My Real Estate Blog

So you want to spruce up the kitchen without breaking the bank?  You can start by using high-end handles or maybe adding more shelving inside. But what if the insides of your cabinets aren't really in poor condition? Maybe the hinges and the hardware are still in good shape, it's just the outside that could use a makeover.

That's when giving your cabinets a new face might be your best option. Stripping the cabinets and painting or refacing them can add a lot of value to the overall appeal of the home without incurring the bigger expense of replacing your cabinets.

The National Kitchen & Bath Association says that, "This will cost about half of what you would spend for comparable new kitchen cabinets, but such a strategy will only work if the basic room configuration and cabinet placement in your existing kitchen are to remain the same."

However, if your cabinets are sagging or you need a new configuration for more space, this option won't work. If your cabinets simply need a new face, this can be a good solution especially when you're listing your home for sale. The investment isn't nearly as high as replacing them.

There are a few steps involved in refacing: remove/prep the veneer, strip the surface, fill in missing chips, clean cabinets, apply new veneer and trim, prep veneer, and finally stain and finish. Some homeowners decide to do their own handyman work.

There are many articles on the step-by-step process, so I won't bore you with that but instead I'll focus on what you should be aware of to ward off bigger problems.
 
Most kitchen cabinets are made with pre-veneered laminated wood (particle board in some cases) and the hardwood veneer is rolled onto the laminated wood with terrifically high pressure and in most case you would damage the wood underneath trying to remove the veneer.

The old veneer can be left on as a base. The old must be lightly sanded to remove the finish and then a new veneer can be added. RefinishFurniture.com also recommends marking all the cabinet doors before you remove them to strip them or prep them for paint or stain. It'll save you so much time and frustration when you go to put them back on.

Another word of advice. While many homeowners like the do-it-yourself projects, when you're selling your home, this kind of project can become tedious and too time consuming. Refacing your cabinets will help your home show better but the question is: Do you do-it-yourself or hire a company to do what they do best? Either way, newly painted or stained cabinets go along way when it comes time to sell your home.