Homeowners usually invest more in appliances and flooring in the kitchen. They forget the fact that the kitchen cabinets occupy more than 40% of the kitchen space. The cabinets give your kitchen an elegant and sleek look, to match with the rest of your home.
Before you plan to invest in your kitchen, you need to make sure if you want to go for kitchen remodeling or kitchen repair. We will discuss that later in the article. But first, if you plan on repairing, you need to make sure the pros and cons of it.
CABINET REPAIR
The cost of repair for the cabinets depends upon a plethora of factors like the scale of the project, the quality of wood. Getting your cabinets repaired can be a better option than going for complete remodeling.
You will be able to save the cost of teardowns, because if you want to remodel you need to replace old with the new. The new cabinets will not be able to take their place if the old ones aren’t torn down.
There are multiple options when having your cabinets repaired.
REFACING
The typical cost of refacing your kitchen cabinet could be up to $3,400. It can vary depending on the scale of the kitchen and the cabinets involved. You can reface your existing cabinets by applying a new layer of veneer to them. It will cover the damaged and worn-out parts of the cabinets like cabinet doors, frames, and drawers.
There are three types of veneering materials to choose from
RTF
Laminate
Solid Wood
The laminates are a choice to go for most of the owners, as it offers a wide range of options. Whereas the RTF, which is a fiberboard coated with a tough vinyl film is the cheapest option available among the list.
Solid wood is the most expensive option of them all, as it gives your kitchen a high-end feel. Most homeowners try to get solid wood as it enhances the appearance of your overall kitchen.
The cost of average laminates can range from $1,200 to $3,000, and the cost of solid wood can range from about $2,500 up to $6,000, again depending upon the scale of the kitchen.
REFINISHING
Refinishing can cost about $2,000.
It is the cheapest option available among the rest. It improves upon your existing cabinets and drawers by painting and staining the interiors and exteriors. This option is less expensive than refacing your kitchen cabinets as it requires only painting the interiors and exteriors of the cabinet.
The best part is, you don’t need professionals for this job. Just grab a paint bucket and a brush, and go for it. So you can save the cost of hiring any professional at all.
If your cabinets are made of wood, we recommend staining them. Painting works here too. The choice is yours to make.
For refacing the cabinet, you need to make sure they are not completely damaged. This damage can range from water damage, broken frames, and warping.
If the cabinets are beyond repair or severely damaged, try to opt for refinishing for a temporary fix or remodel the kitchen.
REMODELING
If your cabinets are completely sabotaged, then wasting your money on refinishing them will prove futile in the long run.
The cost of installing new cabinets in your kitchen can range from $3,700 to $6,000 and will vary depending on the size of the kitchen and the number of cabinets involved.
It is the best option if you are aiming for the long run. Then getting new cabinets will prove beneficial for you. There are the following factors that will be affecting the cost of remodeling the kitchen.
TEARDOWN OF EXISTING CABINETS
In order to install new cabinets, you need to get rid of the old ones. For that, you need to carefully tear them down and replace them with your newly bought cabinets.
The median cost for a professional tear down can range from $200 to $300. Most handy homeowners will be tempted to do this part themselves, but it can cause damage to surrounding walls and furniture if you are not careful or experienced. It is recommended to hire a professional to tear down the old cabinets as they will take lesser time and remove the cabinets in a more prudent way.
INSTALLATION COST
The cost of installation of the cabinets ranges from $2,500 to $4,000. This is the cost of hiring a professional to install the cabinets.
COST OF CABINET
The expenses of stock cabinets can range from $60 to $200 per linear foot. And if you want custom cabinets, then the price can go higher at about $800.
That was the complete breakdown of the costs of repairing and remodeling. Kitchen cabinet repair costs are lower than remodeling costs, but they benefit only in the short term, whereas the remodeling option is a little costly but helps you in the long run.