Remodeling Your Kitchen: Should You Resurface/Refinish or Replace Your Cabinets

The general contractors at Vazana Construction, Inc., ask South Bay area clients to keep certain considerations in mind when engaging in kitchen remodeling projects and decisions regarding cabinet options.  If you’re renovating your kitchen, you’ll have a major decision to make when it comes to your kitchen cabinets. 

You can make one of two basic choices, replace your cabinets or resurface/refinish them. If your cabinet surfaces are made of wood, you will have the option of refinishing or resurfacing them. Refinishing involves sanding the surfaces of cabinets and then putting a new finish on them, while resurfacing is the process of replacing surfaces and hardware. 

Although methods used in refinishing and resurfacing are different, the result is basically the same. You’ve created a new, fresh look by utilizing a cosmetic solution. If you opt to replace your kitchen cabinets, you’ll be starting fresh with new cabinets. Here are some considerations that you’ll want to keep in mind when it comes to kitchen remodeling and cabinet options.

When to Consider Resurfacing/Refinishing

You may want to resurface or refinish your kitchen cabinets if certain conditions exist. You can create a new look and feel with either process. Think about keeping your present cabinets and cosmetically altering them if:

• They are structurally sound. This is important, as simply altering the surface of cabinets that will not stand up to ongoing years of wear and tear is a waste of money.
• The cabinets work well on a functional level, and there’s nothing to impede your ability to use them, such as broken or weak shelving, worn out hardware, or poorly designed interiors.  
• You’re keeping your kitchen layout the same. If you won’t need to remove cabinets, and they can simply remain where they are, it makes sense to resurface or refinish. 
• If you are replacing flooring, appliances, or other elements and the cabinets will still look appropriate stylistically, then you should consider keeping them. This is especially the case if you are going to refinish kitchen cabinets, as its difficult to make any stylistic changes when refinishing. However, you may be able to make some alterations in look and design if resurfacing. 

When Replacing Is in Order

You may not have little or no choice when it comes to deciding between refinishing or resurfacing and replacing the cabinets in your kitchen. You will want to install new cabinets if:

• The layout of your kitchen is changing. You can remove and reinstall the cabinets that are presently in you kitchen, but you may find that the process of ripping them out and putting them back in will compromise their structural integrity. Plus, this is a very labor-intensive job. It’s not inexpensive.
• The addition of new appliances and other elements will alter the style of your kitchen considerably. If this is the case, it makes sense to buy new cabinets. 
• You can benefit from using different sized and shaped cabinets than those you presently have, such as kitchen cabinets that make efficient use of corners and other areas in kitchens that often become dead space.  
• Your cabinets are structurally unsound, damaged, or show signs of extreme wear and tear. 
• The present cabinets are of a low quality and you can benefit greatly in terms of functionality and look by upgrading. 

If you purchase well-made, new cabinets, they will give you years upon years of solid performance while standing up to constant use. New cabinets can be well worth the investment. 

Thoughts on Costs

General contractors understand that most homeowners have two competing concerns when they are renovating their kitchens. They are what they desire on a practical and stylistic level and what they can afford. Thus, if cost is a major consideration, the ranking as far as cash is concerned, with the first choice being the least expensive to the final one being the most, would be:  

• Refinishing your kitchen cabinets
• Resurfacing them
• Installing new cabinets

However, if money is not a major factor, and you are looking to create a whole new kitchen, then installing new cabinets makes the most sense.

Contact a Professional General Contractor

If you live in the South Bay area, contact Vazana Construction, Inc., today by calling 310-863-5422 to speak with a general contractor about your kitchen remodeling project and options regarding your kitchen cabinets. We possess the experience, knowledge, and resources to help you make the sensible and correct decision regarding your cabinets. 

A contractor will be glad to meet with you, to evaluate your present kitchen layout, appliances, and cabinets, and discuss possible options. We can help you plan your new kitchen in every way, ensuring that all of your needs are addressed and that you get the kitchen that you desire. 

Vazana Construction, a South Bay, CA general contractor, reviews kitchen cabinet options when remodeling. When should you replace your the old cabinets?