The quick answer is absolutely yes. It’s not an endorsement, but an invitation to do all your homework before leaping at any cabinet refacing solution. Weigh the cost, durability, and maintenance advantages for wood, vinyl, and rigid thermofoil (RTF) laminate. Compare your cabinet materials for versatility, and resistance to heat, scratching, dents, and scrapes from everyday use.
If money is a large concern, you should know that wood veneer will cost more than plastic laminates and RTF products. And RTF laminate can be manufactured to look like granite, wood, or marble— at a dozen feet away.
How Does RTF Work?
Rigid thermofoil laminates are pressure-molded in styles that match-up well with plain, traditional kitchen designs. One benefit of the material is that it’s manufactured in a wide variety of colors and textures.
RTF is:
• Easy to clean with standard kitchen products.
• Seamless, resistant to mold, mildew, or rot.
• More sensitive to heat than wood.
What About Wood?
Wood can cost more than 25 percent over the price of other veneer products. But you do get an attractive surface that can instantly transform your kitchen. Of course, the price depends on the kind and quality of wood veneer that suits your budget.
Wood treatments are made by sandwiching particle board with a back and face wood veneer. You can choose hardwood and softwood surfaces with matching panels in symmetrical, random, or slip-matched sections. Some manufacturers specialize in exotic veneers with burls, knots, and textured patterns.
When it comes down to it, most homeowners will balance taste and ease of installation and maintenance against the cost. Right?
