What’s the Difference Between Refinishing and Refacing Cabinets?

The average kitchen remodel costs between $12,561 and $33,977. A large portion of that budget usually goes toward cabinetry, which can cost between $60 to $1,200 per linear foot, depending on the type you choose.

While you might assume your cabinets need to be replaced, refinishing, refacing or resurfacing are economical options to consider if you like the current layout of your kitchen.

Refinishing is the best choice when you like the layout and style of your current cabinets but want to change the finish or color. Benefits include:

• The affordable price
  
• The ability to keep all parts of your existing cabinetry
  

The type of finish you want is important to consider if you’re thinking about refinishing. If you’re trying to go from a stained wood to an opaque color or darker stain, this is easy to accomplish by sanding or chemically stripping the existing finish from the wood and applying a new stain or paint.

Going from a solid color to a stain usually isn’t possible. Solid colored cabinets aren’t made of stainable material, as expensive stain-grade wood typically isn’t used under opaque color. Painted cabinets are usually made of medium density fiberboard (MDF), which can’t be stained to mimic real wood.

Oak cabinets are the only real wood cabinets that don’t look great painted. The grain tends to show through, so it is best to stain them. If your cabinets are made of thermofoil or laminate, it is not possible to refinish them. These materials cannot be stripped or sanded, and it is difficult to get paint to stick to them.

Refacing, also called resurfacing, is best when you like the layout of your kitchen, but you want to change the style of your cabinetry or cover up blemishes in the material. Refacing is a multi-step process where you:

• Resurface the existing framework
  
• Keep existing boxes
  
• Replace cabinet doors and drawer fronts
  
• Veneer cabinet boxes to match the new doors and drawers
  

You can also replace cabinet side panels, moldings and face frames so everything matches. This will cover up any imperfections and let you change the door style, wood and color for an updated look. You can personalize your cabinets further by installing new hardware or crown molding.

Refacing will give you that new kitchen feel at a fraction of the cost of replacing your cabinets.

Proper prep work is not to be overlooked. If any parts of your cabinets are damaged, splintering or broken, now is the time to fully replace or repair them.

Materials come in a variety of quality levels. If your cabinets are often in direct sunlight or you’re redoing an outdoor kitchen, it is a good idea to consider higher-grade materials. These will increase the longevity of your remodel.

Whether you are planning on refinishing or refacing your cabinets, consider updating the hardware to complete the look. This is typically the least expensive part of the project. When deciding on hardware, consider functionality in addition to appearance. Typically, the more decorative the hardware, the more expensive and less functional it is.

While replacing or refacing your cabinets can drastically change the look of your kitchen, these projects carry a high price tag. At Arizona’s Best Family Painting, we offer cabinet refinishing services that give your kitchen the upgrade you’re looking for without breaking the bank.

If your cabinets have seen better days, call the professionals at Arizona’s Best Family Painting at (602) 606-2200 to get your FREE estimate!