Kitchen Cabinets: Replace or Reface?

If you're happy with your existing cabinet layout, a makeover for your old cabinets can give your kitchen a fresh, new look -- at about one-half to one-third of the cost of new cabinets. Reface rather than replace. It can bring you major savings, yet deliver all the visual impact of new kitchen cabinets.

What's more, your current cabinets might be more solidly constructed than newer ones. If so, this plan gives you the benefit of keeping their durability.

What are the steps typically involved in refacing kitchen cabinets?

1. Meet with a designer, review and choose your new style and color.
2. Get careful measurements taken of your kitchen and prepare a detailed design plan for review.
3. Get new custom doors, drawer fronts, and matching laminate panels made.
4. Your existing doors and drawer fronts are removed and discarded.
5. The new veneer is applied to the exterior of your cabinets.
6. Brand new cabinet doors, drawer fronts, and hardware are installed.

If you're refacing the kitchen cabinets, it's a perfect time to improve their functionality with roll-out shelves, better drawer slides, and other accessories like these:

• The extra cabinets you may have always wanted.
• A new island? Increase your counter space.
• New roll-out shelves. Reach what's in back of a cabinet easily
• Easier drawers to open.
• New sinks and plumbing.
• A built-in wine rack.
• New moldings. Baseboard and crown moldings can complement your look.
• New lighting can give a big lift to how your kitchen looks and feels.
• Glass cabinet doors can show off your dishes and glassware. Or choose artistic or tinted glass options.
• New handles and knobs can give a new feel to your cabinets and doors.

So if you're looking for a quality contractor for your next project, the process is very easy: