Whether you are embarking on a top-to-bottom kitchen remodel or just seeking a bit more storage space, choosing the right cabinets will be vital to the success of the project and the ease of your future meal preparation. Over the past couple of years, there has been a move away from traditional cabinet replacement and toward so-called refacing options. But should you really just slap a fresh coat of paint on your existing kitchen infrastructure and call it a day?
Cabinet refacing may be popular, but it’s not always the right option, and there are many reasons to replace those old cabinets when considering a kitchen remodel instead of just covering them up. No amount of new hardware can compete with the durability and the beauty of real wood cabinets. Here are just some of the benefits you can enjoy when you avoid the refacing trap and choose real wood cabinets instead.
Greater Durability
When you choose refacing, your old cabinets may look new again, but in the end, that is only an illusion. The façade may be fresh, but the cabinets themselves are still old, and that means they may not last as long as you had hoped.
A kitchen remodel is a large and complicated undertaking, not something you want to repeat more than necessary. By choosing quality wood cabinets and fully replacing the existing hardware, you will gain the kind of longevity that no refacing project can match.
Built-In Storage Options
One of the most common reasons to embark on a kitchen remodel is to gain more storage space. Many a home chef has lamented their lack of storage, and they eventually will get tired of stacking all those frying pans and cooking pots.
If you reface and cover up your existing cabinets, you will do nothing to address your current storage problem. The cabinets themselves will still be the same crowded mess, and that will undercut the very goal you started with.
When you replace those worn-out old cabinets with new ones, you can choose from a wide variety of storage options. From slots that hold all those frying pans to drawers that keep stock pots securely in place, these storage solutions can be incredibly beneficial.
Increased Resale Value
A kitchen remodel is one of the most effective home improvements in terms of future resale value. If you are thinking about selling your home, putting in a new kitchen and a set of top-quality cabinets is a great place to start.
To the casual observer, those refaced and covered-up cabinets may look just like the real thing, but you can bet that savvy buyers and real estate agents will look beneath the surface. Having real wood cabinets could give you a competitive edge in a tough real estate market, making it easier and more profitable to sell your home.
As you embark on your kitchen remodeling project, you will need to make a choice, and that decision could prove more consequential than you know. It’s true that cabinet refacing has become an increasingly popular option in recent years, but that does not make it the superior choice. Real wood cabinets will always be more durable, more beautiful, more stylish, and more valuable than refacing, so make your selection with the care your kitchen deserves.