Los Angeles homeowners facing tired kitchen cabinets inevitably confront a decision that affects both budget and home value. Should you refinish existing cabinets or replace them entirely? This question has no universal answer, but understanding the factors involved helps make an informed choice that serves your specific situation.
The Quality Question
Before discussing costs or aesthetics, examine what you currently have. Cabinets built before 1990 in quality Los Angeles homes often feature construction methods rarely seen in modern manufacturing.
Hallmarks of quality cabinets worth refinishing:
Solid wood doors and face frames, not particleboard with veneer
Dovetail drawer construction
Plywood box construction rather than particleboard
Full extension drawer slides
Adjustable hinges properly mounted
Substantial thickness in doors and frames
Open a cabinet door and look at the edge. If you see solid wood all the way through, you have cabinets worth preserving. If you see particleboard or MDF with a thin veneer, replacement might make more sense.
Understanding Refinishing
Cabinet refinishing transforms appearance while preserving existing structure. The process addresses only the finish, not the cabinet boxes or layout.
Professional refinishing process:
Doors and drawer fronts removed and taken to workshop
Complete stripping of old finish
Repair of any damage to wood
Progressive sanding to smooth surface
Custom stain application
Multiple coats of durable protective finish
Cabinet boxes refinished in place
Hardware cleaned or replaced
Doors and drawers reinstalled and adjusted
Timeline typically runs two to three weeks for an average kitchen. During this time, the kitchen remains partially functional with appliances and sink operational.
Understanding Replacement
Cabinet replacement means removing everything and installing new boxes, doors, and drawers. This allows layout changes but creates significant disruption.
Replacement process involves:
Complete demolition of existing cabinets
Disposal of old materials
Potential electrical and plumbing modifications
New cabinet installation
Countertop removal and replacement often necessary
New hardware installation
Trim and finishing work
Timeline extends to four to eight weeks. The kitchen becomes completely unusable during much of this period.
Cost Comparison Reality
The financial difference between refinishing and replacement is substantial and grows with kitchen size.
Average Los Angeles kitchen (20 cabinet doors, 10 drawers):
Refinishing costs:
Professional refinishing: $8,000 to $12,000
New hardware if desired: $400 to $800
Minor repairs: $200 to $500
Total: $8,600 to $13,300
Replacement costs:
Stock cabinets: $15,000 to $25,000
Semi-custom cabinets: $25,000 to $40,000
Custom cabinets: $40,000 to $70,000
Installation labor: $3,000 to $8,000
Countertop replacement: $3,000 to $8,000
Electrical/plumbing modifications: $1,000 to $3,000
Disposal and demolition: $800 to $1,500
Total: $22,800 to $90,500
Refinishing saves $14,000 to $77,000 while often preserving superior cabinet construction.
When Refinishing Makes Best Sense
Certain situations favor refinishing strongly. If several factors apply to your kitchen, refinishing likely delivers better value than replacement.
Refinishing is ideal when:
Cabinet boxes are solid and well constructed
Layout works well for your needs
Doors and drawers operate smoothly
Only appearance needs updating
Budget is moderate
Timeline is important
You want to minimize disruption
Original wood quality is high
Maintaining home’s architectural character matters
When Replacement Might Be Better
Some situations genuinely warrant replacement despite higher costs. If multiple factors apply, replacement might be the right choice.
Consider replacement when:
Cabinet boxes are damaged or poor quality
Layout is dysfunctional for your needs
Doors and drawers don’t close properly due to structural issues
You want to change cabinet sizes or configuration
Particle board construction is deteriorating
Budget allows for complete renovation
You’re doing whole kitchen remodel anyway
The Style Update Question
Many homeowners want style changes, assuming this requires replacement. Actually, refinishing offers surprising flexibility in updating appearance.
Style changes possible through refinishing:
Color transformation from dark to light or vice versa
Moving from golden oak to contemporary gray
Updating from cherry to walnut tones
Changing from glossy to matte finish
Adding or removing glaze effects
What refinishing cannot change is door style itself. If you have raised panel doors and want flat contemporary doors, that requires replacement. But if the door style works and only color needs updating, refinishing accomplishes this beautifully.
Quality of Results Comparison
This might surprise homeowners: properly refinished cabinets often look better than new mid-range cabinets. The reason lies in application method.
Professional refinishing advantages:
Hand applied finishes create depth factory spraying cannot match
Custom color mixing produces exactly the right tone
Multiple thin coats build superior protection
Individual attention to each door ensures consistency
Quality of original solid wood shows through finish
Factory cabinet finishing prioritizes speed over perfection. Finishes are sprayed quickly with minimal hand work. Results are adequate but lack the depth and richness hand application provides.
Durability Considerations
Both refinished and new cabinets need eventual maintenance. The question is how long before that maintenance is needed.
Refinished cabinet longevity:
Kitchen cabinets: 12 to 20 years before next refinishing
Bathroom cabinets: 15 to 25 years
Low use cabinets: 20 to 30 years
New cabinet longevity:
Quality custom cabinets: 15 to 25 years
Mid-range cabinets: 10 to 20 years
Budget cabinets: 7 to 15 years
Properly refinished solid wood cabinets match or exceed the longevity of new cabinets while costing substantially less.
The Environmental Angle
Los Angeles homeowners increasingly consider environmental impact. The difference between refinishing and replacement is dramatic.
