Cabinets eventually get old, and you have two options when they start to show their age – repair or replace. Granted, you may not want to replace cabinets done by professional installation companies like Creative Cabinets and Faux Finishes, so the only option left is refacing them. Home Advisor informs us that refacing tends to be cheaper than replacement but more expensive than refinishing. However, it does grant you the benefit of an interior design refresh, whereas refinishing just allows you to keep the same design as before. If you do decide to reface your cabinets, what sort of budget should you be looking at?
Options for Refacing
HouseLogic notes that refacing can potentially save you money. Even so, you still have many options for your project, and each one carries its own cost. Ideally, you’d choose an option that suits both your taste and your budget.
Wood Veneer Reface
Wood veneer replaces the look of your cabinets with a design of your preference. You have a broad range of options for what type of wood you’d like your cabinets to look like. However, this wide variety does come with an attached cost. Wood veneer resurfacing can come up to anywhere between $2,500 to $6,000 for the complete project. This consideration is, of course, based on which materials you decide to work with.
Rigid Thermofoil (RTF) Reface
Thermofoil looks like laminate, but it isn’t. RTF resurfacing requires using a vacuum press to fuse the thermofoil to the cabinets and lock in any spaces moisture might get in. Because of this characteristic, cabinets in moister climates might benefit from RTF resurfacing. The downside is that RTF doesn’t function so well in hotter areas. They do have the upside of being easy to clean, but you can get them for a modest $1,800 to $3,500 price tag.
Plastic Laminate Reface
Plastic or melamine-based laminates are a popular option between the RTF and wood veneers. They have a similar price range to RTF refacing but cope better with a wide range of temperatures and moisture situations. It’s also straightforward to install, and many shops send technicians across to get this done. These skilled personnel use glue to get the laminate onto the cabinets and then trim off the excess. You can usually get laminate refaces for anywhere between $1,000 and $3,000.
Budget Cabinet Replacement Can Still be Costly
You will still be paying a lot for refacing your cabinets, but the refacing cost is far less than what you’d spend to replace the entire thing. Refacing also takes a lot less time than replacement, with typical completion time ranging from two to four days. Additionally, if you’re already doing interior work, you may want your new cabinets to suit the decor. In this case, refacing is the cheapest option you have for refreshing the interior. Some banks even offer to finance interior design improvements, so checking with them may help you find a way to pay for the refacing you really want in your home.