Cabinets are a key part of your kitchen, and they can take a beating over time.
If your cabinets look faded or dated, you might be thinking about replacing them. But buying and installing new cabinets is expensive, so it might be good to consider other alternatives.
In many cases, refinishing kitchen cabinets is a more cost-effective option. And it gives your kitchen a new look without the hassle and expense of replacing them.
This post explores the pros and cons of cabinetry replacement and helps you decide what’s best for your kitchen and budget.
Keep reading and discover better, more affordable solutions for your cabinetry.
What Is Cabinet Replacing
Replacing kitchen cabinets means removing your existing cabinets altogether and installing new ones.
But changing your kitchen cabinetry can be a costly and time-consuming project. Besides, finding cabinets that match your existing décor could be challenging.
However, replacing cabinets is sometimes the only option available. And it’s not as bad when you have the money to spend. Check out the Cost vs Value Report of replacing kitchen cabinets here!
Let’s look at the types of cabinets available for your upcoming project.
Kitchen Cabinets Types
Kitchen cabinets come in different sizes, colors, designs, layouts, and hardware. All of these aspects impact your kitchen’s functionality, but also aesthetics.
Professional cabinet installers can offer you valuable insights into what works best for your situation without breaking the bank.
There are three main types of kitchen cabinets, and all of them have various benefits.
Stock Cabinets
Stock cabinets are the most affordable option, and they come in limited styles and sizes.
They are ready-to-assemble cabinets like those you usually see at your local home improvement store. Stock cabinets are easy to find and order, but you can’t customize anything about them.
Stock cabinets are the most affordable cabinets you’ll find. They cost around $60 to $200 per linear foot.
Semi-Custom Cabinets
Semi-custom cabinets are more expensive than stock cabinets, but they offer a wider range of styles and sizes. You can customize semi-custom cabinets and change their faces, hardware, and finish.
Semi-custom cabinets offer more options when it comes to dimensions as well. The same style of cabinets can come in several different sizes, but they’re not entirely customizable.
Semi-custom cabinets cost between $100 and $650 per linear foot.
Custom Cabinets
Fully custom cabinets are the most expensive option, but they offer the most flexibility in terms of style and size.
Custom cabinets offer homeowners the liberty of transforming their kitchen without any obstacle. You can have cabinets that perfectly match the rest of your home and can fit into more complicated kitchen layouts.
Custom cabinets are the most expensive type of cabinets, ranging from $500 to $1,200 per linear foot.
Other Alternatives To Replacing Kitchen Cabinets
The most common alternatives for homeowners looking to give their kitchen a new look are cabinet refacing and cabinet refinishing.
Let’s see how these two options make a great upgrade to your existing kitchen cabinets.
1. Refacing Kitchen Cabinets
Refacing kitchen cabinets means putting a new outside on the old cabinets without removing the cabinet box.
Refacing is a cheaper option than replacing the cabinets. You can choose new colors and styles for your cabinets to create a completely new look and vibe for your space.
Cabinet refacing is a quick and easy upgrade, much more affordable than replacing your entire cabinetry.
If you want to avoid an entire kitchen remodel or the hassle of shopping for completely new cabinets, speak to a professional carpenter about refacing your existing cabinets.
How Refacing Is Done
A professional carpenter will remove the old cabinet sides and install a new cabinet face.
Professionals finish this type of upgrade in as little as two days. In addition to a short time frame, refacing is a great way to give your kitchen a refreshed look without spending a lot of money.
When you’re refacing your cabinets, you can choose new door styles, a new finish, and even new hardware for your cabinets.
The Costs Of Refacing
Refacing your cabinets can be a relatively cheap way to give your kitchen a new look. The average cost to reface cabinets is around $2,500, which is significantly less than the cost of replacing your cabinets entirely.
2. Refinishing Your Kitchen Cabinets
Refinishing kitchen cabinets means painting or staining your existing cabinets without removing anything.
