Cabinet refacing, painting, or replacement?
By NW Cabinet & Refacing · Updated
Painting changes the finish on the doors you already have. Refacing replaces the doors and drawer fronts and updates the agreed exterior surfaces while keeping suitable cabinet boxes. Replacement changes the boxes as well. The right starting point is the condition of your cabinets and the layout you want to live with.
| Approach | Usually kept | Main change | A useful starting point when… |
|---|---|---|---|
| Painting or refinishing | Existing boxes and fronts | The surface finish | You like the door style and the existing components are suitable for the finish process. |
| Refacing | Suitable existing cabinet boxes | New fronts and agreed exterior surfaces | The layout works, but you want a different door style, material or finish. |
| Replacement | Only the elements retained in the remodel plan | New cabinet boxes and fronts | The boxes are failing or the planned layout needs substantial rebuilding. |
Start with the boxes, not the door color.
A dated kitchen can still have cabinets worth keeping. Look beyond the front: the sides, bottoms, backs, attachment points and areas around the sink all matter. A new door does not repair a weak cabinet underneath it.
Limited damage does not automatically mean replacing every cabinet. Sometimes a particular box can be repaired or replaced as part of the plan. We need to see the construction and condition before recommending that approach.
Think about what works on an ordinary day.
Can two people use the kitchen comfortably? Are the appliances in sensible places? Is there a cabinet or drawer that never works for you? These questions help separate a surface update from a layout problem.
Refacing can include selected storage improvements or cabinet additions. A pantry, drawer bank or coordinated new cabinet may solve a specific problem. Major changes to appliance positions, walls, plumbing or electrical work need a broader plan.
The word “refacing” does not define the whole package.
Two refacing quotes can include different surfaces, drawers, hardware and trim. Ask how exposed face frames or cabinet edges will be finished, whether drawer boxes and slides are changing, and which ends or panels are included.
At NW Cabinet, we assess the existing kitchen, bring samples to your home and put the agreed work in writing. Painting or small repairs on their own are a different service from our full refacing work.
Compare the work before comparing the price.
A smaller scope can cost less because it leaves more of the existing kitchen in place. That does not establish a universal savings percentage. Cabinet size, materials, finish, additions, installation and associated trades all affect the comparison.
A door-and-drawer count gives an early planning range. A binding quote needs a site assessment, measurements and a written scope. You can start that conversation before deciding on the final color.
Where this guidance comes from
These explanations draw on our own published service process and project records. Products and project needs vary; your written quote confirms the materials, work and exclusions for your kitchen.
Have a question about your cabinets?
Call (206) 600-1198, or tell us what you would like to change. An early planning range is not a binding quote.
Talk about your kitchen