Don't DIY: Why You Should Leave Kitchen Cabinetry to the Professionals
Every home needs a makeover at some point. Trends come fast, but they go out of style just as quickly as they came. When making investments in your home, it’s crucial to make style choices that suit your budget as much as they suit your taste. In the kitchen, few design elements are as important as the cabinets. Whether you have just moved into your first home and can’t stop looking at the dated cabinet choices made by the previous owner, or you suffered from sticker shock when you saw the estimate for fully replacing your cabinetry, you have a few options.
Of course, you could replace your cabinets entirely. While it is a sizable investment, it will undoubtedly boost the value of your home and refresh your kitchen. However, it’s not the only option. If you are budget-conscious, you could opt to paint your cabinets, but it’s advised that you leave this to the professionals. If you have a bigger budget, you could elect to reface your cabinets and avoid some of the hassles of painting.
Painting Your Cabinets Is a Popular DIY Trend
Painting, distressing, and “DIY-ing” kitchen cabinets are popular Pinterest trends, especially for people looking to achieve a farmhouse or rustic aesthetic. You may be able to achieve temporarily pleasing results this way, but typically the paint will begin to chip, fade, and become a hassle to clean. For all the money you may have saved doing it yourself, you’ll spend a lot of time trying to rid your painted cabinets of pesky fingerprints, smudges, and grease stains.
If You Must Paint, Consult a Professional
Painting your cabinets is a viable option when it’s done right. The conventional wisdom is that painted surfaces are only as good as the preparation behind them. Professional painters will know how to properly prepare your cabinet finish for paint.
Resurfacing Your Cabinets Can Ease Budget Concerns
If you suffered from sticker shock when you found out the price of replacing your kitchen cabinets, you’re not alone — but you’re also not out of options. Cabinet refacing is an ideal option if your existing cabinets are solid and in good condition. Refacing is an umbrella term, and homeowners have three options to choose from: adding a layer of laminate over your existing cabinets, opting for rigid thermofoils, or choosing wood veneers.
Laminate is the most affordable option of the three, and it’s an excellent choice for simple cabinets without intricate details. Rigid thermofoils (RTFs) are more malleable than laminate, making them a better option for more intricate cabinets with a fair amount of detail. The wood grain RTFs also tend to look more realistic than laminate.
Wood veneer is the most realistic option, and many people won’t be able to detect the difference from solid wood.
Refacing Can Create a “Real” Cabinet Look Without the Real Cabinet Price
In simplest terms, refacing means replacing your cabinet doors. To the naked eye, it will appear as if you fully renovated your kitchen — at a fraction of the cost. Replacing cabinet doors and hardware can refresh your kitchen without the hassle of maintaining painted cabinets or potentially finicky finishes.
For more information about our refacing, resurfacing, and custom cabinetry options, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team today! Review our gallery to see Before & After photos.