If you love your kitchen layout, cabinet refacing is an efficient and cost-effective way to refresh your kitchen or bathroom without the need for a complete renovation. When you update the exterior surfaces of your existing cabinets, you can achieve a fresh, modern look while preserving the current layout and structure. If you’ve been wondering whether cabinet refacing could be a good option for you (or if you thought that the only options were repainting yourself or paying for a massive renovation you don’t need), we can show you everything you need to know.

Cabinet Refacing vs. DIY vs. Renovating

If you’ve been tired of your kitchen cabinets but don’t want to paint them yourself, cabinet refacing offers an in-between option that could be the solution.

• Cabinet Refacing: This process involves keeping your existing cabinet framework intact while replacing doors, drawer fronts, and visible surfaces with new veneers. It’s a cost-effective solution that offers a significant aesthetic upgrade without the expense and disruption of a complete remodel. Refacing is ideal if your cabinet boxes are in good condition and you like the current layout of your kitchen.
• DIY Cabinet Updates: If you take the DIY approach, such as painting or refinishing cabinets, you’ll need to sand down existing doors and apply new paint or stain. While this can be budget-friendly, achieving that professional finish requires expensive paint and a lot of time. Then, you’ll want to keep a paint touch-up pen always ready for chips. 
• Full Renovation: Replacing cabinets entirely allows for complete customization, including altering the layout and upgrading materials. However, this option is obviously the most expensive and time-consuming. If your cabinets are damaged, you may need to go this route. 

How to Prepare for Cabinet Refacing

Cabinet refacing is the least invasive of the kitchen remodeling options, but you can still prepare to make it even easier.

1. Clear Out Cabinets and Drawers: Remove all items from your cabinets and drawers, including dishes, cookware, utensils, and food. This way, you’ll protect your belongings from dust and debris and give the team easy access to the space. 
2. Create a Workspace: Make sure the areas around your kitchen are available in case the contractor needs to spread out the materials for the project and not disturb the rest of your home.
3. Protect Surrounding Areas: While your contractor should have coverings for the counters and floor, you can cover any other belongings to keep them safe.
4. Plan for Kitchen Use: Fortunately, cabinet refacing only takes 1-3 days, so it won’t impact your meal plans for too long. But you might find it helpful to make an alternate plan, like a slow cooker or instant pot, if you plan on cooking those days.

The Cabinet Refacing Process

One reason cabinet refacing is a great option for your home is that it’s quicker and cleaner than the other options. Here’s an overview of the entire process:

1. Assessment and Measurement: Your fabricator or contractor will evaluate your existing cabinets to ensure they’re suitable for refacing and take precise measurements for new components.
2. Removal of Old Components: They’ll carefully remove the cabinet doors, drawer fronts, and hardware, leaving the cabinet boxes intact.
3. Surface Preparation: The exposed surfaces of the cabinet boxes are then cleaned and prepped to ensure the new veneers adhere properly.
4. Veneer Application: New veneers, either wood or laminate, are applied to the cabinet boxes’ exterior surfaces, giving them the professional-grade, fresh appearance you want.
5. Installation of New Doors and Drawers: Custom-made doors and drawer fronts are installed, along with new hardware such as handles and hinges.
6. Final Touches: After making adjustments for proper alignment and cleaning the workspace, your kitchen will look brand new without the time and expense of a full renovation.

Maintenance for Your Cabinets After Refacing

Fortunately, maintaining your refaced cabinets is just like taking care of your previous cabinets: keep them clean of spills, grease, and splashes by wiping them with soap and water regularly. When you take care of your cabinets, they’ll last even longer and look newer for years to come.

If you’ve been thinking about painting your cabinets but don’t have the time or patience for the process, consider cabinet refacing to get a new look without the expense of a complete renovation. At Garden State Soapstone, Slate, and Wood Countertops, we offer cabinet refacing in the designs and colors you’ll love. You can even add a new countertop to complete the refresh. 

Call us to schedule a showroom visit and plan your dream kitchen.