Cabinet Refacing in Birmingham, AL

What cabinet refacing changes, and what it leaves alone

Refacing keeps your existing cabinet boxes. A contractor applies new material to the face frames and the visible ends of the boxes, then hangs new doors and drawer fronts. The layout stays where it is. The plumbing stays where it is. The countertop can usually stay as well, unless you decide to replace it at the same time.

This is why refacing costs less than a full replacement. You pay for surfaces and doors, not for new boxes, new installation and new plumbing work. You also avoid the weeks a full tear-out adds to a project.

When refacing is the wrong choice

Refacing is not suitable for every kitchen. Look at the boxes before you look at the doors.

• Water damage. Swollen particleboard, soft corners and a musty smell near the sink mean the box has failed. New doors on a rotten box do not last.
• Bad layout. Refacing cannot move a door opening or add a drawer bank. If the problem is where the storage sits, not how it looks, refacing will not solve it.
• Structural movement. A box that has pulled away from the wall, or a cabinet that sags, needs repair before any new face goes on.
• Broken hardware mounting. If hinge screws no longer hold in the frame, the frame needs work first.

Materials you will be asked to choose between

Door material usually decides the price more than any other choice.

• Solid wood. Takes stain well and can be sanded and refinished later. It moves with humidity, which can show as hairline gaps at the joints through the seasons.
• Plywood with a wood veneer. More stable than solid wood and less prone to movement. The veneer is thin, so a deep scratch cannot always be sanded out.
• MDF with a painted finish. Very smooth and flat, which suits a painted shaker door. It does not tolerate standing water, so it is a poor choice directly under a leaking sink.
• Thermofoil and laminate. Low maintenance and easy to wipe. Edges are the weak point, and heat near an oven can make the film lift.

The refacing process, step by step

1. Measure and record. The contractor measures every opening. Door sizes are not standard between manufacturers, so each door is made to fit your box.
2. Prepare the frames. Old doors, drawer fronts and hardware come off. The face frames are cleaned and any loose joints are repaired.
3. Apply the new face. Veneer or laminate is cut and bonded to the face frames and exposed ends. This is the step that decides how the finished job looks.
4. Fit new doors and drawers. New hardware goes on. Hinges are adjusted so the gaps between doors are even.
5. Finish and clean. Stain or paint is applied where the material requires it. The work area is cleaned.

Most kitchens are done in a few days once materials arrive. Order lead time is usually the longer part.

Questions that separate a careful contractor from a rushed one

• Are the existing boxes sound enough to reface, and how did you check?
• What material are the doors and drawer fronts, and what happens if one is damaged later?
• Are the new doors made to measure, or cut from standard sizes?
• What is included in the quoted price, and what is charged separately?
• How are the hinges adjusted after installation?
• What is the written warranty, and what does it exclude?

Getting quotes in Birmingham

Ask two or three contractors to look at the same kitchen. Compare what each one proposes to replace, not only the total. A lower quote that leaves the boxes unrepaired is not the cheaper option.

We are an independent matching service. We are not a cabinet contractor. We connect Birmingham homeowners with licensed custom cabinet professionals, and the quotes are free. Call (205) 574-3205 or use the quote form to start.

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