Is It Cheaper to Refinish or Reface Kitchen Cabinets?
When updating or improving the look of the kitchen, people have three choices: refinishing, refacing, and replacing. The final option is also the costliest, so homeowners usually choose one of the first two. But since the processes are relatively similar, many people don’t know which one is cheaper.
This article will go through the differences between refinishing and refacing kitchen cabinets and telling you which solution is more affordable.
Which option is cheaper?
In most cases, refinishing is cheaper than refacing. Refacing is about 60% more expensive than refinishing the kitchen cabinets.
How do kitchen cabinet refacing and refinishing work?
Refacing is implemented in several stages:
If it’s a stained finish, the old cabinet’s exposed end panels and face frames will be refaced with wood veneer and stained to complement the new drawer faces and doors. If painted drawers and doors are installed, the components will be painted to match. Make sure to sand and clean the surface before painting or veneering.
To hang the doors, screw the hinge mounting plates to the cabinet’s interior.
Screw the hinges into the holes at the back of the door.
Raise the door and align the hinges with mounting plates. Use screws to secure the hinges and adjust them so that the door hangs evenly.
Drive screws from the inside of the drawer box to secure the drawer faces. Ensure that the screws are the right size so that they don’t penetrate the new drawer face.
The process of refinishing varies, depending on the finish. Here’s how it works if the finish is paint:
Remove the hardware and unscrew drawer faces and doors.
Scrub the surfaces with a mixture containing four parts water and one part TSP.
Sand the surfaces and wipe away the dust.
Apply a primer and let it dry.
Paint the cabinets and allow them to dry.
Sand lightly, wipe away the dust, and add another coat.
The process looks a bit different if the finish is stain:
Remove the doors, hardware, and drawer faces.
Scrub the surfaces with a TSP solution.
Sand using sandpaper with 100 grits and later switch to 150- and 120-grit models.
Rub the stain and let the wood soak it for about 10 minutes.
Wipe away the unnecessary stain using a cotton cloth.
Add a second coat if the first one is too bright. Repeat until the desired color is reached.
Let the stain dry overnight, and add a coat with satin polyurethane varnish with a foam brush.
Allow the initial coat to dry and sand with sandpaper containing 220 grits. Wipe away the dust and add a second varnish coat.
Remount the doors and hinges.
Refinishing is budget-friendly
If the budget is your main concern, refinishing is the way to go. But even if refacing is the preferred process, now you know how it’s done.
The Wood Doctor is the leader in wood restoration, refinishing and refacing in the Portland area. Call 503-560-5220 for a project consultation.