Is it cheaper to paint or reface kitchen cabinets
Should I Paint, Reface or Replace My Kitchen
Sep 11, 2019 | Cabinet refacing, Cabinet replacing
Your kitchen cabinets take up a lot of real estate in your kitchen, so if they’re showing their age, they can start to drag down the look and value of the whole room. While we all dream of doing the big kitchen renovation, if that’s not in the cards, focusing on your cabinetry may be a good project to tackle to update your kitchen. The big question I hear a lot is: should I be replacing my cabinets entirely or can I get away with painting or refacing them?
PaintingThe big difference between painting (or refinishing) and refacing your cabinets is pretty simple. Painting your cabinets freshens up the existing look of your kitchen cabinetry while refacing them gives it a new look almost entirely. Either way, both choices give you a less expensive option in lieu of doing a full replacement, which is great for any homeowner on a budget. While painting tends to be the cheaper of the two, painted cabinets build up grease and dust more easily than refaced cabinets, so they’ll require more maintenance.
Related: 20 Timeless Kitchen Cabinet Ideas for Your Next Remodel
RefacingRefacing your cabinets means replacing all the front-facing parts of the cabinet (doors and drawers), but leaving the rest in place. You keep the existing cabinetry framework, but still, give it a new look that can change the mood of your kitchen dramatically. You’re looking at a drastically reduced cost to reface your cabinets instead of a full replacement.
Refacing is a pretty quick, simple process that can be completed in a matter of days. Because you’re only replacing front-facing hardware, you’re not disturbing any plumbing or wires that run through the kitchen. The framework of the cabinets needs to be in good shape to be refaced. If their integrity is compromised (such as the cabinet walls feeling soft or the cabinet box being too old to drill new holes), you’re looking at a replacement instead.
Your kitchen will see a lot of wear and tear over the years and your cabinets might take a beating. Most cabinets are made from wood, so water damage is a concern, especially if you’ve sprung a leak. If the wood is starting to warp, showing signs of mold, or no longer opens or closes properly, you’ll want to think about replacing them.
Also, think about the rest of your kitchen: what sections are due to be replaced next? Before you replace the cabinetry, think about what other pieces will need to be swapped out in the next five or 10 years. Think long-term and make sure that your new cabinets will match any updated appliances or countertops in the future.
If you’re happy with your kitchen’s layout, you can get away with refacing the cabinets. But, what if you’re doing a bigger renovation? Knocking down walls or adding more space in the kitchen might mean having to move around your cabinets. In that case, you may find it more valuable to have the old cabinets ripped out and replaced with new ones.
Now, if you decide to replace your cabinets, but they’re still in decent shape, donate them to the Habitat ReStore. It may seem like we throw out all the kitchen cabinets when we do demos on our shows, but we do donate as many materials as possible. As I said, cabinets should last a long time, so someone could still get a lot of life out of them.
Source: https://www.hgtv.ca/kitchens/blog/mike-holmes-paint-reface-replace-kitchen-cabinets-1923543/
Cabinet Refacing vs Painting | Which Should You Choose?
If you're in the middle of designing a new kitchen or you just want to spruce up an old kitchen design, you might be considering a new look for your kitchen cabinets. If you want to save money by not replacing your cabinets with brand new ones, then you have a couple of options available to you – refacing cabinets or painting them with the best kitchen cabinet paint finish.
Both cabinet painting and refacing have pros and cons to consider, and you must choose the method which best suits your existing kitchen cabinetry.
Ultimately, you're trying to make the most out of your old cabinets, so you need to choose your new kitchen look based around their condition and style. You might also want to think about if you will use the existing knobs and pulls or replace the entirely with popular kitchen cabinet handles.
Our Kitchen Infinity staff is going to help explain the difference between cabinet refacing vs cabinet painting and answer your most common questions!
What is Cabinet Refacing?Cabinet refacing is when you give your kitchen cabinets a new look by replacing the front-facing hardware but leaving the cabinetry framework in place. The cabinets frames and internal shelves remain the same, but you get brand new cabinet doors, hinges, handles, and fixtures.
Basically, you're replacing the parts that people can see.
