Ikea, Painting, Refacing or Cabinets to go?

What is the BEST choice for your kitchen cabinet budget?

new white kitchen cabinetsImproving your kitchen is a great investment not only for yourself and your family, but for the value of your home. Especially when it comes time to selling it. So what’s the best way to go when it comes to the cabinets, which can be nearly half of your renovation budget? Here are your options.
REFACING cabinets could be a good choice (and my personal favorite) if you’re keeping your kitchen layout, as most people tend to do. It’s a big saver on your budget because they reface the cabinet boxes and then install new drawers and door fronts. You can choose wood, veneer, thermofoil, whatever you like. Plus, with all the other options such as molding and hardware, you can get practically ANY new look for your kitchen. You’ll truly be amazed at the difference this process can make.

Other benefits of cabinet rafcaing are since you’re keeping your cabinet boxes, it’s considered a “green” option, saving on waste going to the landfills. Also, it’s a quicker when compared to a complete makeover. Even if you are planning on keeping your coutnertops, you can still end up with a completely different look.
Another “quick change” (before Murhpy’s law is applied, lol) is PAINTING your cabinets. I would find a contractor to do this, but if you’ve got Zero budget and want to do it all yourself, here’s how. First, look at your surface. Is it flat wood? Or a wood laminate? With either, you should be ok. But if it’s a plastic laminate, I’d reconsider because getting the paint to stick, and last, can be very tricky. Second, you need to remove all the doors, drawers and hardware. Third, any surface being painted needs cleaned, preferably with a 20% tri-sodium phosphate and water solution. Fourth, let it dry thoroughly, then sand all the surfaces so the paint sticks. Fifth, vacuum up all the sawdust! You don’t want to forget that step. Sixth, apply a primer, two coats if it’s a light paint going over a dark surface. Seventh, paint. Apply a second coat of paint for a truer color. Eight, reassemble after drying. It’s no where near as easy as painting a room, but can save you quite a bit. It all depends on how much you want to do versus how much you want to save. Having a company paint your cabinets for you can be a big saving on its own.
Lastly, there’s another DIY option for you of buying your own cabinets. Or the option of possibly saving a little and buying cabinets and having them professionally installed. You can check out IKEA, Cabinets to go, or any cabinet “superstore” retailer. Some have great service and prices, and others not-so-much. Check out the reviews and read them to see. Again, this is not something I would try to install myself. So you will want to call around and see what remodelers would be willing to work with what you already have (or will soon be buying). While you’re at it, you could ask who they recommend for purchasing cabinets. What do they usually do? How much more would custom ones be? What is the difference in quality and value? Whatever you feel you’d need to know to make an informed decision.
So there you have it. You can have your old cabinets painted. You can buy new cabinets. Or you can reface your old ones. All are viable options if you’re keeping your layout/countertops and want to save a little (or a lot). If you have any questions or would like to talk to a professional remodeling contractor, please give us a call.

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