To reface or replace cabinets?

We are about to embark on MAJOR renovations for our entire house. Essentially we are gutting our kitchen, updating all the rooms, possibly adding on a bathroom, and gutting the back porch- just to build and enclose it again.

The kitchen cabinets we have right now are beautiful- they def need new hardware and to be stripped etc. Looking at new kitchens yesterday we realized that all new cabinets are $$$$$$$$.

We would like to reface our cabinets however we also need more cabinet space. Has anyone ever added on to their cabinets? These were custom made about 20 years ago.

Thanks for your help.

Re: To reface or replace cabinets?

BUMP

Re: To reface or replace cabinets?

Replace. Refacing isn't cheaper than replacing, the estimates we got for both were virtually identical. We refaced because it would be faster and I had a newborn and didn't want to be washing bottles in the bathroom for an extended period of time. I hate them with a passion. They look like such cheap cr@p. And you then need to hire someone else to re-hook up your faucet and dishwasher if you don't know how, and if you want a new backsplash they don't do that either.

We did add on a few cabinets when we had the refacing done, so it is possible.

Re: To reface or replace cabinets?

The only way I would reface is if I had high quality cabinets with a good set up and amount of space. It's not worth it to reface if you don't already love your cabinets, imo.

Re: To reface or replace cabinets?

Thanks for your replies!

Re: To reface or replace cabinets?

Get prices and see how much the difference is, if it not major then I would do new but if it is I might consider refinishing.

Feeling my parents cabinets (new and highly expensive top grade) and feeling my older cabinets in our kitchen there is a complete difference. They do not make anything as good as they used to. I have hard wood 100%, sturdy cabinets that are 50 years old that could last another 25 years! But they are ugly. My parents cabinets seem to possible break down in 15 years and I expect kitchens to last 25 years (the guts.) So if you can refinish them if they are GOOD quality i might say that. I just don't see the quality in anything anymore.

Re: To reface or replace cabinets?

Well if the cabinets that you have are in good condition, could you strip them, add other cabinets and than stain all of them at the same time? I guess you would have to find out what kind of wood your cabinets are first. GL! But it might be easier to just get new cabinets all together.