Cost of refurbishing kitchen cabinets
Kitchen Cabinet Refacing | Kitchen Refacing Cost
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Refacing kitchen cabinets might be “superficial,” but the results and savings are dramatic.
Image: John Keeble/GettyRefacing your kitchen cabinets includes covering the exposed frames with a thin veneer of real wood or plastic laminate.
Doors and drawer fronts are replaced to match or complement the new veneer. New hinges, knobs, pulls, and molding complete the transformation.
What Are the Pros and Cons?
Kitchen cabinet refacing pros:
- Costs about half as much as replacing cabinets.
- Takes less time (a week or less!) and money.
- It's less hassle than tearing out cabinets.
- You can still use your kitchen while refacing.
- It’s a green kitchen remodeling solution because you're not adding to the landfill.
Kitchen cabinet refacing cons (there aren't many):
- Refacing won't fix a bad kitchen design.
- You might be tempted to spend more on exotic veneer and hardware (saving you less).
What Are Your Refacing Options?
Your choices for the finished look of your cabinets are virtually limitless. Veneers are available in a wide variety of colors, patterns, textures, grains, and more, which you can mix or match to get a relatively low-cost kitchen facelift.
- Rigid thermofoil doors, which feature a durable plastic coating over fiberboard, are an affordable alternative to wood or laminate doors.
- Plastic laminates come in hundreds of colors and patterns, are durable and moisture-resistant, and are reasonably priced. You can pick matching or contrasting laminates for your doors and drawer fronts.
- Real wood veneers include many standard species, such as oak, cherry, and maple, and you also can choose from an array of stain colors. Wood veneers are the most expensive option. Wood must be carefully sealed to protect against moisture.
Further customize and update the look of your cabinets with new kitchen cabinet hardware.
What Does Refacing Cost?
A professional cabinet refacing for a typical 10-foot-by-12-foot kitchen starts at around $80 to $100 per linear foot for laminate materials only. Expect to pay the same, $80 to $100 per linear foot, for wood veneer materials. Hardwood will run about $200 to $500 per linear foot without installation.
Finishing the project with new hardware (pulls, knobs, hinges) runs $1 to $100 per piece, with hinges costing about $1 to $25 per piece.
In comparison, completely replacing old kitchen cabinets with new cabinets costs about:
- $187 to $279 per unit for stock cabinets without installation
- $304 to $452 per unit for semi-custom cabinets without installation
- $526 to $784 per unit for custom cabinets without installation
How Do I Know If My Cabinets Are Good for Refacing?
Refacing is feasible if your existing cabinet boxes are structurally sound and in good condition. Cabinets with water damage, warping, and broken frames are poor candidates.
Particleboard cabinetry sometimes requires fasteners, in addition to adhesives, to ensure the veneer is secure.
How Are They Installed?
A professional installer will come to your house to measure your cabinets and determine the amount of veneer required, the correct sizes and quantities for door and drawer fronts, and how much hardware is needed. Newly ordered doors and drawer fronts may take one to two weeks for delivery.
When all the materials are in hand, your installer removes old cabinet door and drawer fronts, and prepares the surface of the cabinet boxes by washing the exteriors with a degreaser and lightly sanding the finish. Any significant flaws in the surface are repaired or filled to ensure a smooth, secure fit for the new veneer.
The installer applies veneer to the cabinet faces and any exposed cabinet ends, then mounts the new doors, drawer fronts, and hardware. The process typically takes two to four days.
Related:
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Related: Kitchen Remodeling Decisions You’ll Never Regret
How Much Does Cabinet Refacing Cost? A Budgeting Guide (2022)
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com
- Typical Range: $4,292 to $9,974
- National Average: $7,132
Tired of the old, outdated cabinets in your house? A full kitchen or bathroom remodel to replace old cabinets and update the footprint is no small task—and it’s pricey. That’s why more homeowners are opting for an alternative: cabinet refacing. You get all the benefits of the fresh look of new cabinets but with less work and cost. On average, homeowners pay between $4,292 and $9,974, with an average of $7,132 for cabinet refacing costs. The number of cabinets being refaced, materials, and labor rates will determine the price. Completing a full kitchen cabinet refacing will cost more than just a bathroom cabinet refacing since it’s a larger space.
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+ What Is Cabinet Refacing? How Does Cabinet Refacing Work?Cabinet refacing is the happy medium between tearing out and replacing cabinets and simply updating the exterior.