Photo Credit: NHanceIf you're choosing a very different color scheme to your old cabinets, you might use a wood veneer (or possibly paint) to change the color of the old cabinetry framework so it matches the new cabinet doors design.
This way, you can give the illusion of brand new cabinets, even though the core of the refaced cabinets hasn't really changed.
Refaced cabinets are ideal if you're happy with the layout of your kitchen and the storage space you have, but you just want a fresh look. Refaced cabinets might have new doors and drawer fronts, as well as new hinges, door handles, and other pieces of hardware.
What is the difference between cabinet refacing and refinishing?
Painting
The real difference between painting (or refinishing) and refacing your cabinets is relatively straight forward. Painting your cabinets gives your existing cabinetry a fresh look, whereas refacing them gives your cabinets almost an entirely new look. Cabinets refacing should not be confused with resurfacing or refinishing. A resurface cabinet is an old cabinet which has been sanded down (assuming it's wooden) to create a new design, but this is not always possible because lots of existing cabinets will not be thick enough to be sanded down into new styles.
You can't salvage everything!
Refacing
On the other hand, “refacing” your cabinets is when you replace the doors and drawer fronts entirely – you don't try to salvage the old ones. The idea is that you're giving a “new face” to the existing cabinet framework. However, with refinishing or resurfacing, you're polishing up or sanding down the existing front-facing doors.
It's easy to get this mixed up when every term starts with “re”.
Basically, you should reface cabinet designs if the front-facing doors are ugly and you want to change them entirely. However, if the cabinet front-facing doors are in good condition and you just want to modify their style, refinishing or resurfacing could be the way to go.
Photo Credit: Marble Cast of MichiganWhat You Need To Know About Cabinet PaintingObviously, cabinet painting is when you repaint your existing cabinet doors with new paint. You can always paint your unfinished cabinets yourself.
Although this sounds like the better option, it's not always the case. Painted cabinet boxes can easily flake, peel, or fade in a kitchen environment, especially if you're cleaning them frequently. The more you clean them, the easier it is for the paint to fade away over time.
They can also look a little drab if you're not careful, so beware.
Also bear in mind that painted kitchen cabinet naturally attract dust, dirt, and grime, so you're going to need to clean more often and just generally get more maintenance done on them. It becomes a vicious circle because the paint attracts dust, so you need to clean them a lot, but then you remove the paint by cleaning them.
Not ideal.
Can I paint my kitchen cabinets myself?While it's very possible to paint your unfinished kitchen cabinets yourself, especially if you're good with DIY, I wouldn't recommend that most people do this. Although painting cabinet doors and drawer fronts looks easy, it's easy to have streaky, splotchy, and uneven finishes if you're not a professional painter.
It's not as easy as it looks!
Painting around the sides of hinges and door handles is very intricate work, as it will look incredibly sloppy if you don't do it right. Also, if you're not careful, it's easy to get drips of stray paint on your expensive granite countertops or other pricey pieces of kitchen equipment. In general, it's just not worth the risk. Hire a professional if you're going to paint your kitchen cabinets. And if you're going to DIY think about the best finish for your kitchen cabinets.
Is it Cheaper To Reface Or Replace Cabinets?Replacing cabinets requires you to buy completely new cabinetry from top to bottom, while cabinet refinishing requires some maintenance so it's usually cheaper. When you reface cabinets, you're only replacing hardware for the doors (and possibly a veneer for the framework) but when you replace the cabinets, you're buying EVERYTHING new again – the doors, the frames, the shelves, everything.
So yes, refacing cabinets is almost always cheaper than replacing them entirely.
The only exception would be if you wanted to replace your old kitchen cabinet with VERY basic and cheap cabinets rather than refacing them with a more luxurious front-facing design. Ultimately, it all depends on the condition of your current kitchen cabinets and how you want them to look when the redesign is complete. Kitchen renovation is an expensive task so if you could save some bucks by refinishing cabinets, then go for it!
Does Cabinet Refacing Add Value To My Home?Generally speaking, cabinet refacing does add significant value to your home when it comes time to sell. Although the ROI is hard to measure accurately, there are estimates that homes with refaced kitchen cabinets see profits of 50% for the work completed when it comes time to sell.
Quite an impressive way to add value!
