What is Cabinet Refacing? A Guide for DIY Beginners

If you're a do-it-yourself homeowner, you probably appreciate the value of money-saving solutions. You know the value of trading a little hard work for cutting costs, keeping money in your savings account, and still upgrading the value of your home.

One of the best ways you can do this is cabinet refacing. Cabinet refacing makes financial sense and is a project most homeowners can do on their own. If you're undertaking one of your first home improvement projects, you may be asking: What is cabinet refacing going to involve?

Cabinet refacing is the process of updating the fixtures or features of your cabinets rather than buying completely new ones. The existing structure of your cabinets are often still sound, and all you need to do is refinish or replace the doors, strip off the old veneer, and replace it with a new veneer of your choice. It's a project that can be completed with basic painting skills and minimal carpentry.

Refacing your cabinets yourself allows you to work at your own pace, avoid contractors tromping through your kitchen, and be involved in every decision along the way.

Of course, the most obvious thing a refacing job does is save a whole lot of money. Refacing can save up to 50 percent off the cost of a kitchen remodel. Even if you decide to hire professional labor, it's still far cheaper than having new cabinets installed.

Kitchen remodels, specifically, can be a tremendously damaging upgrade to your bank account. By refacing your kitchen cabinets, you can hold onto that money for a rainy day or double the effect of your remodel on your home's value by putting it into another project.