When homeowners choose to reface their cabinets, the contractor removes the cabinet doors and hardware, then works to reapply new laminate or veneer finish, doors and drawers, and hardware. They will also make any minor repairs. You can get totally updated cabinets for nearly half the cost of a complete cabinet replacement project, which is why it’s an appealing option for cost-conscious homeowners. It may not be the best option, however, if your existing cabinets are damaged, don’t operate well, or if you just need a better layout. A refacing project works more to update the look rather than the functionality or overall design. When a cabinet refacing project is complete, your kitchen will feel brand new within the original footprint.
When it comes to updating cabinets, there are three options: refacing, replacing, and refinishing. Here’s the breakdown of how each option works, plus their average costs.
Refacing cabinets typically costs between $4,000 to $9,000, which averages at least 30 to 50 percent less than replacing.
The installer can update the entire finish to a new color or texture; add new doors, drawers, and hardware; and correct minor problems. During the update, the cabinet boxes remain in place, but they’ll be treated and refreshed with a new veneer surface.
Replacing cabinets offers the chance to completely redesign the layout and number of cabinets in the kitchen. It’s a more complex process that will include other considerations like new flooring to cover where old cabinets were, adjusting light fixture positions, and installing new countertops. When you replace cabinets, the entire cabinet box will be removed to make room for new cabinets. The cost to replace cabinets (not including other remodeling costs) averages $4,500 to at least $18,000.
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+Opting to refinish cabinets is an even more cost-conscious option, but it comes with limitations.
Refinishing a cabinet means the cabinet is simply resurfaced with new paint or stain. Some cabinets cannot be refinished, so it’s not always an option. Additionally, refinishing a cabinet doesn’t include changing the doors and drawers for a new design. However, this may be all you need if your cabinets are a classic style and just a little worn down.
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Factors in Calculating Cabinet Refacing CostWhen planning a budget for cabinet refacing costs, homeowners will need to factor in the quality of materials, the size of the kitchen or room being updated, and labor rates by location.
Quality of MaterialsThere are a few options for refacing your existing cabinets: laminate, high-quality veneer, and real wood veneer. Laminate is the cheapest and may crack or chip over time, while real wood is the most durable option since it’s an extremely thin piece of actual wood placed over the cabinet pieces. The price will entirely depend on how many cabinets will need to be refaced and current local rates, but some general averages are as follows.
- Laminate costs an average of $91 per linear foot or $1,000 to $3,000 total.
- High-quality veneer costs an average of $193 per linear foot or $2,500 to $6,500 total.
- Real wood veneer costs an average of $454 per linear foot or $6,000 to $14,000 total.
Every cabinet that needs to be refaced adds cost to the total price. For any remodeling project, large kitchens naturally cost more than smaller kitchens, and refacing cabinets is no different. For an average full-size kitchen, homeowners will likely pay between $7,000 and $12,000 to reface 30 linear feet of kitchen cabinets.
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+ Labor and TimeIt’s a time-intensive, challenging process to prep and reface cabinets. A contractor will have to carefully measure inside and out before removing the doors and drawers and sanding down every exposed surface.
Only then can the new finish be applied and the new doors, hardware, and drawers replaced. If the average cost for a kitchen cabinet refacing is $7,000 to $12,000, then approximately $4,500 to $7,500 of that will go toward labor.
There isn’t a difference in the cost to reface cabinets based solely on the type of room; cabinets are cabinets no matter which room they’re in. The price differences are based on the number of cabinets and the material. An office or bedroom with lots of cabinets could cost as much to reface as would a small kitchen.
Geographic LocationLabor and material costs vary significantly based on your location. Urban areas tend to have higher costs than more rural or suburban areas, and prices differ even from one metropolitan area to the next. Here are some average cabinet refacing costs by city:
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- Boise: $2,640
- Boston: $6,740
- Chicago: $7,020
- Denver: $5,380
- Houston: $5,890
- Los Angeles: $8,600
- Nashville: $6,420
- New York: $7,630
- Tampa: $5,240
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When venturing into a cabinet refacing project, there are additional options to improve the appearance of a kitchen or bathroom. Refinishing a countertop is a popular option, but homeowners may also want to update some cabinet accessories, hardware, or mirrors.
Countertop RefinishingIf you’re updating very old cabinets, it’s worth considering updating laminate countertops simultaneously. Once the cabinets pop with a fresh finish, the countertops may stick out like a sore thumb. Depending on the size and kind of counters, refacing with new laminate costs around $400. Make sure to match the colors so everything in the kitchen blends well.
