Reface or Replace?

Positive Results You May Obtain by Refacing Your Cabinets
Keep your existing counter tops
Fresh, new look for your cabinets
More pleasant or up-to-date environment
Possibly interior functional features for extra cost
More appealing to potential home buyers

Wall Cabinet

Wall Cabinet

China Cabinet with Valance Option

Bookcase with Valance Option

Refacing Cautions
Same old traffic, workspace and storage problems have not been improved upon.
No opportunity to enhance the kitchen with specialty cabinets like dish or wine rack, glass doors, etc.
Interior of cabinet remains the same; so does interior maintenance
Warranty is for new products only. Basic cabinets are not covered

Positive Results You Can Expect by Replacing Your Cabinets
The opportunity to improve the traffic, work patterns and storage space in your floorplan
One time sink and countertop replacement.

If a few years after refacing you decide to tackle the entire kitchen and make general improvements, countertops and sink cannot be re-installed on new cabinets.

Stronger, more durable cabinets throughout.

Solid wood face frames, not veneer applied to the surface.

The possibility of enhancing the beauty of the kitchen by adding specialty cabinets such as a wine rack or display cabinet
Light, attractive easy to clean interiors.

Warranty on the entire cabinet, not just the doors and drawers.

Best Advice
The price difference between refacing and replacing may be minimal when the overall value is considered. Replacing cabinets does dictate the replacement of countertops, sink, built-in appliances and probably floor covering. The additional cost for completely new cabinets compared to refaced old cabinets may be quite small. In some instances, the difference is as little as 10%. Be a wise shopper!

The basics on cabinetry construction for your kitchen

STOCK
Cabinets constructed in standard sizes, usually in 3" increments, and in selected door styles and colors. Inventoried before being sold, stock cabinets are often available off the shelf, or within days and are usually the most economically priced fully assembled cabinets. Stock cabinets often have some accessory items available for job-site installation.

SEMI-CUSTOM/BUILT-TO ORDER
Cabinetry manufactured in a large variety of standard sizes, finishes and styles. Each kitchen is built-to-order within standard specifications and may include optional modifications and/or more factory installed accessory items for customization.

CUSTOM
Any cabinets built to specific, requested measurements. Custom cabinets usually have extended production time and a wide range of pricing and construction standards. "Custom" indicates the cabinets were built for a specific order, but does not imply quality standards. Custom cabinets may or may not meet KCMA* or ANSI** standards. Warranty is usually limited to local rules and conditions, typically one year.

CABINET CONSTRUCTION TYPES
A. Framed - A carcass (or box) with a frame surrounding the front edges. Hinges attach to the door and the frame.

B. Frameless - carcass (or box) with no face frame. Hinges attach to doors and side (or end) panels of the carcass.

CABINET DOOR CONSTRUCTION TYPES
There are basically three types of cabinet door shapes; slab, raised panel and recessed panel. Variations may consist of differences in how the panel is held in the frame or how the door is strengthened to maintain dimensional stability during changes in humidity levels.

What to look for in cabinet door quality

1. Slab - Flat door styles with no raised or recessed profile. Wood slab doors are usually constructed of several pieces of solid stock lumber joined with adhesive, then cut to size. Laminated slab styles are made of a substrate material (without a routed shape), then covered with the manufacturer's choice of laminate. Slab door styles may have detailed or plain edge profiles.
2. Recessed Panel- A picture frame is constructed, often with either miter or mortise and tenon joints.  One or more flat panels is secured within the frame.  Panels may be grooved or otherwise decorated.

3. Raised Panel - Frames are constructed with panels secured in place as   above. The raised panel is usually constructed of several pieces of solid stock lumber joined with adhesive, cut dimensionally and then routed or shaped with the desired edge profile. Raised panels might also consist of wood veneers adhered to plywood or another substrate.

4. Routed - MDF (medium density fiberboard) or other material is shaped to create the appearance of raised or recessed panel or panels then painted or covered with themanufacturer's choice of laminate.

5. Mitre Corner raised panel same as #3 but the corners are mitered to allow for a more detailed look on the styles and rails.
Cabinet door styles are also distinguished by varied frame edge profiles and the dimension to which the door overlays the cabinet front frame. (Doors for frameless cabinets necessarily overlay the front edges nearly completely and are "full overlay" styles.) Framed door styles may overlay the frame or be fitted within the frame when closed.