If you’re looking to give
Refinishing your cabinets involves taking your current cabinetry and painting or staining them. This can be a great way to give your kitchen a brand new look without spending too much money on the project.
How To Refinish Cabinets
Refinishing your cabinets means taking the old paint or stain off and applying a new finish.
This process usually takes a few days, and it’s essential to make sure that your cabinets are ready before the work begins.
To prepare your cabinets for refinishing, a professional carpenter or painter will sand the sides of your cabinet to remove the old paint or stain.
If you want to learn more about refinishing kitchen cabinets, check out our latest guide!
The Types Of Finish For Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets
- Paint: Paint is a great option on most cabinet surfaces. You can choose from various colors, and you can also apply a glossy or matte finish.
- Stain: Stain can be used on solid wood cabinets to give them a new look. Like paint, many colors and finishes are available to give your cabinets a perfect look.
- Lacquer: Lacquer is a high-gloss finish that adds shine to your cabinets. This finish is durable and easy to clean. Finishing base and upper cabinets with a lacquer finish is fast and effortless.
- Varnish: Varnish is a clear finish that gives your cabinets an elegant look. It's less likely to show damage than other types of finish, so it can keep your cabinets looking their best for years to come.
The Costs Of Refinishing Cabinets
Refinishing cabinets is more affordable than replacing or refacing your entire kitchen set. Despite that, refinishing cabinets offers a similar ROI as replacing them.
It costs around $1,500 to refinish cabinets, though this varies depending on your kitchen’s size and how many cabinets you need to refinish. Check out the cost of painting cabinets here, but remember, you’ll need more than paint to refinish your existing cabinets.
Alternatives To Replacing Kitchen Cabinets
- Crown Molding. The crown molding is a design element that goes on top of the kitchen to finish its look. It covers the space between the cabinet top surface and the ceiling and ties the room together.
- Complementary hardware comes in a wide range of colors, finishes, and sizes, but you want hardware that complements your kitchen cabinets.
- Cabinet organizers can help you store your pots and pans, dishes, and other kitchen items to make them easy to access. They might not make wonders aesthetically, but the functionality of your cabinets will grow exponentially.
- Another way to improve the efficiency of your kitchen cabinets is by adding a lazy Susan. Corner solutions allow you to access items in your cabinets without moving anything around.
- You can also install pull-out shelves in your cabinets to easily reach the items at the back. This is a great option if you have a small kitchen, as it allows you to take advantage of every little space available in your kitchen.
Refinish vs. Refacing vs. Replacing Kitchen Cabinets
There are a few main differences between refacing, refinishing and replacing cabinets.
Refinishing kitchen cabinets involves painting or staining the cabinet boxes without replacing anything. It’s a great option if your cabinets’ paint is peeling off and showing wear and tear.
Refacing kitchen cabinets means replacing and installing new cabinet doors and sides while keeping the existing cabinet boxes. It’s a great option if your cabinets’ doors are chipped, cracked, or if you want a style change.
Replacing existing cabinets means getting rid of the existing cabinets and installing new ones. It’s the best option if you want more storage space in your cabinets or if they’re in bad condition.
Cabinet replacement is buying brand new cabinets, so the price tag can be hefty.
Conclusion
Replacing your kitchen cabinets is a great way to update your storage space or when changing the entire kitchen layout.
However, it may not be worth replacing them if you want a new look or feel for your home. Refacing your kitchen cabinets is an affordable option that delivers similar results without breaking the bank.
Refinishing your cabinets is another option that can save you money and offer a positive ROI. This is an excellent way to transform the décor of your kitchen without spending a lot of time or money on it.
Here at Mortise & Miter, we bring the most cost-effective solutions to homeowners around Johnson County. With us, you’ll get a professional kitchen remodel and the best end-product you could ever think of.
Call us today and let’s find the best solution for your kitchen cabinets together.
