• Frequently Asked Questions

Cabinet Refacing & Kitchen Cabinet FAQs

Cabinet refacing is a way to update the appearance and function of an existing kitchen without replacing the entire cabinet system. The existing cabinet boxes remain in place while the visible portions—such as doors, drawer fronts, face frames and exposed ends—are updated.

Cabinet refacing is a way to give your kitchen a substantially different look without removing and replacing all of your existing cabinet boxes. If the basic structure of your cabinetry is still sound, we can retain what is working and concentrate on updating the visible components.

Depending on the condition of your existing cabinetry and what you want to achieve, a refacing project may include:

  • New cabinet doors
  • New drawer fronts
  • New exposed cabinet surfaces and ends
  • Painted or stained finishes
  • New hinges
  • New drawer slides
  • Replacement drawer boxes where required
  • Pull-outs and other storage accessories
  • Installation and final adjustments

Every project is different, so your quote will clearly outline what is included in your particular refacing project.

One of the biggest advantages of refacing is that it doesn’t have to stop at changing how the cabinets look. We can also look at areas that aren’t working particularly well and discuss cabinet modifications, drawer upgrades, pull-out storage or other improvements at the same time.

For homeowners who like the general layout of their kitchen but no longer like its appearance or some aspects of how it functions, refacing can provide a middle ground between living with an outdated kitchen and replacing everything.

These terms are often used interchangeably, but they describe different ways of updating kitchen cabinets.

Cabinet refacing retains the existing cabinet boxes while replacing visible components such as the doors and drawer fronts and updating the exposed exterior surfaces. This allows you to change the style of the cabinetry without starting again with completely new cabinet boxes.

Cabinet refinishing, on the other hand, generally means keeping the existing doors and cabinetry and changing their existing surface through processes such as painting, staining or refinishing. Refacing gives you greater scope to change the actual door style because the doors are being replaced rather than simply recoated, and the finish is factory applied off site.

Cabinet replacement means removing the existing cabinetry and installing new cabinet boxes. That may make sense when the existing cabinets are no longer structurally suitable or when a completely different kitchen layout is required.

If your cabinetry is sound but there are individual areas that don’t work, complete replacement isn’t always the only solution. We can combine refacing with targeted cabinet modifications and custom additions.

Find out more on our Services page

The condition of the existing cabinet boxes is one of the first things to consider. If they are structurally sound, replacing the entire kitchen simply because the doors or visible finishes have become dated may be unnecessary.

The existing layout matters too. Refacing is particularly suitable when you’re generally happy with where the cabinetry is positioned but want to change its appearance.

However, your layout doesn’t have to be perfect. If there are particular areas that don’t work well, we can look at modifying those sections. For example, cabinetry may be able to be cut, rebuilt or reconfigured to accommodate a different appliance or make a particular area more practical.

This is why we prefer to look at the individual kitchen rather than assume that every older kitchen needs either a basic cosmetic update or a complete replacement.

The National Kitchen & Bath Association similarly notes that refacing works best where the existing cabinetry and configuration remain suitable, while structural problems can make other solutions necessary.

Visit our Services page for more information.

In many cases, yes, because you’re retaining usable cabinet boxes rather than paying to remove and replace everything.

However, there’s no meaningful percentage that applies to every kitchen. Your actual cost will depend on the size of the kitchen, number of doors and drawers, materials and finishes selected and any additional work you choose to include.

This is also where comparing refacing with replacement based purely on a headline price can be misleading. You might decide to combine refacing with new drawer hardware, pull-out storage, cabinet modifications, countertops or a custom island. That creates a very different project from simply replacing the doors.

The advantage is that you can concentrate your budget on the areas that actually need changing rather than automatically replacing parts of the kitchen that are still doing their job.

We offer free quotes so we can assess your actual kitchen and provide pricing based on what you want to achieve.

Contact us for a free quote.

There isn’t one standard cabinet refacing price because kitchens and projects vary considerably.

Some of the factors that can affect the cost include:

  • Number and size of cabinet doors and drawers
  • Door style and materials selected
  • Finishes and exposed cabinet ends
  • New hinges and drawer slides
  • Replacement drawer boxes
  • Cabinet modifications
  • Pull-outs and storage accessories
  • Countertops or other additional work

The condition of the existing cabinetry and whether any sections need modification will also influence the scope of the work.

Then there are the choices you make beyond refacing. Some homeowners simply want to update their cabinetry, while others use the opportunity to add soft-close drawers, pull-out storage, new countertops or a custom island.

You’ll find generic cabinet refacing prices online, including estimates specifically for Fort Collins, but these vary substantially and can’t take your particular cabinetry or choices into account.

