Can You Reface Laminate Cabinets?

If you’ve been considering a kitchen remodel that includes not replacing but refacing your cabinets, you may have some questions about the process. Especially if you have laminate cabinets and are wondering if you can reface cabinets like yours.

Well, let’s look at the specifics. Laminate cabinets are different from wood cabinets in that they are made of a synthetic material placed on particleboard, which is actually made of compressed wood. Laminate comes in two grades: high pressure and low pressure, the high-pressure being of higher quality. Low-pressure laminate also comes in fewer colors, so it tends to be less appealing simply because there are fewer choices available.

Because of the way in which laminate doors are made, the seams of the underlying particle board may show, which some homeowners see as a drawback. But laminate cabinets are often chosen due to their low cost and the fact that they do indeed resist fading and warping, unlike wood cabinets. You’ll most often find laminate cabinets in contemporary or modern kitchen designs though you can use them in more traditional settings.

But can you reface them?

Just as with wood cabinets, you can indeed reface cabinets made of laminate as long as the cabinet boxes are in good condition. The process is essentially the same.

• Your existing doors and drawer fronts will be removed.
• Cabinet doors and drawer fronts will be sanded to ready them for refacing
• The installer will reface the exterior structure with matching materials
• New hinges will be installed (if your old ones need replacing)
• Doors and drawer fronts will be replaced and hardware will be installed

This entire process usually takes about a week, potentially less if your room is fairly small and there aren’t a lot of cabinets to refacing.

Should I do it myself?

Now that you know that you can reface laminate cabinets, you might be wondering if you can save money by DIYing it instead of hiring an experienced kitchen design professional.

The answer is that you may save a little money but probably not enough to make it worth your time. If you decide to do it yourself, you’ll need to buy some specialized tools, will have to purchase all the materials needed, and will need to spend time watching YouTube or other videos about how the process works. If time is money, you’ll probably come out in the red if you try to do it on your own.

If instead, you hire a kitchen contractor to reface your laminate cabinets, you’ll enjoy a superior end result with little hassle or inconvenience to you and the others in your household. Here’s why.

• A quicker turn-around time – If you’re doing this project yourself, there’s a learning curve, as they say. It’ll take some time to figure out just what you need to do such as what to purchase, how to measure, and how to cut the materials to fit your cabinets. When you hire an experienced company, professionals will arrive at your home ready to tackle the job. In many instances, they’ll be done in just a handful of days whereas a DIY project may take a few weeks from start to finish.
• You’ll have access to better quality products – If you hire the pros to reface cabinets in your kitchen, you’ll be able to choose from a huge line of quality products from their vast inventory. It’s also likely that you’ll be able to select from higher-quality products than you’d find at your average home improvement store. You’ll also get a guarantee that you won’t have if you do it yourself.
• Experts will make sure everything is as should be before they start – You may think, for example, that your cabinet boxes are structurally sound. But someone who truly knows kitchens may be able to detect problems you won’t notice, like warping or water damage. So, if you’re unsure about your existing cabinets, it’s best to call in a professional.

At kitchencabinetrefacing.com we can help you make your old laminate cabinets look like new again. We can show you how this affordable way to update your cabinets and enhance your kitchen can save you both time and money, regardless of the size or style of your kitchen. To learn more about refacing cabinets made of laminate and to peruse our many available products, call us today or log onto www.kitchencabinetrefacing.com.