Cabinet Refinishing, Refacing, and Repainting… What’s the Difference?

By Ameeta Jain

Replacing cabinets can be incredibly expensive. In fact, it’s estimated that new cabinets can account for about 30% of kitchen or bathroom remodeling costs. Because of this, many people feel like they’re stuck with their outdated or worn down cabinets, but that’s not the case. Every homeowner should consider refinishing, refacing, or repainting their cabinets if they’re not ready to completely replace them.

Here’s a look at the pros and cons of each of these options:

Refinishing Cabinets

Refinishing is the process of removing the finish off of the cabinet doors and applying a new paint or stain to create an entirely new look. This is an inexpensive option for people who want to completely change the look of their cabinets, but don’t want to pay to have new ones installed. However, this option will only work if the cabinets are in fairly good condition overall. Refinishing will remove scratches and nicks from the finish, but it won’t hide other types of damage.

Refinishing cabinets is very similar to restoring antique pieces of furniture, which many people do without the help of a professional. But, it becomes more challenging if you need to strip paint off of the wood prior to adding a new finish. This is not easy, so you may want to consider other options or hire a professional before trying this at home.

Refacing Cabinets

Refacing is another alternative to completely replacing cabinets. This involves removing and replacing the cabinet doors to upgrade the look and breathe new life into your kitchen. Refacing and refinishing may sound similar, but refacing involves installing new cabinet doors, whereas refinishing involves improving the existing doors.

Refacing the cabinet doors can completely transform the look of the kitchen. This option is more affordable than building new cabinets, but pricier than refinishing cabinet doors. However, it’s important to note that refacing is not a viable option if the cabinet boxes are not structurally sound. If the cabinet boxes are damaged, it is best to replace the cabinets altogether.

There are many advantages to refacing cabinets, but there are also a few downsides. Refacing produces waste, so it is not as eco-friendly as the other options. Also, this is not a DIY job, so you will need to let workers into your home to get it done.

Repainting Cabinets

Repainting cabinets is the third and final option, and it also happens to be the least expensive of the three. Painted cabinets are very trendy right now, so if you choose this option, your kitchen will look incredibly modern and chic. There are countless colors to choose from, so this option gives you a chance to be creative and go in a completely different direction with your kitchen’s design.

But, repainting cabinets is much harder than it sounds. Before painting, you must remove the doors, scrub them with steel wool, and sand their surfaces to prepare them for the paint. If the cabinets are not prepped correctly, imperfections on the surface of the doors will be visible once the paint dries. As long as you are willing to put in the work, this upgrade can be completed without the help of a professional.

As you can see, there’s no reason to spend thousands of dollars on new cabinets when there are alternative options available. All three of these options provide homeowners with the opportunity to improve the appearance of their cabinets without breaking the bank or tearing apart their homes!