That’s why we provide a free quote based on your kitchen and the work you’re actually considering.

If your existing cabinet boxes are structurally sound and the basic kitchen layout works for you, refacing can allow you to make use of what you already have rather than replacing it unnecessarily.

It can be particularly worthwhile when the problem is primarily the appearance of the kitchen. New doors, drawer fronts and hardware can make a substantial visual difference while the underlying cabinetry remains in place.

There can also be an environmental benefit to retaining usable materials. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency encourages reuse and preservation of existing materials as ways of reducing construction and demolition waste.

But we don’t think a kitchen should be refaced simply because the cabinet boxes can technically be retained. If the kitchen has functional problems, we also need to look at those. That’s where modifications, storage improvements and custom additions can become part of the project.

Yes. The doors, drawer fronts, hardware and visible cabinet surfaces make up a significant part of what you see in a kitchen, so changing those elements can create a very different overall appearance.

Depending on the project, you may be able to update:

  • Cabinet door style
  • Drawer fronts
  • Cabinet hardware
  • Hinges and drawer slides
  • Exposed cabinet ends and surfaces
  • Storage accessories
  • Countertops
  • Floating shelves
  • Other complementary custom elements

Refacing also gives you the opportunity to change the door style rather than simply refreshing the finish of the doors you already have.

You can then consider whether other elements of the kitchen still suit the new look. A new countertop, custom butcher block, floating shelves or a custom island can be incorporated where appropriate.

The important thing is that you don’t necessarily have to replace the entire kitchen to create a substantial visual transformation.

For more information visit our Services page.

Yes. This is one of the practical problems we can solve with cabinet modifications.

It’s common to choose a new refrigerator and discover that the existing opening isn’t quite tall or wide enough. A change in microwave size or location can create a similar problem.

Depending on the existing cabinetry and available space, we can cut, rebuild or reconfigure cabinetry to accommodate the new appliance. That can save you from replacing an entire run of cabinetry simply because one appliance no longer fits.

We also pay attention to how the altered section works visually with the surrounding kitchen. Our door supplier has access to thousands of saved profiles, which gives us considerable scope to match existing door styles where new components are required.

Potentially, yes. A kitchen doesn’t necessarily need to be treated as an all-or-nothing project.

If most of the cabinetry and layout work well but one particular section causes problems, we can look at whether that area can be cut, rebuilt or reconfigured.

This can be particularly useful when your needs have changed since the kitchen was originally installed. Appliances may be different sizes, storage requirements may have changed or a particular cabinet configuration may simply no longer be practical.

We can also introduce new elements, such as a custom-built island, where additional counter space and storage would improve the kitchen without requiring the existing cabinetry to be removed.

Visit our Services page for more information

Yes. Matching new work with existing cabinetry is particularly important when only part of the kitchen is being changed.

Our door supplier has access to thousands of saved profiles, which gives us a large selection to work with when replicating an existing cabinet door style. This is useful when we’re modifying a section for an appliance, replacing doors or introducing new cabinetry alongside what you already have.

We can also coordinate finishes and the overall style, so the new work sits naturally within the kitchen.

With older cabinetry, age and changes to the original finish can sometimes affect how closely something can be matched. We’ll assess what you have and discuss the most appropriate way to create a cohesive result.

The goal is for the finished modification to look considered rather than like an obvious addition made years after the original kitchen was installed.

For more information visit our Services page.

Yes. Sometimes the problem isn’t the amount of cabinet space you have; it’s how effectively that space can be used.

Depending on the existing cabinetry, we can incorporate storage improvements such as:

  • Pull-out shelves
  • Spice racks
  • Pantry pull-outs
  • Internal organizers
  • Tray storage
  • Waste and recycling pull-outs
  • Full-extension drawers
  • Deep drawers and additional storage within a custom island

These upgrades can make existing cabinet space considerably easier to access and use without automatically adding more cabinetry.

Deep cabinets, for example, can be frustrating when everything at the back becomes difficult to see or reach. Pull-out shelving and organizers can bring the contents towards you, while full-extension drawers allow you to access the entire drawer rather than losing usable space at the back.

If better organization isn’t enough and you genuinely need more storage, we can also look at options such as a custom-built kitchen island with deep drawers, shelving and integrated waste storage.

Check out our Services page for more information.

Yes. We can upgrade suitable drawers to full-extension soft-close slides, with new drawer boxes.

Full-extension slides allow the drawer to extend further from the cabinet, making items stored at the back considerably easier to access. Soft-close slides control the final part of the closing movement so the drawer closes smoothly.

