Cabinet Refacing vs Painting: What’s the Difference?

Because your cabinets take up such a large area of your kitchen, updating them is a great way to breathe new life into your kitchen. However, replacing cabinets often means discarding cabinet boxes that are still in good shape. A cost-effective alternative to replacement is to reface or repaint your cabinetry. In this helpful guide, we’ll explore the pros and cons of cabinet refacing vs painting. You’ll find out what the difference is between the two processes, and how to choose which is right for your kitchen.

 

What Is Cabinet Refacing?

Kitchen cabinet refacing allows homeowners to give their cabinets a makeover while leaving the existing cabinet boxes in place. With refacing, installers will:

• Remove old cabinet doors and drawer fronts
• Cover the existing cabinetry surfaces with a ¼” solid wood veneer
• Install new cabinet doors and drawer fronts along with new hardware

 

Refacing kitchen cabinets is a good option for homeowners who want to update the style of their cabinet doors. It’s also ideal for achieving the look of new cabinetry without wasting the cabinet boxes. With cabinet options like new hardware and handles, there are still plenty of ways to customize with refacing.

Painting Kitchen Cabinets

Painting your kitchen cabinets also means leaving the existing cabinet boxes in place. When you choose to paint your kitchen cabinets, installers will reuse the existing doors as well as the boxes. This process involves:

• Removing the cabinet doors and drawer fronts
• Thoroughly cleaning and sanding the surfaces to remove the old finish and prepare them for new paint
• Applying a primer followed by one or more coats of paint for a fresh finish

 

A high-quality coat of paint is often enough to give your kitchen a new look without replacing any materials.

How to Choose Between Refacing and Painting Cabinets

Refacing and painting are both low-cost alternatives to completely replacing your cabinetry. However, choosing which is best for your kitchen cabinets depends on your needs and personal preferences. Here are some factors you should consider when comparing painting cabinets to refacing.

 

Cost

Painting is usually a less expensive choice than refacing. Since you keep the same cabinet hardware and doors and don’t resurface the cabinet boxes, installers can usually finish the kitchen remodel more quickly.  However, both options are less expensive than a complete replacement.

 

Condition of Your Existing Cabinets

The underlying condition of your existing cabinets also influences your choice between refacing and painting. If the cabinet boxes are in good shape and you are happy with the layout, painting may be a big enough change. However, if the doors or drawer fronts are damaged or if you want a completely new door style, you should probably consider refacing.

 

What Style Do You Want?

If you want to make substantial changes to the look of your cabinets, refacing offers a wider variety of options. You should reface if you want to update the look of your cabinet hardware, knobs, or handles. Homeowners with cabinet boxes in good condition who just want a new door color may prefer repainting.

 

Kitchen Design

Consider how your cabinets fit into the broader layout of your kitchen, including countertops, appliances, and overall style. Cabinet refacing provides the flexibility to customize and match new cabinetry with an updated kitchen design, whereas painting will limit you to the existing style and structure of your cabinets. Painting also won’t alter the shape of the door, which may not fit in with every style of kitchen.

 

Environmental Impact

Painting and refacing your cabinets are both greener options than replacing the cabinet boxes. When you replace your cabinet boxes, the old ones are generally thrown out. With refacing, you still discard your old cabinet doors. For the environmentally conscious, painting is a good way to reduce your material waste even further by getting years more use out of your cabinet doors. 

 

Benefits of Painting vs Refacing Cabinets

Before you decide on refacing or painting, here’s a quick overview of the advantages of each option.

 

Refacing

• More customization options
• New hardware
• Updated door style

 

Painting

• Less expensive than refacing
• Saves more materials
• Faster turnaround time

 

Get a Free Quote on Cabinet Remodeling

When the time comes to upgrade your kitchen cabinetry, the choice between refacing and painting can be difficult. Consider your budget, how drastic of a change you want to make, and the condition of your existing cabinetry. If you need more guidance on cabinet refacing vs painting, one of Reborn’s design experts can help. We offer free in-home consultations so you can see samples without a trip to the showroom. When you choose Reborn, you’re choosing The Ultimate Remodeling Experience®. Contact Reborn Cabinets today to get a free quote on kitchen renovation!