CustomCabinets

Cabinet Refacing Cost

Understanding cabinet refacing cost is the first step you should take when considering a kitchen makeover. So many people have found that the cabinets in their kitchen are outdated, but replacement of them is not an option for many because of the cost and labor involved. Cabinet refacing is an excellent alternative, and the lower costs can really help your budget. However, there are several things to consider when calculating cabinet refacing cost, so you will want to take these into account.

Know Your Limits

Many people try to keep cabinet refacing cost down by attempting to do the job themselves. Depending on time and ability, this can be a beneficial choice. However, be very careful when making this decision. Sometimes in their quest for DIY home improvement, people can tend to bite off more than they can chew. Performing a RTA cabinet job you are not equipped to handle can make your cabinet refacing costs grow exponentially.

Do Some Research

Get some books at the local library on how to reface your own cabinets. Go to your local hardware store and see if they have any DIY booklets or handouts you can get. Also, many hardware stores have very knowledgeable staff members who are more than willing to discuss your cabinet project with you, and help you gauge whether you are ready for the challenge.

Be careful, though. Get some serious step by step instructions from a reputable source. It's a good idea to find 3 or 4 sources that have similar step by step cabinet refacing guides, and are honest about the potential cost. If you hear the instruction from more than one place, chances are it is a necessary step. If you don't do the proper legwork, you could end up paying much more in cabinet refacing costs than you would have if you had just paid a contractor to do the job for you.

Important Things to Know

If you decide to go with a contractor, there are a few questions you will have to answer before he can give you a quote for your cabinet refacing cost. First, you will need to know your budget. Do not necessarily give this information to the contractor up front. If your budget for cabinet refacing cost is $5,000, tell the contractor a lower cost figure like $3,000-4,000. The reason for this is that inevitably no budget ever stays on target, and you have to have a little leeway in case your cabinet refacing project cost comes out a little higher in costs than you had anticipated.

Another thing you need to know is a little detail about your cabinets themselves. For instance, how old are they? This is not always easy to determine, especially if you are not the original owner of them. Some cabinets have markings on them that will help determine the age or brand. The contractor can help you find that before he calculates the cabinet refacing cost.

For a typical kitchen update project, cabinet refacing cost can range from $1,000 to $5,000 on average. These costs depend on a lot of variables. The main things that add to the cost is the current condition of the cabinets (if they have to be repaired first, it will cost more), the materials you want to use for the refacing (they range in quality and price) and of course, how many cabinets there are.

When you decide to go with a contractor, you will want to shop around. Compare deals from some with those of others. Look for a contractor that will honor other contractor's offers. This can really help you get a deal. Decide on at least 3 contractors, but feel free to request a quote from as many as you want. The more quotes you can get, the better idea you will have of what is a good estimate and what is an overblown idea of the sort of cabinet refacing cost you are looking at.

Ask questions when you shop around. Find out what supplies are needed. Some contractors will try to sell you unnecessary products just to make a fast buck. Research the project yourself so you can ensure you are not falling for someones line. It would be nice to say all contractors are honest, but in the real world that's just not the case.

It is important to ask the contractor what is included in his quote. Some contractors will provide you quotes that are all inclusive. Others will simply quote their labor costs. Know what labor and materials are covered in your quote before you decide to go with a certain contractor. The last thing you'll want at the end of your project is to learn that you have extra cabinet refacing cost to pay.