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If you Google “Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets,” you are sure to find (below the paid ads) thousands of how-to and do-it-yourself advice and steps on getting the job done. You will find anything from a “10 step guide to refinishing your kitchen cabinets” to a 4 minute YouTube Video on the subject. Take a look at your kitchen. Depending on your level of experience, do you think watching a four minute “how-to” video will teach you everything you need to know to do a professional job refinishing all those cabinets? Here are a few more questions to consider:

• Do you have a lot of experience painting?
• Do you have a lot of patience?
• Do you have a lot of time?

If the answer to one of these questions is ‘no’, you may want to rethink refinishing your cabinets yourself.  There are a few options for you to consider when remodeling your cabinets.

Re-facing Cabinets

Remodeling by re-facing your cabinets is a process where you can chose to replace all the cabinet doors in your kitchen with brand new doors, leaving the rest of the existing cabinets in place. The existing structures will be refinished to look like the new cabinet doors you will choose. According to Home Advisor, the average remodeling cost to re-face your kitchen cabinets is $7,300. This process can take 2-4 days. Homeowners can choose between solid wood, wood veneer or plastic laminate options. Solid wood cabinet doors will generally cost 10-25% more than laminate cabinets. However,  if you like the look of real wood you can choose oak, maple, cherry, birch or any other wood that suits your fancy and your budget. Wood veneers are more expensive than wood. A veneer will need to be coated to protect the wood from moisture.

Replacing Cabinets

Replacing your cabinets is the most expensive option for remodeling your cabinets (replace, reface or refinishing). The labor alone to replace your cabinets may equal what it costs for completely refinishing them using a professional remodeling contractor. If your cabinets do not maximize the kitchen space you have or if the kitchen space is in the remodeling or renovation stages, replacing the cabinets may be the best option for you. There are several options available to you when replacing your cabinets: stock cabinets, semi-custom cabinets and custom cabinets. Each of these options gives you a choice of materials (wood, laminate and veneer) and hardware. Depending on which you choose and the number of cabinets, your costs increase. If budget is not an option, custom cabinets will give a homeowner the flexibility to create cabinets for odd shaped rooms and spaces and create a custom look that is uniquely their own.

Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets

Refinishing cabinets may be a do-it-yourself project for some, but for most, the desire for a professional looking  refinishing project is left to the skilled people who do it as a profession. The process of professionally refinishing your cabinets involves removing the hardware, hinges and cabinets' doors, and removing the current stain or paint. The doors are sanded and any repairs that need to me made take place. Finally a new paint, stain or faux finish that is chosen by the homeowner, is applied to the cabinets. A top coat is added to seal the new paint or stain to complete the refinishing process. New stainless or brushed steel hinges and hardware may be chosen to replace an older brass look on your cabinets. Homeowners can also add soft-closing door hinges and drawer guides. This is a modern innovation that ensures that the doors and drawers close quietly and smoothly. These guides can be under-mounted or side mounted. The average cost of refinishing your kitchen cabinets is around $3,000. The cost of refinishing depends on the number of cabinets, the complexity of the cabinets' faces and repairs that are necessary. Detailed and carved faces on your cabinets take longer to evenly refinish. This average price does not include the price of the hardware.

Remodeling Kitchen Cabinets? Choose Refinishing

Refinishing your cabinets will go a long way to updating the look of your kitchen. Refinishing  your cabinets by hiring a professional is a good choice for homeowners who do not have a lot of experience painting, a lot of patience or time to do the job properly. Refinishing your cabinets is the most cost effective way to remodel your cabinets. Adding new hardware and soft-closing drawers and hinges will complete the "like new" cabinets and help them wear longer and look better for years to come!