Cabinet AccessoriesRefacing cabinets is only one way to bring up the kitchen’s appeal. Many homeowners also opt to add under-the-cabinet lighting, crown molding, or glass inserts (which usually costs between $100 and $400 per linear foot).
Additional upgrades could include hideaway trash cans, built-in wine racks, or new lazy Susans. Ask your local contractors which other services they offer and at what price.
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+ Hardware ReplacementsReplacing the cabinets’ knobs or handles could be essential to the overall upgrade since some hardware clearly dates itself. Prices range widely for new handles, so you could pay from $1 up to $100 per piece. Hinges are a much cheaper piece of hardware that usually cost between $1 and $25 each.
Cabinet Mirror ReplacementSome bathrooms have a built-in cabinet mirror. These are a little more challenging to replace since they’re a somewhat custom piece, but expect to pay $250 to $900, including installation. As always, this is dependent on the size and quality of materials.
Return on InvestmentYou might be wondering whether refacing cabinets is a good investment: It definitely is.
Cabinet refacing costs have a 65 to 75 percent return on investment (ROI). Not only that, but fresh cabinets are a huge selling point for those looking to sell their home. Additionally, refacing the cabinets helps extend their lives by another 20 to 30 years.
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Cabinet Refacing Cost: Types of Cabinet MaterialsThere are four common types of finishes to choose from to reface cabinets. But within those options, there are several colors and textures available. Some are a more durable choice than others, but even budget-friendly options will work well to update the cabinets’ appearance.
Wood VeneersWood veneers are a high-quality option that gives the best faux wood look without the higher cost of natural wood. They come as thin strips or sheets of material made to look like oak, birch, walnut, maple, ash, hickory, and more. They should be sealed to help protect against wearing out in a moist kitchen or bathroom environment.
Wood veneer is stronger than laminate but not as robust as real wood. The average cost ranges from $2,500 to $6,000.
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Plastic LaminateLaminate refacing costs between $1,000 and $4,000. It’s one of the cheaper options that offers many color choices. It doesn’t have the long-lasting resistance to chipping or cracking that other refacing materials provide. Laminate can easily wrap corners as compared to veneer or wood, making refacing with laminate easier.
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+ Rigid ThermofoilIn certain areas, the most budget-friendly option could be rigid thermofoil laminate. It’s a plastic laminate that also looks like wood and requires little care. This type can be made with Formica or melamine, but the melamine version will not work well in humid or hot environments.
You’ll pay an average of $1,000 to $3,000 for this type of cabinet refacing.
Solid wood refacing material is the best long-term investment for refacing cabinets, but it’s also the most costly. However, solid wood is the easiest to repair or replace, and it lasts the longest. The doors and drawers are extremely durable after being refaced. For $5,000 to $10,000, you can have solid wood refacing done to make your cabinets look brand new.
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Benefits of Cabinet RefacingMost Americans spend a lot of time in the kitchen, especially when it’s designed with an open floor plan that extends right into a roomy sitting area. When there are old cabinets in the kitchen, it can feel dreary and dull walking into the space since they take up most of the kitchen’s visual space. If a full kitchen remodel isn’t an option, refacing the cabinets might just give the refreshing feeling you’re searching for. There are several styles and options, and the process is faster than a remodel, more cost-effective, and more environmentally friendly.
There are almost as many refacing options as there are cabinet options. You can update the cabinets with gray driftwood, bright white, or a dramatic black contemporary look. The color, style, or texture of the cabinets can completely transform the room. A home refresh doesn’t have to include blowing out walls, redesigning the footprint, or other expensive options when so many styles for refacing are available at a lower cost. Take a walk through The Home Depot or a local cabinet company to see what options are available for cabinet refacing.
Fast InstallationA kitchen remodel can take weeks, depending on how big the project is, but a cabinet refacing project takes less than a week. It’s the simplest and fastest way to improve any room that needs a cabinet update. The cabinet boxes remain in place, so the installer only has to reface each surface, update the hardware, and install the new or updated doors and drawers.
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+ Kitchen AccessibilityMost cabinet refacing projects happen in the kitchen, where the majority of the cabinets are located. In most cases, kitchens have more space for the installers to work, so it’s easier to get the job done, which means you pay less for labor.
Environmentally-Friendly ChoiceIf you’re conscious about your carbon footprint or the amount of waste you produce, cabinet refacing is the most sensible choice compared with an entire remodel. Installers don’t need to rip out and dispose of all the old cabinets, walls, flooring, or any other material that gets removed during a remodel.