On the other hand, people who replaced their kitchen cabinets entirely only see around a 30% profit when it comes time to resell because they've had to spend a lot more money on installing brand-new cabinets from top to bottom.
If your old kitchen cabinets are in a decent condition, refacing just makes more financial sense. We are that by now the difference between cabinet refacing vs painting is becoming more apparent.
If you like your cabinets but you just want to freshen them up or update their color scheme, then painting could be a decent option for you. However, bear in mind that paint will only last so long before it begins to fade, chip, peel, and require maintenance work. The life expectancy of cabinets depends on whether you do them yourself or not.
If you paint the cabinets yourself (assuming that you do a good paint job) then the paint should look decent for at least a couple of years before it might start to need maintenance. Painting cabinet doors not only adds freshness to your kitchen look but also saves the face frames, base cabinets and cabinet boxes from water damage. It's useful to know how to repair water damaged cabinetry. But obviously regarding the paint on your cabinets, this is very subjective and depends on your kitchen and how much you use it regularly.
We don't all have time to cook every night!
On the other hand, if you get a professional team to paint your kitchen cabinets, they could easily last for 8-15 years on average, though they may require maintenance work from time to time. Painted wood cabinets will last for a while, but refaced cabinets will undoubtedly have a longer life expectancy in your kitchen.
Photo Credit: Sharon Lewis HomesPainting vs Refacing Kitchen Cabinets – Which Should I Do?So, you don't know whether painting or refacing is right for your cabinets. Well, the choice ultimately comes down to the condition of the cabinetry, the overall feel you're going for, and what you're trying to achieve with the kitchen design.
Here are some tips to help you decide between painting and refacing:
When to reface your kitchen cabinetsYou should reface your kitchen cabinets if they meet the following criteria:
- You're happy with their frames and the internal shelves or drawers
- The doors are in poor condition (or you don't like them)
- You want to make a drastic change in your kitchen's overall aesthetic
- You want to update the handles and fittings of your cabinets
- You want to add significant value to your home
- You want to give the impression of newly-fitted cabinets without spending the money
You should be painting your kitchen cabinets if they meet the following criteria:
- You're happy with their frames and the internal shelves or drawers
- The doors are in good condition (and you like them)
- You want to keep your kitchen's look similar, but change or freshen up the color scheme
- You already like the handles and fittings as they are
- You want to keep the overall feel of your existing kitchen
I know it's not always easy to decide, but hopefully these tips have given you some food for thought (no kitchen puns intended).
I hope you've enjoyed this guide to cabinet painting and refacing. Redesigning your kitchen can be difficult at the best of times, so it's essential to work with reliable contractors and interior designers who have your best interests at heart, as well as the home's future resale value.
While painting cabinets may seem like the cheaper and easier option, refacing your cabinetry is a very cost-effective way to give your home a significant facelift without breaking the bank in the process. If you're happy with the layout and condition of your existing cabinetry, refacing can be a very sensible idea.
Either way, we wish you luck!
Do you want to paint your kitchen cabinets? Read these tips before
Do you want to change the look of your kitchen ? Painting kitchen cabinets is a good way to do this. Much cheaper, of course, than replacing them, and this is one of the few options we have to convert a home's kitchen into a rental.
Changing the color of furniture in your kitchen will transform it. Why change them if they are in good condition? However, if you are ready to do so, we invite you to read the tips we share with you today. Some previous considerations which will contribute to a better result.
If you do it right You can get a new kitchen, on a minimal budget. And what does it mean to do it right? The first of these will be the rejection of the use of labels and disassembly of the kitchen. No more important than taking care of your paint selection as you will have time to check below.
Index
- 1 Wood or laminate?
- 2 Drawing tools
- 3 Pick a color
- 4 Dismantle cabinets
Wood or laminate?
The more information a hardware or paint store can provide, the better they can give you advice and products for painting kitchen cabinets.
And the fact is that one of the keys to achieving a good result is the purchase of suitable materials for your type of cabinets.
Wooden cabinets are generally easier to paint than laminate cabinets. Although, if the latter are in good condition, you can apply pre-primer which helps the subsequent adhesion of the paint.