Refinishing environmental benefits:
Keeps functional cabinets out of landfills
No manufacturing energy for new cabinets
No transportation emissions
No packaging waste
Reduced construction debris
Lower overall carbon footprint
For environmentally conscious homeowners, refinishing aligns with sustainability values while also saving money.
Making Your Decision
Start by honestly assessing what you have and what you need. Open cabinet doors and examine construction quality. Think about whether layout works or needs changing. Consider your budget and timeline.
Decision framework:
If cabinets are solid wood, layout works, and you primarily want updated appearance, refinishing delivers excellent value. If boxes are deteriorating particleboard, layout is dysfunctional, or you want significant changes, replacement makes more sense despite higher costs.
For most Los Angeles homes with quality older cabinets, professional refinishing provides the smart balance of appearance, cost, and longevity.
Getting Expert Assessment
The best way to make this decision is having someone knowledgeable examine your specific situation. Photos help but in person assessment reveals details affecting whether refinishing will deliver the results you want.
At Romani Restoration, we provide honest assessments. If your cabinets are poor candidates for refinishing, we’ll tell you. Our specialty is refinishing, so we have no incentive to recommend replacement. We want clients to receive results they love, which requires being appropriate candidates for the service.
Cabinet Refinishing vs Replacement: Making the Right Choice for Your Los Angeles Kitchen
Los Angeles homeowners facing tired kitchen cabinets inevitably confront a decision that affects both budget and home value. Should you refinish existing cabinets or replace them entirely? This question has no universal answer, but understanding the factors involved helps make an informed choice that serves your specific situation.
The Quality Question
Before discussing costs or aesthetics, examine what you currently have. Cabinets built before 1990 in quality Los Angeles homes often feature construction methods rarely seen in modern manufacturing.
Hallmarks of quality cabinets worth refinishing:
Open a cabinet door and look at the edge. If you see solid wood all the way through, you have cabinets worth preserving. If you see particleboard or MDF with a thin veneer, replacement might make more sense.
Understanding Refinishing
Cabinet refinishing transforms appearance while preserving existing structure. The process addresses only the finish, not the cabinet boxes or layout.
Professional refinishing process:
Timeline typically runs two to three weeks for an average kitchen. During this time, the kitchen remains partially functional with appliances and sink operational.
Understanding Replacement
Cabinet replacement means removing everything and installing new boxes, doors, and drawers. This allows layout changes but creates significant disruption.
Replacement process involves:
Timeline extends to four to eight weeks. The kitchen becomes completely unusable during much of this period.
Cost Comparison Reality
The financial difference between refinishing and replacement is substantial and grows with kitchen size.
Average Los Angeles kitchen (20 cabinet doors, 10 drawers):
Refinishing costs:
Replacement costs:
Refinishing saves $14,000 to $77,000 while often preserving superior cabinet construction.
When Refinishing Makes Best Sense
Certain situations favor refinishing strongly. If several factors apply to your kitchen, refinishing likely delivers better value than replacement.
Refinishing is ideal when:
When Replacement Might Be Better
Some situations genuinely warrant replacement despite higher costs. If multiple factors apply, replacement might be the right choice.
Consider replacement when:
The Style Update Question
Many homeowners want style changes, assuming this requires replacement. Actually, refinishing offers surprising flexibility in updating appearance.
Style changes possible through refinishing:
What refinishing cannot change is door style itself. If you have raised panel doors and want flat contemporary doors, that requires replacement. But if the door style works and only color needs updating, refinishing accomplishes this beautifully.
Quality of Results Comparison
This might surprise homeowners: properly refinished cabinets often look better than new mid-range cabinets. The reason lies in application method.
Professional refinishing advantages:
Factory cabinet finishing prioritizes speed over perfection. Finishes are sprayed quickly with minimal hand work. Results are adequate but lack the depth and richness hand application provides.
Durability Considerations
Both refinished and new cabinets need eventual maintenance. The question is how long before that maintenance is needed.
Refinished cabinet longevity:
New cabinet longevity:
Properly refinished solid wood cabinets match or exceed the longevity of new cabinets while costing substantially less.
The Environmental Angle
Los Angeles homeowners increasingly consider environmental impact. The difference between refinishing and replacement is dramatic.
Refinishing environmental benefits:
For environmentally conscious homeowners, refinishing aligns with sustainability values while also saving money.
Making Your Decision
Start by honestly assessing what you have and what you need. Open cabinet doors and examine construction quality. Think about whether layout works or needs changing. Consider your budget and timeline.
Decision framework:
If cabinets are solid wood, layout works, and you primarily want updated appearance, refinishing delivers excellent value. If boxes are deteriorating particleboard, layout is dysfunctional, or you want significant changes, replacement makes more sense despite higher costs.
For most Los Angeles homes with quality older cabinets, professional refinishing provides the smart balance of appearance, cost, and longevity.
Getting Expert Assessment
The best way to make this decision is having someone knowledgeable examine your specific situation. Photos help but in person assessment reveals details affecting whether refinishing will deliver the results you want.
At Romani Restoration, we provide honest assessments. If your cabinets are poor candidates for refinishing, we’ll tell you. Our specialty is refinishing, so we have no incentive to recommend replacement. We want clients to receive results they love, which requires being appropriate candidates for the service.
Contact Romani Restoration to discuss whether cabinet refinishing or replacement makes best sense for your Los Angeles kitchen.