Today’s cash-strapped consumers shouldn’t abandon hopes of affording kitchen remodeling to add functionality, beauty, and value to their homes. While rocky economic times and a poor housing market may make an entire makeover unattractive, there are certainly steps you can take to fix up your old, tired kitchen without sinking into debt.
If your existing cabinets are in sound working condition, you might find it extravagant to install new kitchen cabinets. Indeed, some home improvement experts cite the relative cost of having a professional complete a cabinet refacing project as a great way to reboot the busiest room in your house.
Cabinet Refacing Costs vs New Kitchen Cabinets
If you’re handy with woodworking tools and techniques, you may be able to complete your cabinet refacing job for as little as $300. Even if calling in a professional to do the work doubles the cost, you’ll still come out way ahead (by as much as 60 percent) of installing new kitchen cabinets.
Another primary concern homeowners have is whether their kitchen remodeling effort will displace them from their kitchen for an inordinate period of time. There’s no reason to expect to be relocated for more than a few days if you choose refacing over replacing. Refacing the cabinets and adding new doors, drawer fronts, and hardware, can be accomplished in just a few working days.
If you live in an older home, you may find that your original kitchen cabinets are well made–sturdier than less expensive, complete replacements on today’s market. That makes choosing refacing an attractive alternative. The price for a kitchen cabinet refacing project often won’t come close to a down payment on a complete replacement effort. It pays to make wise decisions in a distressed economy.
