You’ve painted the walls, added new appliances, and got new furniture, but your kitchen still isn’t perfect. The cabinets are a big part of that. Rather than re-painting your walls or adding some other small changes, you should consider replacing your cabinets to give your kitchen a new look.
Suppose you’re happy with the setup of your kitchen though. In that case, it’s usually cheaper to resurface it than to replace it.
Let’s go over the differences between refacing or resurfacing your cabinetry:
Refacing
To reface your existing cabinetry, you’ll remove the existing doors, drawers, and cabinet boxes, and purchase new cabinet boxes, doors, and drawer fronts. This leaves the cabinetry in place. A new cabinet box is created, and only the doors and drawer fronts are replaced.
Refinishing
Refinishing, also known as rejuvenating, requires removing all of the old finishing and hardware. New finishes are applied and the hardware is replaced. This gives your kitchen a new look and you can save some money by purchasing a paint kit and completing the task yourself.
Removing Your Cabinets
To remove your existing cabinetry, you’ll need to remove the doors and drawers, and the cabinet boxes. Removing the cabinets may require saws and screws to disassemble the back panels. The cabinets are typically attached to the wall with screws or nails. The screws aren’t always easy to locate if you don’t know where they are, but you can use a stud finder for help.
Stud finders are used to locate the wall studs. A stud finder will detect any object that is in the path of the beam, which is reflected to the detector. You’ll hear a clicking noise as the detector finds the studs.
If you decide to replace your cabinets, you can use the existing cabinets as a template to create a new cabinet box. You can order an exact copy of the cabinet boxes if they’re in good condition.
Budding a New Look
To give your kitchen a new look, you’ll need to apply new finishes to the cabinets. You’ll also need to prepare the existing cabinets to take on the new finish.
In most cases, you’ll need to apply a new finish to the old cabinet boxes before you can refinish them. Your cabinets should be bare with new paint and a fresh coat of primer. You may initially think that you’ll need to paint the cabinets before refacing or refinishing, but you can save time by refinishing the cabinets first. It’s important to paint them before refinishing because the paint will act as a primer, and the extra priming ensures that the finish adheres better.
Remove the doors, then remove the existing cabinets as described in the previous section. You may have to remove the drawer bases since they’re attached to the cabinet boxes.
To Summarise
Both processes replace the old finishes that are applied to fix and restore the cabinets. Once the cabinets are resurfaced, they’ll be as good as new. If you’re selling your home, you’ll also receive a great return on your investment by sprucing up your kitchen cabinets. You’ll find that the process of refacing or refinishing is a satisfying project.
TM Décor is a painting and decorating business that’s based in the Broadway area. We offer professional services like kitchen refurbishments and interior decorating, making every space in your home your own.
Learn more about how we can help you and request a quote from us today!