You might be thinking about remodeling your kitchen or replacing your kitchen cabinets if they are starting to show signs of wear. However, many homeowners dread this choice due to the cost, labor, and time involved in upgrading a room’s cabinetry. But you don’t have to do it. It’s possible that cabinet refacing would be of interest to you if you’ve been putting off remodeling your kitchen.

Before you pick one or the other, let’s examine the distinctions between kitchen remodeling and cabinet refacing.

What is kitchen remodeling?

Kitchen remodeling completely transforms the look of your kitchen. This could involve installing a new countertop, a backsplash made of tile, new appliances, new hardware on your cabinet doors and drawers, or painting the kitchen. You might consider a kitchen remodel if you’ve just moved into your house and detested the paint color, the countertop, etc.

Or perhaps you’ve observed some well-liked kitchen trends and wish to include slight changes to make your kitchen appear more modern. If you want to upgrade your kitchen but don’t want to spend money on a brand-new one, you might choose a cosmetic kitchen renovation.

However, most weekend warriors aren’t up for remodeling their kitchens because it may take weeks or months to complete and involve a general contractor, designers, plumbers, or other tradespeople.

What is cabinet refacing?

Cabinet refacing is a remodeling task that entails removing outdated cabinet doors and other surfaces. This is a well-liked substitute for replacing kitchen cabinets or remodeling, which entails removing the existing cabinets and drawers and installing new ones. Without significant improvements, cabinet refacing can give your kitchen a brand-new look or a distinct vibe.

But it’s not only the cabinet doors. To better suit the style you want for your kitchen cabinets, the sides of the cabinets are frequently peeled, sanded down, and polished. Because of wear and use, the sides of your cabinets can also become scratched or damaged.

If your cabinet doors have scratches and other damage, or if your glass cabinet doors have shattered, you might need cabinet refacing. Cabinet refacing may be necessary for drawer surfaces that are difficult to open or have lost knobs and cabinet doors that are faded or damaged.

Even if the cabinet surfaces are flawed, it need not be something serious. Occasionally, it’s only a matter of preference. Perhaps you disliked the kitchen cabinet doors when you first moved into the house, or maybe you once enjoyed how your cabinet doors looked but now don’t. Perhaps you’re trying to find something that’s more kid-friendly or approachable.

Entire cabinet replacements or kitchen remodels aren’t always essential, even if some homeowners might opt for them. Your visual problems with your kitchen may frequently be resolved with a cabinet refacing—often at a far lower cost and with a significantly shorter project duration. This allows you to enjoy your kitchen, and your new cabinet surfaces more quickly.

Final take

Even though cabinet refacing and a complete replacement are very different, most homeowners find that they produce comparable results. But these two procedures differ in price, duration, and remodeling options.