail! Our friends and family love it too! They can’t believe how amazing it looks! The kitchen was in dire need of an update and we’re so happy with the end result! Thank you!”
Have a vision for what your kitchen could become? You dream it, and we’ll make it happen!
At 180 Transformations, we love helping homeowners transform their space into the home they’ve always wanted. We offer a clean, professional and efficient experience from start to finish.
Whether you’re looking to upgrade your kitchen or give your bathroom a refresh, cabinet refinishing is an excellent way to bring life back into your home.