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Cost-Effective ChoiceCabinet refacing is a much smaller job that gives you all the benefits of a total cabinet makeover. You get fresh, clean, stylish cabinets at less than the cost of installing new ones since you save money on materials and labor.
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Cabinet Refacing Cost: DIY vs. Hiring a ProfessionalYou’re probably aware that installing cabinets can be challenging to make sure they’re level and even. But what about refacing cabinets? Surprisingly enough, refacing a cabinet is considered more challenging than installing cabinets since the materials take some time to get familiar with. Refacing cabinets is not to be confused with refinishing cabinets, which is a typical and more straightforward DIY improvement project that many homeowners take on. But refacing projects are best left to a pro. Making mistakes can quickly eat away at any savings you may have realized by attempting a DIY installation, not to mention it will likely take you much longer to complete.
Veneer, laminate, and solid wood refacing materials are challenging to measure and apply to the cabinets to ensure they resist falling apart or allowing moisture in over time. Installers use a variety of uncommon tools to get the job done, too.
This experience is what allows you to have freshly updated cabinets in a mere 3 to 5 days that will last for years to come. For added peace of mind, the installation company should offer a warranty or guarantee to help protect your investment.
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+How to Save Money on Cabinet Refacing Cost
We all prefer to save money on big home improvement projects since they can quickly eat up a budget. Fortunately, refacing your cabinets is already cheaper than replacing them, so you’re well on your way to saving money. Check out these tips for saving even more money on cabinet refacing costs.
- Ask for quotes from at least three reputable companies.
- Choose your hardware carefully. New handles, knobs, and hinges can quickly increase costs.
- See if you can get the hardware you like at a lower cost from a local hardware store rather than through the installer.
- Opt for a cheaper material than solid wood.
- Compare styles of doors to choose what works for your budget and meets the overall design you’re looking for.
- Avoid adding extra features like glass inserts or under-the-cabinet lighting. You can always add lighting later.
- Skip the soft-close doors that add hundreds of dollars to the total cost without being essential to the operation of the door.
- Consider if you really need a glaze to boost the appearance or if the traditional finish will work just fine.
- Ask about military discounts or those for seniors, teachers, or first responders.
- If your neighbors are considering refacing their cabinets, ask if there is a volume discount to book more than one job in the neighborhood.
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Questions to Ask About Cabinet Refacing CostAlways ask a potential contractor about their experience and if they’re insured and licensed (for cabinet refacing, a license and a permit may not be required, but check local jurisdiction laws for the requirements).
You want to know you’re hiring a qualified expert who is up to the challenge. Here are some additional questions you can ask to help choose the right professional.
- What kind of material do you recommend for this region?
- How long will it last?
- What is your process for the whole project?
- Do you reface the interior of the cabinets too?
- Do you complete all the work on-site or remove the doors and drawers to work on them at your shop?
- Can you use hardware that I’ve already purchased?
- How will you protect the other surfaces in my kitchen, bathroom, or office?
- How do you apply any sealant, top coat, or stains without affecting other surfaces?
- How long will this project take?
- Can I use my cabinets as soon as you’re done?
- Are you able to add extra features like crown molding, under-the-cabinet lighting, or glass inserts?
- What kind of warranties do you include?
You have fewer decisions to make for a cabinet refacing project than for a total renovation, but it’s best to have as much information as possible.
Working with a professional company will help alleviate concerns you may have and ensure the quality of the work you’re having done. With the answers to these frequently asked questions, you’ll be well prepared to start your cabinet improvement project.
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Q. Is it cheaper to reface or replace cabinets?Since refacing cabinets involves replacing only the surface of the cabinets with new materials and updating the hardware, it’s cheaper to simply reface them. Replacing cabinets costs more since the entire cabinets are removed and new ones are installed. It requires more labor and material, which means you’ll pay more.
Q. How long does it take to reface cabinets?Most projects only take 2 to 4 days. Updating multiple rooms may take longer.
Q. How often should I reface my cabinets?It depends on the care and condition of your cabinets. High-humidity environments can wreak havoc on some cabinet materials, which means you may need to reface them more frequently or upgrade to a more suitable, durable material.
Cabinets with significant damage cannot be refaced, so if they are sagging, warped, rotted, or otherwise visibly damaged, they’ll need to be replaced completely. Minor surface damage can be corrected during a refacing project, though. Cabinets in good condition that aren’t damaged by use or accident can be refaced and last at least 20 to 30 years.
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