Cabinet Replacing or Cabinet Refacing: Options for Remodeling Your Kitchen

Kitchen cabinets are more than just functional storage units for food, dishes and other kitchen accessories. They're a focal point in the look and feel of your kitchen, reflecting your home's mood and style. Beautiful cabinets can add to the drama and flavor that make your kitchen a magnet for family and guests, and a pleasure to prepare meals in.

Installing brand new cabinets can runs as high as $30,000 or more depending on materials, finish, size and other factors. But growing cabinet refacing options have opened up possibilities for homeowners who want a fresh look in the kitchen, but for half the price (or less). Before getting started on your next kitchen remodel, take an objective look at the condition of your existing cabinet boxes. Chances are most of the wear and tear, scratches, dings, peeling or other blemishes are limited mostly, if not entirely, to the cabinet doors.

If that's the case, refacing your kitchen cabinets can completely remake the look of your kitchen, while eliminating the waste, mess and expense of a full cabinet replacement project. Refacing allows you to transform your cabinets by adding new doors, drawer fronts, and hardware. Exposed cabinet faces are then re-finished with veneer.

Cabinet refacing options range from high-quality woods to plastic laminates to RTF, or rigid thermofoil, a flexible material that offers a wide range of design possibilities. While prices for each option will vary depending on which cabinet refacing options you choose, you can typically expect to spend between $2,000 and $10,000 for a cabinet refacing project.