Hay special paints for kitchen cabinets which provide a smooth surface and greater moisture protection. If you can, invest in satin finishes, most popular in kitchens and bathrooms.
Painting Tools
If you are looking for professional finish, one gun can help you get it. This will give you a more even coverage as it allows the paint to reach holes where brushes or rollers can't reach. But, but you will have to learn how to use it before you practice with a piece of cardboard until you master the movement of your wrist. nine0003
Do you prefer to use tools you already know? The small brush that can be used to paint corners and fine details such as trim and small roller who helps you with the fronts will be your best ally.
Choose a color
What color are your cabinets? How much time are you willing to devote to them? It is relatively easy to apply a dark color to initially white cabinets. But what happens if the cabinets are dark and we want to paint them light? nine0003
Get a good result by applying the lighter on the darker will require a little more effort. In addition to finely sanding each part and then dusting it off, in these cases it may be wise to apply a primer to help you hide that original color.
You can choose any color to paint your furniture, but you will have to take into account that the effort or time spent on this may vary depending on your choice.
White, light grey, green and dark blue are some of our favorites, by the way. nine0003
Dismantle cabinets
It is not necessary in all cases to completely dismantle the cabinets, but at least remove doors, shelves, hinges and handles if you want to achieve a good result. Ideally, you should take a picture or draw of your kitchen before taking apart the cabinets so that you can label each of the pieces you are filming. This is work that will help you after painting to make their assembly more flexible.
We haven't talked about this in every case, but if you're going to paint with a spray gun, you'll need to prepare for it. Or, in your case, protect in detail everything that you do not want to paint in the kitchen, as it can be splattered. nine0003
Are you interested in us sharing with you step by step to paint kitchen cabinets ? Now that you know these previous considerations, knowing the step by step can give you the confidence you need to take the lead and transform your kitchen.
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Painting of kitchen facades, MDF and doors in St. Petersburg - Okhta COLOR
Kitchen painting.
A kitchen remodel is often the most expensive home improvement project.
Kitchen cabinets are the main focus, so their appearance makes the first impression. If you're unhappy with the way your cabinets look, repainting them or painting your kitchen fronts could be the affordable solution you're looking for.
Repainting involves changing the aesthetics of the exterior of the cabinets while keeping the cabinet boxes intact. Therefore, it is ideal for functional cabinets that just need an updated look. nine0003
If your cabinets look old or dirty after years of use, consider sprucing them up with paint. Painting kitchen cabinets is less expensive than replacing or refinishing them, and it also gives you the option to choose a new color scheme that is as bright or neutral as you would like it to be.
With paint, the possibilities are endless.
We paint doors.
Another small painting project that brings your home to life is painting the exterior and interior door fronts. Door paint can wear off with repeated use, age and climatic conditions. By hiring a house painter or spending some weekends repainting your exterior and interior doors, you can enhance the appeal of your home or coordinate your interior doors with décor as part of a larger project. Homeowners should be aware that labor costs may vary depending on the number of doors and any additional work. nine0003
The desire to change the color of your doors can be caused by changing the color of your walls. If you have brightly colored walls, your interior door needs to be brighter to match them. The opposite is also true, with darker colored walls. The frame should also match the door so it doesn't feel out of place.
Paint selection.
You also need to consider the type of paint you are going to use on your kitchen cabinets, as this will affect the price and durability of their appearance.
The quality of the paint you apply will determine how quickly or slowly it will wear, as well as whether it will chip and resist water, dirt, and grime. The most common types of kitchen cabinet paint are oil/water based and latex paints. nine0003
Oil and water-based paints may include alkyd resins for a lacquered look. Many professionals use them when topcoating kitchen cabinets because they form a nice, hard, and durable surface—and they don't suffer significant damage during drying. However, some oil and water based paints can release indoor air pollutants. Many homeowners are looking at alternative paints containing organic compounds with low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs). nine0003
Latex paints are another option for homeowners looking to paint their kitchen cabinets. Latex dries quickly, is easy to use for do-it-yourself projects, and is easy to wash off with water. The disadvantage of latex paint is that it takes longer to dry than oil-based or water-based paint—almost two to three weeks—and children and pets need to be kept away for that long.
