Refacing or a new kitchen: how to choose?
Refacing costs about a third of a new kitchen and takes a few days, but it is not always possible. Here is how to decide by looking at your boxes, your layout and your budget.
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In short: choose refacing if your boxes are solid and the kitchen layout works for you; choose a new kitchen if the boxes are water-damaged, if you want to move the sink or remove a wall, or if you are aiming for high-end solid wood.
Side-by-side comparison
| Criterion | Refacing | New kitchen |
|---|---|---|
| Indicative cost | $8,000 to $20,000 | $35,000 to $90,000 |
| Time on site | 2 to 4 days | 2 to 8 weeks |
| Demolition and dust | None | Yes, room out of service |
| Layout change | No | Yes: island, opened wall, relocated sink |
| Style choices | Doors, fronts, panels, counter | Unlimited, including full-height cabinets |
| Durability | That of the existing boxes (often 15+ years) | New |
| Environmental impact | Low: boxes stay in place | Higher |
Are your boxes suitable for refacing? The checklist
- The boxes are plywood, melamine or solid wood and are not swollen by humidity.
- Doors still close square and shelves do not sag.
- No water marks under the sink and no mould behind the boxes.
- The current layout works: sink, range and fridge stay where they are.
- You like the height and depth of your current cabinets.
If you tick all five, refacing is almost always the right decision. If one box is damaged, we can often replace it and reface the rest.
What refacing really changes
Every surface you see: new doors and drawer fronts built in the workshop, finish panels on the sides and under the upper cabinets, new mouldings, soft-close hinges and handles. With a new counter and backsplash, the kitchen is unrecognizable, as on the project below.
BeforeAfterWhen a new kitchen is the answer
- Boxes swollen, delaminated or damaged by a leak.
- New layout wanted: island, wall removed, sink under the window.
- Plumbing or electrical to be brought to code anyway.
- High-end solid-wood project with integrated appliances.