Refacing your cabinets is an excellent option if you want to update your kitchen, not completely renovate it. If you choose to reface over renovate, you’ll save half the money and still end up with a beautiful, new space.
OVERVIEW of Kitchen Cabinets:
The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home, and the right choice for kitchen cabinets is key to the successful execution and ongoing use of the space. Now more than ever, you can choose from a diverse range of kitchen cabinet materials and finishes. For each aspect of home design and remodeling you can also strive to make choices that are 1) Functional, 2) Stylish, 3) Cost-Effective, and 4) Environmentally Sustainable. These are the four key guiding principles in the GREENandSAVE strategy. You will find that in certain cases, one or two of the criteria take precedent over others. However, as you review the home improvement options that are right for your home, you may be surprised to learn that reaching all four is more achievable than you thought.
Selection Tip: In choosing a kitchen cabinet material and finish make sure to think through the countertop and backsplash that will work best for your design and installation. Solid surface and natural stone materials typically need to be precut prior to installation versus tiles that can be cut and set right on the job site. Kitchen countertop backsplashes sometimes look great when they match the countertop material, but you can alternatively enhance the countertop material by choosing a different tile to run from the top edge of the counter all of the way up to the underside of the head cabinets. If you decide on the tiles, also take care in choosing the right color grout and look for new tile grouts that are stain resistant. Think of the kitchen cabinets, countertops, and backsplashes as an integrated kitchen design system, so try to avoid buying one before you get perspective and price out the materials, finishes, and installation implications for all three.
DETAILS on Cabinet Refacing:
By refacing your cabinets rather than redecorating, you will give your kitchen a completely new look at about half the price.
When you reface your cabinetry, your existing doors, drawer fronts and hardware are removed and replaced. Veneers and laminates are used to cover old surfaces, and other surfaces are refinished and repainted.
If you decide to reface your cabinetry, the layout of your kitchen will not be affected. Refacing is done by simply touching up the visible pieces of your cabinetry and replacing them. None of your fixtures are removed, and your layout stays the same.
Refacing is a great idea to sustain your cabinets’ durability. By refacing your cabinetry every few years, you will sustain their life expectancy and keep your products updated and functional.
GREEN Considerations:
Through the refacing process, make sure to use low-impact products. Use low-VOC paints and finishes. If you are using new wood for any reason, make sure to use FSC-certified or reclaimed wood. A Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification guarantees that wood is grown and harvested in a sustainable manner. Many companies also use reclaimed wood, meaning they use salvaged wood to produce beautiful products.
Checking to be sure that the products you are placing in your home are manufactured and sold in eco-friendly ways is half the battle of keeping your home environmentally-friendly.
