Spice up Your Kitchen by Refacing or Replacing Your Cabinets

by John MacGregor
HomeOwnerNet Columnist

You may have caught the bug at a home and garden show or from reading the Sunday papers at a coffee shop, and now you're thinking about full kitchen remodeling. Whoa, Nellie. Before you rip up the flooring, tear out the countertops, and blow apart the walls with your new sledge hammer, remember that starting small can be beautiful.

Sure, kitchen remodeling is an art and some people like to use bold brush strokes-- completely redesigning workspaces and replacing appliances. However those moves are often more than you need to freshen up a well-used and drab kitchen. Cabinets make a major impact on the overall feel of a kitchen and are one of the easiest places to start your remodeling project. Before you leap to spend tens of thousands of dollars for full kitchen remodeling, you should consider cabinet refacing. That only costs an average of $1,000 to $5,000 but delivers a whole new look--for less than half the cost of new cabinets. If your cabinets are in a terrible state of decay, or covered by many coats of paint, you may want to consider replacing them altogether.

Cabinet refacing and replacing is a common do-it-yourself project. Replacing hinges and hardware is considered part of a standard job. Before you select your material, measure your existing cabinets. When choosing your materials you may get some good ideas from home and garden shows, or you can consult with a certified kitchen designer to help you achieve the look you want.

You'll be able to choose from a variety of surfaces ranging from wood to rigid thermofoils (RTF) to plastic laminates. The RTF option is budget-friendly and looks great. Plastic laminates come in a wider variety of colors than RTF, but generally aren't as durable. Solid wood is a considerable upgrade and can cost as much as 25% more than other options.

Cabinets are an easy entry point into the world of remodeling, and they offer a great way to improve your kitchen without breaking your budget.

About the Author
John MacGregor is a freelance writer and real estate investor with degrees from the University of California in Comparative Literature and Law. He has bought and sold several homes for profit.