What is the average price for cabinet refacing

You might be wondering whether refacing cabinets is a good investment: It definitely is. Cabinet refacing costs have a 65 to 75 percent return on investment ROI. Not only that, but fresh cabinets are a huge selling point for those looking to sell their home. Additionally, refacing the cabinets helps extend their lives by another 20 to 30 years. There are four common types of finishes to choose from to reface cabinets.

But within those options, there are several colors and textures available. Wood veneers are a high-quality option that gives the best faux wood look without the higher cost of natural wood. They come as thin strips or sheets of material made to look like oak, birch, walnut, maple, ash, hickory, and more.

They should be sealed to help protect against wearing out in a moist kitchen or bathroom environment. Wood veneer is stronger than laminate but not as robust as real wood. Laminate can easily wrap corners as compared to veneer or wood , making refacing with laminate easier.

In certain areas, the most budget-friendly option could be rigid thermofoil laminate. This type can be made with Formica or melamine, but the melamine version will not work well in humid or hot environments. However, solid wood is the easiest to repair or replace, and it lasts the longest.

The doors and drawers are extremely durable after being refaced. There are several styles and options, and the process is faster than a remodel, more cost-effective, and more environmentally friendly.

There are almost as many refacing options as there are cabinet options. You can update the cabinets with gray driftwood, bright white, or a dramatic black contemporary look.

The color, style, or texture of the cabinets can completely transform the room. Take a walk through The Home Depot or a local cabinet company to see what options are available for cabinet refacing. A kitchen remodel can take weeks, depending on how big the project is, but a cabinet refacing project takes less than a week. The cabinet boxes remain in place, so the installer only has to reface each surface, update the hardware, and install the new or updated doors and drawers.

Most cabinet refacing projects happen in the kitchen, where the majority of the cabinets are located. Cabinet refacing is a much smaller job that gives you all the benefits of a total cabinet makeover. You get fresh, clean, stylish cabinets at less than the cost of installing new ones since you save money on materials and labor.

But what about refacing cabinets? Surprisingly enough, refacing a cabinet is considered more challenging than installing cabinets since the materials take some time to get familiar with. Refacing cabinets is not to be confused with refinishing cabinets, which is a typical and more straightforward DIY improvement project that many homeowners take on.

But refacing projects are best left to a pro. Making mistakes can quickly eat away at any savings you may have realized by attempting a DIY installation, not to mention it will likely take you much longer to complete. Veneer, laminate, and solid wood refacing materials are challenging to measure and apply to the cabinets to ensure they resist falling apart or allowing moisture in over time.

Installers use a variety of uncommon tools to get the job done, too. Refacing kitchen cabinets will take a professional about a week, tops. You can keep using the kitchen during most of the work. In addition to cabinet refacing, you can also consider just painting, refinishing or replacing your cabinets.

Here are cost estimates for all four projects:. Also read: How much does it cost to paint kitchen cabinets? If you're unhappy with how your bathroom or kitchen cabinets look, you basically have three options: cabinet replacement most expensive , cabinet refacing middle of the line , and cabinet refinishing least expensive. Refacing your cabinets is a good choice if your current cabinet layout works for you and the cabinets are well-constructed and in relatively good condition.

With refacing, you can create a radically different look for your cabinets—say, going from Tuscan to Shaker-style without the expense of buying new ones. In some cases, you might be able to get away with cabinet refinishing, which is cheaper and less time-intensive than refacing. And, of course, not all cabinets are worth saving. If your cabinets are poorly made, have structural problems, are damaged, aren't exactly where you want them or lack the storage features you want, skip refacing and rip them out.

Most homeowners won't approach a cabinet refacing as a do-it-yourself project. Instead, they'll hire the help of an experienced carpenter or company. When you start looking at cabinet refacing companies near you , confirm that your carpenter is licensed. Find a licensed, qualified professional with experience refacing cabinets. Also, get multiple free estimates. Most professionals will do a free design consultation with you to discuss cost, timeframe, process and the best new faces for your cabinets.

This is helpful not just to get a confirmation of the total cost of the project but also to make sure you're all aligned on what you want your new look to be. Refacing your kitchen cabinets is an affordable option if you're on a budget but want to give your cabinets a makeover. Start planning your project on Thumbtack, and search for reputable cabinet refacing professionals near you. You can find cabinet doors for sale at various hardware stores and retailers.

The contractor, carpenter or company you hire to reface your cabinets may also be able to provide new doors for your cabinets. Millions of people ask Thumbtack for help with their projects every year. We track the estimates they get from local professionals, then we share those prices with you. Browse profiles, see prices and use filters to find pros who match your project.

Join as a pro. See all. Events and more. Other Info. Cancel Search. How much will your cabinet refinishing and repair cost? Get a free estimate. Cabinet refacing cost:. Compare prices from carpenters near you. Get estimates. What's in this cost guide? What is cabinet refacing? Cabinet refacing vs. How long does cabinet refacing take? Refacing vs. How to hire a cabinet refacing professional Get cabinet refacing cost estimates near you FAQs.

Find the right carpenter for your project. Search pros. Cabinet refacing cost per linear foot. Cabinet refacing cost factors. The total cost of your cabinet refacing project will be determined by a number of factors: Size of your cabinets How many cabinets do you have?

Cabinet refacing veneer The type of veneer, or the thin layer of hardwood applied on top of your base material, will impact the price as well. Room and cabinet design The existing layout of your cabinetry can adds complexity to the job. New hardware New hardware is another cost factor to consider. Search local carpenters and check prices. How does cabinet refacing work? When you hire a professional to reface your bathroom or kitchen cabinets, the following steps are normally included in the project: 1.

Take detailed measurements. Remove the cabinet doors and drawers from the boxes. Install the new veneer skins to the front and sides of the cabinet boxes Applying the veneer is the most time-consuming step and will happen in-home. Whether you want to use a laminate veneer or a natural wood veneer, you will likely choose from one of the following options: Pressure-sensitive adhesive PSA wood veneer. Wood back. Unlike PSA, a natural wood back veneer doesn't come with the prefab adhesive.

The pro will adhere it to the cabinet boxes with contact cement. Veneers are available in a wide variety of colors, patterns, textures, grains, and more, which you can mix or match to get a relatively low-cost kitchen facelift.

Further customize and update the look of your cabinets with new kitchen cabinet hardware. In comparison, completely replacing old kitchen cabinets with new cabinets costs about:. Refacing is feasible if your existing cabinet boxes are structurally sound and in good condition. Cabinets with water damage , warping, and broken frames are poor candidates.

Particleboard cabinetry sometimes requires fasteners, in addition to adhesives, to ensure the veneer is secure. A professional installer will come to your house to measure your cabinets and determine the amount of veneer required, the correct sizes and quantities for door and drawer fronts, and how much hardware is needed.

Newly ordered doors and drawer fronts may take one to two weeks for delivery. When all the materials are in hand, your installer removes old cabinet door and drawer fronts, and prepares the surface of the cabinet boxes by washing the exteriors with a degreaser and lightly sanding the finish. Any significant flaws in the surface are repaired or filled to ensure a smooth, secure fit for the new veneer.

The installer applies veneer to the cabinet faces and any exposed cabinet ends, then mounts the new doors, drawer fronts, and hardware.