888-885-2058
License # 770558
License # 770558
Before you spend a single dollar on your kitchen, you need to answer one question: are your existing cabinets worth keeping? It’s the question that determines whether you’re looking at a $10,000 refresh or a $50,000 gut job — and most homeowners don’t know how to answer it.
Contractors have a financial incentive to recommend whatever generates the biggest project. That’s not a knock on contractors — it’s just how business works. But it means the advice you get during a sales call might not be the most objective. So here’s a diagnostic you can do yourself, right now, in about five minutes. No tools required. Our company is here for you with honest information, whether you hire us or not.
But if you have thermofoil or laminate cabinets, if your kitchen has more than 20 doors, or if you’re trying to go from dark to white, the margin for error gets extremely thin. One skip in the prep process and you’ll be watching paint flake off within months. In those cases, hiring a professional whether for full refinishing or refacing is almost always the smarter investment.
Doors that are slightly out of alignment are almost always a hinge problem easily fixed for a few dollars per hinge. But doors that are visibly warped, cracked, or swollen indicate water damage or material failure. That’s a door replacement issue, which refacing solves perfectly. If the doors are fine structurally but just look dated, both refinishing and refacing are on the table.
Open a cabinet door and knock on the interior side walls and bottom of the cabinet box. You’re feeling for two things: Is it solid, or does it feel soft and spongy? Does it sound solid, or hollow and thin?
Solid wood and quality plywood boxes will feel firm and sound substantial. Particleboard that has absorbed moisture will feel soft, especially along the bottom edges. Take a look at the corners — if you see swelling, discoloration, or the material crumbling where screws go in, the box is compromised. A few bad boxes can be repaired or replaced individually. If most of your boxes are failing, full replacement is the honest answer.
Put a glass of water on an interior shelf. Does the water sit level, or does it drift to one side?
Cabinets that have settled significantly out of level can sometimes be re-shimmed, but severe settling (where doors clearly don’t align with each other) may indicate structural issues with the wall or floor framing behind the cabinets. This is rare in most LA homes but worth checking. If your cabinets are level and plumb, that’s a strong indicator they’re worth saving.
Pull out your drawers all the way and inspect the joints. Dovetail joints (interlocking finger-like cuts) are a sign of quality construction. Stapled butt joints (where two pieces are just butted together and stapled) are builder-grade and may already be loosening.
Drawers with dovetail joints are absolutely worth keeping. Drawers with failing stapled joints can often be rebuilt or replaced individually — another thing a refacing project can include.
Put a glass of water on an interior shelf. Does the water sit level, or does it drift to one side?
Cabinets that have settled significantly out of level can sometimes be re-shimmed, but severe settling (where doors clearly don’t align with each other) may indicate structural issues with the wall or floor framing behind the cabinets. This is rare in most LA homes but worth checking. If your cabinets are level and plumb, that’s a strong indicator they’re worth saving.
We’ll be happy to help you identify your cabinet construction during a free, in-home consultation if you’re not sure what you’re looking at. We can show you what you need to know about your specific cabinets in person.
If your boxes are solid, level, and well-constructed: your cabinets are worth saving, period. You can transform your kitchen with refacing, refinishing, or painting for a fraction of replacement cost. This is the scenario we see in the majority of Los Angeles homes, including homes built decades ago with solid hardwood boxes.
If one or two boxes are damaged: they can likely be repaired or individually replaced as part of a refacing project. Don’t let a couple of bad boxes push you into a full kitchen replacement.
If most boxes are compromised: replacement is the right call. We’ll tell you that directly — we’re not going to sell you a refacing job on cabinets that can’t support it. We’d rather help you out with honest advice and earn your trust than take your money on a project that won’t last.
Whatever your results, we’re glad to offer a free assessment where we confirm your findings and walk you through options. Come see what we have for you — our services are designed for what you actually need, not a one-size-fits-all upsell.
Contact Cabinet Refresh at (888) 885-2058 or request a quote at cabinetrefresh.com. We serve all of greater Los Angeles and would love to take a look at your kitchen!