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There was a time when homeowners had but one option when choosing how best to remodel their kitchen: complete replacement of kitchen cabinets. Somewhere along the line kitchen contractors created yet another option: kitchen cabinet refacing.
There’s little doubt that economics played into this introduction. After all, if a kitchen remodeling company couldn’t sell a potential client on the cost of a complete & thorough project, why not settle for a less expensive job, that while not nearly as professional, would still net the contractor a sale.
The theory was simple, but a bit off-base. If a client’s present cabinets were solid wood and in sound structural condition, why completely replace cabinets? Instead, why not simply replace the cabinet doors and drawer-fronts anew to modernize the appearance of a kitchen cabinet. In the cabinet refacing process, laminate is applied directly to the face-frames and sides of all existing cabinetry with an adhesive.
As with most “improvements” to traditional home remodeling, kitchen refacing leaves quite a bit to be desired. First, it’s likely that you own a cabinet which, far from being constructed of solid wood, is made of particle board. Therefore, keeping your existing cabinet structure may frankly be less of a home improvement and more of a detriment to the quality of your kitchen remodel.
Second, we’ve all heard the saying, “If you can’t stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen.” There’s a reason we’re familiar with this axiom; a kitchen tends to be the hottest part of the house! When you use your stove and oven in the summer months, temperatures rise considerably and can stay elevated for hours. Laminates, which are simply glued onto the cabinet’s exteriors, can only adhere for so long before sections begin peeling.
Consider your present kitchen or the one you grew up using when you lived with your parents. If you’re like most Americans, you have experienced Formica or another brand of laminate counter-top. Remember how the corners would eventually part from the wood block to which the laminate was adhered? That’s the same idea behind refacing cabinetry.
In a time when homeowners have the option to install granite or other solid surface counter-tops, it pays to ensure that your new cabinets will literally be able to support the weight of these heavier counter-tops. Refacing means that you may be relying on a relatively weak cabinet to carry a much heavier load than was originally intended.
Finally, when you settle for refacing in lieu of new cabinets you are unable to alter the layout of your kitchen in order to make it more efficient. New cabinetry allows your kitchen contractor to design a layout that not only suits your purposes, but that adds a modern style and convenience to a newly remodeled kitchen. Suppose you want a double-sink and your sink-base cabinet is only 27″ wide. Well, you’re out of luck and would be stuck installing another single-bowl sink. Unless you replace your cabinets in order to adjust the kitchen layout properly to accommodate a larger sink and perhaps larger appliances.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t take an expert to admire the difference between a refaced kitchen and a completely remodeled one. The quality of materials and the creativity of a new kitchen layout will be noticed by friends and family alike when you choose professional and complete cabinet replacement.
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