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Remodeling Your Kitchen Cabinets: Reface or Replace?
by John Tuthill

For a few homeowners, the question of whether to replace or reface kitchen cabinets is an easy one. In some cases, kitchen cabinet refacing is the clear, more cost-effective option. In others, the old cabinets are beyond repair or the kitchen needs a dramatic change in layout design, so new cabinets make sense. But for most people, the choice isn't this straightforward. Here are four ways to tell whether to reface or replace:

  1. Assess the Condition of Your Cabinets
    The first thing you need to take into account is the condition of your existing cabinets. Are they structurally sound and beginning to show some wear and tear on the exterior? Or are they falling apart at the seams and beginning to lose their structural stability?

    If your cabinets are still in good condition except for dinged-up veneer and worn out doors and drawers, then kitchen cabinet refacing is the way to go. If you are worried that your cabinets are going to collapse under the weight of your appliances, then refacing won't do much good, and you should go ahead and replace.
  2. Consider Your Storage Needs
    Are you happy with the amount of existing storage space in your kitchen? If you are struggling to find room for your appliances and cooking utensils, then you might want to think about adding a few cabinets. This doesn't necessarily mean that you need to replace all your other cabinets. By combining cabinet refacing with a few new cabinets, you can solve all of your storage needs while giving your kitchen a fresh, modern look.
  3. Review Your Kitchen Layout
    Do you find yourself constantly bumping into other people in the kitchen or running back and forth across a large distance between the stove and the sink? If you are unhappy with the traffic flow and appliance layout of your kitchen, then cabinet refacing may not be enough. In order to re-design the floor plan of your kitchen, replacing existing cabinets is usually necessary.
  4. Calculate Your Budget
    The cost of kitchen cabinet refacing is significantly lower than replacing. When you replace your cabinets, you are paying for design, building materials, construction, and installation. Cabinet refacing costs are so much lower because you are adding minimal materials to existing structures, eliminating several steps in the remodeling process. For homeowners on a budget, cabinet refacing is a much more affordable option.

Answer these core concerns, and choose to reface or replace with confidence.

About the Author
John Tuthill is a cabinetmaker and an aspiring beekeeper. He lives in Missoula, Montana.

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