Reface or Replace Cabinets? White Kitchen Cabinets

What Are The Pros and Cons of Refacing or Replacing Cabinets?

Updating your kitchen is an exciting project. After all, the kitchen is often referred to as the heart of the home for a reason. It is one of the most frequently used rooms and the space where your family gathers for daily meals.

Remodeling or updating your kitchen can give you a more functional and aesthetically beautiful space to enjoy with your family and friends. A down to the studs kitchen remodeling can be incredibly expensive. However, there are more cost-effective alternatives.

If your kitchen cabinets look worse for wear, but you're unsure whether it makes more sense to freshen them up or find something new, you have options. This post will help you decide if you should reface or replace cabinets to update your kitchen.

What is Cabinet Refacing?

midcentury modern cabinet refacing maple doors black boxes

Cabinet refacing has been around for years, but as a cottage industry, it's relatively current. Because cabinet refacing is a close substitute for replacement, the differences can be confusing for homeowners. The most significant difference is that you keep your existing boxes and amount of cabinets when you reface your cabinets.

Cabinet refacing is sometimes referred to as resurfacing. It involves installing new laminate or veneer material to your existing cabinet boxes, then replacing cabinet fronts and drawers. Related items like hinges and hardware are also usually replaced.

In the project shown here, the cabinet boxes were repainted while new door and drawer faces were installed. Using the money saved, premium countertops and backsplash tile were installed along with new flooring.

What is Cabinet Replacement

white cabinet replacement and blue island remodeling a kitchen

Replacing your cabinets is just like it sounds. All of your existing cabinets are removed, and new ones are hung, including new doors and hardware. Professional installers typically do this. New cabinets need to be precisely measured and installed perfectly level, especially base cabinets. Improperly leveled base cabinets can result in countertops cracking years down the road. In the kitchen shown here, there were tweaks made to the cabinet layout, the island got longer, and the cabinets now go all the way to the ceiling with lighting installed.

The Pros and Cons of Cabinet Refacing

Like almost everything, cabinet refacing comes with both pros and cons. On the plus side, refacing is much less expensive than cabinet replacement. Because you are keeping your cabinet boxes, you aren't sending a lot of waste to the landfill, making refacing much more environmentally friendly. With cabinet refacing, you'll have much less mess and disruption to your daily routine.

On the downside, to get the best results when refacing cabinets, boxes must be in perfect shape. All of the boxes stay the same and in the same place. When you reface your cabinets, the insides of the cabinets usually remain the same.

Take A Look At The Kitchen Remodel Projects We’ve Designed For Greater Madison Clients

Cabinet refacing consists of two parts: the first is the veneering of the cabinet boxes. Next, all the doors and drawer fronts are replaced with new hardware.

The Pros and Cons of Cabinet Replacement

cabinet replacement kitchen remodeling white and charcoal

Cabinet replacement also has several pros and cons. On the upside, if you are looking to improve functionality or redesign your kitchen, you can add more space when you replace cabinets if you need it. Cabinet replacement gives you the ability to completely re-think and redesign your kitchen from the ground up. Because you can customize your design and upgrade finishes, replacing cabinets can improve your home's resale value.

If you’re going to remove walls, change the kitchen layout, or invest in remodeling the entire home, then cabinet replacement is the right thing to do. The project featured here did all those things.

There are some cons to cabinet replacement, the biggest being the cost. Replacing cabinets is expensive. It can cost up to ten times more than refacing. When you replace cabinets, you are making a big commitment. Cabinet replacement can disrupt your daily life and can take weeks to complete. Plus, it's not as environmentally friendly, and you're trashing potentially-functional cabinets.

When you replace cabinets, proper measurement is crucial. You'll need to hire a contractor. Cabinet replacement is often part of a complete kitchen remodeling. That means you'll also be replacing hardware and countertops. However, if you have the budget for cabinet replacement, you can customize your kitchen to meet your family's unique needs.

So, Should You Reface Cabinets or Replace Cabinets?

