Are Builder Grade Cabinets Good For Refacing Projects?
Are builder grade cabinets worth refacing? Yes, if the boxes are sound and the layout works for you. Learn when to reface or replace.
At A Glance
Can You Reface Builder Grade Cabinets Instead Of Replacing Them?
Yes, builder grade cabinets can be worth refacing. Their current condition matters more than the builder grade label. If your boxes are solid, dry, secure, and the layout works for you, refacing may be a practical choice. However, replacing the cabinet boxes may be a better choice if the boxes are damaged or you want major changes to your kitchen.
Your kitchen has builder grade cabinets, and you are ready for a change. Refacing seems like a practical alternative to replacing everything, but only if the existing cabinets have years of life left. How can you tell if your cabinets are worth keeping? Will new doors give your kitchen a lasting update, or will you need to replace the boxes a few years later?
At Cutting Edge Doors & Woodworking in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, we manufacture cabinet doors and other wood components for homeowners across Canada. We do not build or install cabinet boxes, but our doors can be used to update existing kitchens. Through this work, we have seen some of the challenges that can arise when homeowners want new doors on older cabinets. A successful reface starts with cabinet boxes that are worth keeping.
This article will help you decide whether your builder grade cabinets are good candidates for refacing. You will learn:
What Are Builder Grade Cabinets?
Builder grade cabinets are standard cabinets commonly installed in new homes. Builders often choose them because they are available in common sizes and can meet the needs of many kitchens without the cost of custom cabinetry.
However, “builder grade” does not describe one level of quality. The materials used and construction quality can vary. A 15-year-old builder grade cabinet that is dry, solid, and secure may be a better candidate for refacing than a newer cabinet with water damage.
Should You Reuse Your Builder Grade Cabinets In A Refacing Project?
A kitchen reface keeps your existing cabinet boxes while updating visible parts, such as the doors and drawer fronts. Depending on the project, you may also update the hardware and exposed cabinet surfaces. Keeping the boxes can save you from unnecessarily replacing functional parts of your kitchen. However, that only makes sense if those boxes suit your plans and have enough useful life left.
The following questions can help you decide.
1. Are Your Kitchen Cabinet Boxes In Good Shape?
Start with the condition of the boxes because every other part of your decision depends on them. Look for swelling, cracking, sagging, loose joints, mould, water damage, or crumbling material. Cabinets near sinks and dishwashers deserve extra attention because leaks can damage some wood products.
A small mark or scratch does not necessarily mean that you need to replace the box. However, swollen material, weak joints, or water damage can weaken the cabinet.
2. Do You Like Your Current Kitchen Layout And Cabinet Style?
Next, think about what you want to change. Refacing works best when you like the basic layout and construction of your kitchen but want a different look.
For example, many homeowners want to update older face frame cabinets to a frameless look. Face frame cabinets have a frame around the front of each cabinet box, while frameless cabinets do not. Because that frame is part of the existing cabinet, removing or hiding it is not as simple as installing different doors.
Changing face frame cabinets to a frameless look may require assistance from a qualified carpenter or cabinet maker. Before ordering doors, find out whether your existing boxes can support the look you want.
3. Will Your Appliances Stay In The Same Places?
Your appliances also affect whether the existing kitchen cabinet boxes can stay. Before you reface, consider any appliances you expect to replace soon. Planning those changes now can prevent you from having to modify freshly refaced cabinets later.
4. Do You Have Enough Storage?
Refacing can improve the appearance of your cabinets, but it does not increase the size of your kitchen.
You may be able to improve storage with pull-outs, organizers, or better use of existing cabinet space. However, these changes can only do so much if you need more cabinets or larger boxes. If lack of storage is one of your biggest frustrations, compare refacing with a larger renovation before making your decision.
5. How Long Do You Plan To Keep The Kitchen?
Your plans for the future should also affect how much you invest in the existing cabinets.
If you expect to use the same kitchen for many years, make sure the layout, storage, and cabinet boxes will continue to meet your needs. Refacing strong cabinets can extend their useful life, but it may not make sense if you already expect to renovate again soon. The same idea applies if you are preparing your home for sale. Refacing can give a functional kitchen a more current appearance, but there is no guarantee you will recover the full cost when you sell.
When You Should Consider Refacing Builder Grade Cabinets
By this point, you should have a better idea of what you are keeping and what you want to change. Refacing is usually your best choice when the cabinet boxes and layout work for you, but you want an updated appearance.
Consider refacing when:
- Your cabinet boxes are structurally sound. They are dry, firm, and securely installed.
- You like your current layout. Cabinet locations and sizes already work for you.
- Your concerns are mainly cosmetic. New doors, drawer fronts, finishes, or hardware can address the problems you see.
- You want to avoid replacing usable cabinets. Keeping good boxes can reduce the materials, demolition, and labour involved in your renovation.
Refacing can also cost less than full cabinet replacement because you keep a major part of the existing kitchen. However, the savings depend on how many repairs and modifications your cabinets need. The savings between refacing and replacement can rapidly shrink if you need to fix several boxes, change the layout, or make major changes to the cabinet construction.
The more you need to change, the less sense it makes to work around the existing cabinets.
When You Should Consider Replacing Builder Grade Cabinets Instead
Replacement becomes more attractive when the problems go beyond the doors and finishes. In these cases, keeping the existing cabinet boxes may force you to spend money solving problems rather than avoiding them entirely.
Consider replacement when:
- Your boxes have serious damage. Water damage, swelling, crumbling material, major sagging, or failing joints can make refacing a poor investment.
- You want a different layout. Moving cabinets or appliances, adding an island, or creating more storage may require new boxes.
- You want major construction changes. Changing face frame cabinets to a frameless design may require enough work that replacement deserves consideration.
- Your cabinets no longer fit your needs. Larger appliances, accessibility needs, or major storage changes may require different cabinet sizes.
The goal is not to choose the option with the lowest starting price. Instead, make sure you’re spending your renovation budget on the option that solves the problems you actually have.
Are Your Builder Grade Cabinets Worth Refacing?
Builder grade cabinets can be worth refacing when you are happy with the kitchen layout and the boxes are solid. If your main concerns are dated doors, colours, or finishes, keeping good cabinet boxes can help you avoid replacing parts of the kitchen that still have years of useful life. However, refacing cannot repair failing boxes, improve the layout, or add significant storage. When those are the problems you need to solve, replacement may be the better choice.
Now that you know what makes a cabinet suitable for refacing, your next step is to learn how to tell whether your cabinet boxes are in good shape. At Cutting Edge Doors & Woodworking in Maple Creek, Saskatchewan, we manufacture cabinet doors and other wood components for homeowners across Canada. If your boxes are worth keeping, we can help you update their appearance with new doors. If the boxes need repairs or major changes, start with a qualified carpenter or cabinet maker. Knowing what is worth keeping before you order anything can help you make a better investment in your kitchen.
