Why Should I Refinish My Kitchen?

A kitchen can be a tough room to maintain.  Heavy wear and tear can  subject your kitchen to a faster aging process than other rooms in your home.  Periodically your kitchen needs a facelift, and it doesn't always take a major remodeling to do it.

According to a recent CNN headline read, kitchen cabinet refacing can bring your kitchen "back to life."  Refacing your cabinets and installing new hardware can give an entirely new look to your kitchen, and increase the value of your home in a tough market.

With a whole kitchen remodeling costing between $20,000 and $60,000, kitchen cabinet refacing is a simple alternative, and affordable for many budgets.

How to Tell if Refacing Can Help

Here are some basic guidelines for determining whether your kitchen could benefit from kitchen cabinet refacing:

• The finish on your cabinets looks like a gym floor after a basketball game.
• Hinges and handles look like used car parts.
• Your cabinet doors would make better firewood.
• Your cabinets are older than your high school kids.

If the structure of your kitchen cabinets is intact, you don't need a major kitchen remodeling to give the room the facelift it needs. The key is choosing a finish that goes with the kitchen's existing materials (counters and walls) and choosing hardware with style.

 Hype vs. Reality in the Kitchen

The Realty Times recommends "getting more for less" with kitchen remodeling projects.  They suggest that many of the most expensive improvements you can make to your kitchen are just hype, but improving the style, appearance, functionality, and quality of your kitchen cabinets isn't.

Cabinet Refacing Defined

Cabinet refacing involves removing your kitchen cabinet doors and drawers and replacing them with wood, laminate, or veneer.  This process is much less expensive than replacing your cabinets, yet still provides a fresh, updated look.

You can further enhance the cabinetry by covering surrounding cabinet framework with the same new surface. The cabinet refacing company also can install:

• New drawers and drawer glides
• Cabinet hardware
• Any new appliances, countertops or sinks, as requested
• Add islands and pantries
• Modify cabinets

Cabinet Refacing Benefits

The beauty of cabinet refacing is that it is quick and inexpensive.  Most kitchen cabinets can be revamped within three days, depending on the scope of other projects requested.  Plus, there are plenty of styles and cabinet coverings to choose from.  Among the popular options are:

• Maple wood
• White laminate
• Oak veneer