http://fundkitchen.com/refacing-kitchen-cabinets/what-is-the-difference-in-re-finishing-or-refacing-the-kitchen-cabinets-which-is-less-expensive.html The Kitchen E-Magazine - all about design, plan, and ideas Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:51:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=158 http://fundkitchen.com/refacing-kitchen-cabinets/what-is-the-difference-in-re-finishing-or-refacing-the-kitchen-cabinets-which-is-less-expensive.html#comment-642 Terri Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:50:10 +0000 http://fundkitchen.com/refacing-kitchen-cabinets/what-is-the-difference-in-re-finishing-or-refacing-the-kitchen-cabinets-which-is-less-expensive.html#comment-642 Trying to refinish a door is more trouble then it's worth and still not always possible. Think of all the grooves and nooks and crannies that you will have to sand with your finger tips ground into the sand paper. Also keep in mind many doors might just be a veneer rather then solid wood. If you try to sand veneer a sander would go through it in a blink of an eye right through to the particle board core. Replacing is an ok idea. We used to buy ours from Decorative Specialties out of California. You can order each door and drawer face by it's wood species and to the exact size. They have several hundred door and drawer styles to choose from. They run from $25 each for a little door such as above your fridge or micro to maybe $125 for pantry doors. Drawer faces around $20 each. The average being around $50 each for oak, slightly more for maple and much more for cherry. Keep in mind if you buy new doors you will have to drill the 32mm holes with a forstener bit and a very strong drill. Can you do this? The 32mm holes are for any standard concealed hinge. You would not have to drill if you do a wrap hinge but they are so fugly and outdated you will defeat the purpose. With wrap hinges you will have limited choices of door styles because the door edge has to match and except the wrap hinge. And do as you say...do not paint cabinets. They will look horrible. Trying to refinish a door is more trouble then it’s worth and still not always possible. Think of all the grooves and nooks and crannies that you will have to sand with your finger tips ground into the sand paper. Also keep in mind many doors might just be a veneer rather then solid wood. If you try to sand veneer a sander would go through it in a blink of an eye right through to the particle board core.
Replacing is an ok idea. We used to buy ours from Decorative Specialties out of California. You can order each door and drawer face by it’s wood species and to the exact size. They have several hundred door and drawer styles to choose from. They run from $25 each for a little door such as above your fridge or micro to maybe $125 for pantry doors. Drawer faces around $20 each. The average being around $50 each for oak, slightly more for maple and much more for cherry.
Keep in mind if you buy new doors you will have to drill the 32mm holes with a forstener bit and a very strong drill. Can you do this? The 32mm holes are for any standard concealed hinge. You would not have to drill if you do a wrap hinge but they are so fugly and outdated you will defeat the purpose. With wrap hinges you will have limited choices of door styles because the door edge has to match and except the wrap hinge.
And do as you say…do not paint cabinets. They will look horrible.

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