Deciding between these two options depends on how much you like your current kitchen's footprint and functionality. If you're happy with your kitchen's footprint but your cabinets show some wear and tear, resurfacing might be the best option.

Refacing also makes sense if your existing cabinet boxes are in solid shape and the doors and drawers need a makeover. Finally, refacing might make the most financial sense if you're on a tight budget.

The time to replace cabinets is during a kitchen remodel with a layout change or an addition with a kitchen component. If that's the case, cabinet replacement is the best option for a few reasons. First, when demoing an existing space, including popping out countertops and backsplashes, it may be impossible to prevent damage to the cabinets, so that a replacement might be the only option.

New kitchen cabinets will likely be significantly different from your original cabinets. So replacing them may be the right choice for achieving a cohesive style.

Another benefit when you replace cabinets, you can incorporate the newest features like soft-close doors and drawers, divider options, and contemporary styling.

The Bottom Line on the Cabinet Replace or Reface Question

If your decision to replace cabinets or reface them is budget-driven, don't forget to keep the big picture in mind. If you're doing a kitchen remodel or an addition, replacing your cabinets likely makes the most sense. However, if your cabinet boxes are in good shape and you're just looking to update your space without a major kitchen overhaul, refacing might be the right choice.

If you're unsure what to do, speak with your design-build contractor. They can explain all of your options and the costs. If you live in or near Madison, Wisconsin, and plan a kitchen project, call the kitchen design experts at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel at (608) 846-5963. We can help you decide whether to replace cabinets or reface them.

This article was updated by Abe Degnan on 9/28/2022.

Additional Articles on Choosing Cabinetry For a Kitchen Remodel

An Above the Garage Master Suite Addition Remodeling Project

We recently completed an addition for our clients, John and Amy, a professional couple with young children living in the Blooming Meadows neighborhood in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.

Their home featured three bedrooms on the second floor. The existing master bedroom was outdated and impractical for modern living, and with three young children, two needed to share one of the two remaining bedrooms, and all three kids shared the second-floor bathroom. Another problem the family needed addressed was that John needed a private home office, and the one they currently had was a shared space that did not work well for his job.

Let's take a look at our creative solution for this young family!

A New Private Bathroom for the Adults!

One of the major elements on John and Amy's wish list was a private bathroom space just for them. They wanted plenty of space to get ready in the morning, away from the kids, and we delivered! The bathroom features a handcrafted Amish custom double vanity with a tower cabinet in alder wood, stained Carbon Gray. The contrasting Linnstone Quartz Calcutta pattern countertop brightens the space and ties in visually with the elegant tile work in the spacious walk-in shower. We added custom alder wood framed mirrors stained in the same Carbon Gray as the cabinets to complete the vanity. Over each of the mirrors, we installed Quoizel 2 light vanity fixtures to provide plenty of warm light.

In the shower, the 21st Century Tile 12x24 floor-to-ceiling tiles in Tivoli Silver give the room a bright and modern feel, and the low entry shower makes entering the shower safe and easy for the couple. We included a helpful niche in the shower for shampoo and other toiletries and, for contrast, used a beautiful hexagon mosaic accent tile. The glass doors give the space an open feel, making it bright and inviting. The Arbor Hills luxury vinyl plank flooring in timber adds a warm feel, giving the room a natural look with the benefit of waterproof LVP.

The Result

The final result of this second-floor master suite addition is a home that fits John, Amy, and the kid's needs and lifestyle perfectly. John now has the perfect private office space. Since John and Amy now have their private master suite, and each of the kids has their own bedroom giving them their own space to grow as they grow, their home is more comfortable and functional. And on the exterior, you can't even tell there's been an addition!

Are you considering an addition or other home improvement project? Let us help you design the perfect finished space! If you live in the Greater Madison area, call the experts at Degnan Design-Build-Remodel at (608) 846-5963. We can take your home to the next level of comfort, design, and function! Ready to learn more? We're always happy to answer your questions.