When considering cabinet and drawer quality, the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association’s Quality Cabinet Certification program provides useful information about recognized performance testing for cabinet doors, drawers, finishes and structural components.

It’s a relatively small change compared with replacing an entire kitchen, but it’s something you’ll notice every time you use the drawers.

If we’re already refacing the kitchen, it’s a good opportunity to look beyond appearance and consider which hardware and storage improvements would make the existing cabinetry more pleasant and practical to use.

Yes. Existing cabinets can often be made much more useful by changing what happens inside them.

We can install pull-outs, spice racks and organizers and add pull-out shelving to pantry cabinets. These solutions can be particularly useful in deep cabinetry where items are difficult to see and reach.

The right solution depends on what you store and how you use the kitchen. Someone who cooks regularly may benefit from easily accessible spice and ingredient storage, while another household may get more value from improved pantry access or better organization of cookware.

This is one reason we look at functionality as well as appearance when updating a kitchen.

Visit our Services page for more information.

Potentially, yes. Refacing your cabinets doesn’t mean that your countertops have to be replaced.

If you’re happy with the existing countertop and it works with the changes being made to the cabinetry, retaining it may be an option.

On the other hand, if the countertop is worn, damaged or simply doesn’t suit the new cabinet style, replacing it at the same time can help bring the whole kitchen together.

We offer laminate countertops from major brands in a wide range of colors, patterns and edge profiles. We also make custom butcher block countertops in our workshop for homeowners looking for the warmth and character of real wood.

We’ll look at the countertop as part of the overall kitchen rather than assuming it has to stay or has to go.

Visit our Services page for more details.

We offer economical laminate countertops as well as custom butcher block countertops.

Laminate can be a very practical choice for a busy kitchen and is available in a much broader range of colors, patterns and edge profiles than many homeowners realize. We work with major brands and can custom-size the countertop to suit your layout.

For those wanting a natural wood surface, we also create custom butcher block countertops in our workshop. Each piece is made to order rather than trying to make a standard-sized product work in a space it wasn’t designed for.

The right option will depend on your preferred look, how you use the kitchen and the budget you’re working with.

For more information visit our Services page.

Yes. We design and build custom kitchen islands to suit the space and the way you want your kitchen to function.

An island can provide additional preparation and counter space, but it can also solve storage problems. We can incorporate features such as deep drawers, pull-out shelves and integrated waste systems.

The island can be designed to match your existing or newly refaced cabinetry so it feels like part of the original kitchen. Alternatively, you may prefer a contrasting color or finish and make the island a feature in its own right.

Because it’s custom built in our workshop, we can design around your available space and requirements rather than limiting you to a standard-sized island.

Yes. We make custom floating shelves that can either match your cabinetry or coordinate with it.

Each shelf is made to suit the required dimensions, and you can choose the material and finish. We use quality construction with mitered edges and ends to create a clean, finished appearance.

Floating shelves can be particularly effective where you want to break up a solid run of cabinetry, create easily accessible storage or introduce an area for displaying items you actually want to see.

Because they’re custom made, they can be designed as part of the overall kitchen rather than looking like an unrelated shelf that was added afterwards.

This is where it’s important to distinguish between basic cabinet refacing and the broader work we can do.

Refacing by itself primarily changes the visible parts of the cabinetry. In fact, one of the commonly cited limitations of conventional refacing is that it doesn’t inherently fix storage or layout problems.

However, we’re not limited to simply replacing doors and drawer fronts.

We can combine refacing with cabinet modifications, full-extension soft-close drawers, pull-outs, spice racks, pantry organizers and other improvements. We can also build a custom island where additional storage or counter space is needed.

That means we can look at both sides of the project: how you want the kitchen to look and what currently frustrates you about using it.

For more details visit our Services page.

For a straightforward cabinet refacing project, the installation itself will often take around 1 week depending on the size of the kitchen and the amount of work involved. That’s broadly in line with industry benchmarks for professional refacing projects. Production work of doors and drawers and professional finishing can take 4-6 weeks, installation coordinates with this schedule at the conclusion of the project. The disruption to your home only be that week or so.

A smaller kitchen with standard door and drawer replacement may be completed more quickly, while a larger or more customized project can take longer.

For example, additional time may be needed if we’re also modifying cabinets to fit new appliances, replacing drawer boxes, adding pull-outs or storage accessories, installing new countertops, or incorporating custom-built elements such as an island.

We’re based in Fort Collins and work with homeowners throughout Fort Collins and Northern Colorado.

Our main service area includes Fort Collins and surrounding communities, including Loveland, Windsor and Timnath.

If you’re located elsewhere in Northern Colorado, please get in touch to see whether we can help with your project.