The economy may not be able to take on a complete kitchen remodeling project, but many people are considering a less expensive option that may be the perfect pocket-friendly solution.
First, I think we should take some time to describe in detail exactly what cabinet refacing is and discuss the procedures that go into a cabinet refacing project. Simply put, cabinet refinishing is a process where a business will use your existing cabinets as the foundation for your new kitchen. Typically, all cabinet doors and drawer fronts are removed and thrown away. The cabinets are then prepared for refinishing, which may consist of sanding or cleaning the exteriors of the existing cabinets. An overlay is then placed over your old cabinets to give them a new look. Typically, the siding material could be a laminate, thin veneer, or 1/4″ solid wood siding. 1/4″ solid wood siding is often the best quality siding material available. Thin veneers can bubble and peel. and peel. Once the cabinet has been clad, new drawer fronts and doors are installed. New hinges and decorative hardware are usually installed as well. Some companies offer options for new drawers, new rails, new cabinet hardware, among other items. Companies also offer toward the bottom of cabinets (ie bottom side of wall cabinets). Some other options offered are Finishing the cabinet interiors, offering glass doors with a wood frame, offering additional cabinets to incorporate into the kitchen design.
The best cabinet refinishing companies meet the following criteria:
1. A showroom to show examples of your work.
2. An excellent rating with the BBB (Better Business Bureau). You can visit their website at bbb.com.
3. An excellent rating on “Angies List” (a contractor rating service where consumers rate their contractors. You can visit their website at angieslist.com.
4. Excellent references. Please note that when asking for referrals you want to get referrals from clients with the following criteria:
Customers are recent customers (within the last 3-6 months).
Customers must be in the same general geographic area.
The clients should have hired a similar type of work and a similar dollar value.
A good cabinet repair company should be able to offer many options to the consumer. For example, they can resurface your base cabinets where you have granite installed (and don’t want it removed) and replace your upper cabinets (or wall cabinets). They should be able to offer some new cabinets to go with your upgraded cabinets to possibly add an island or peninsula, add some new cabinets on an open wall, add end panels around your fridge to give it a built in look. Also, they may be able to cut down on an existing cabinet instead of replacing the entire cabinet or even add another row of cabinets if you have dead space above your existing wall cabinets.
Other services that may be available may include professional painting or refinishing of your existing doors or cabinets or both.
If you want to get an idea of cabinet siding vs. cabinet replacement vs. Complete kitchen remodel, I’ll give an example of costs.
The average business renovation job costs $10,000. I have seen small kitchens done for $5000 and large kitchens done with new granite and tile for up to $30,000. The average cost of a custom cabinet in an average size kitchen is $20,000. I’ve seen small kitchens with custom cabinets costing $10,000 and large kitchens with many upgrades for $50,000 or more. A complete kitchen remodeling project costs an average of $40,000, I have seen projects completed for as little as $20,000 for a small kitchen. A medium kitchen could cost $50,000. A large kitchen could cost $100,000 or more.
Please note that prices will vary depending on the materials used and the contractor performing the work. If you buy cheap, ready-to-assemble cabinets and do the work yourself, then you can complete the project for much less money.
In short, if you have good quality cabinets in your kitchen and just want to change the look, then cabinet refinishing may be a good option for you. If you want to redesign your entire kitchen, refinishing “no” cabinets is a viable option. If you want to make some minor changes to your kitchen design without the hassle of a full remodeling project, cabinet refinishing might be a good option for you.