Is Cabinet Refacing Really a Do-It-Yourself Job?

If you are thinking about a kitchen remodel, the possibility of doing it yourself has likely crossed your mind. Unless you are very handy with tools and have some home improvement experience, the thought of replacing your kitchen cabinets on your own is probably out of the question.

But what about refacing your kitchen cabinets? After all, it is just replacing the door fronts and drawer fronts, right?

Not so fast. Before you get too ambitious, let’s talk about what do-it-yourself really means in terms of cabinet refacing.

A kitchen after refacing. Image credit: cabinetdoorsdepot.com

Reasons you could do it on your own

Think you’re ready to tackle the work on your own? There could be a few good reasons to do so:

1. The bottom line. Cabinet refacing cost is a very influential reason that drives homeowners to do the work themselves. If you know what you’re doing, you can save a lot of money. But if you don’t, then you might wind up paying more in the long run to have a contractor repair the mess.
2. Taking your time. Rather than set aside a few days for a contractor to work in your home, doing it yourself means that you call the shots and decide when to do the work. It might take longer this way, but if you don’t mind living with the mess for a while, this could work for you.
3. Your house is your own. When a contractor comes into your home to work, you might feel as though you have to be on your best behavior and keep your house looking its best. But when you do it on your own, you don’t have such worries. This can make the cabinet refacing a much more relaxing experience.

Why you should hire a contractor

On the other hand, there are many good reasons why people hire contractors to handle the work for them. Here are a few of the reasons a contractor is a good idea:

1. Let someone else be responsible. Why do all that work if you don’t have to? Hiring a professional means you can sit back, relax and let them do all the heavy lifting. From start to finish, the job is in their hands. You just make a few decisions on materials and write the checks.
2. Potential for custom work. Doing it yourself often means dealing with stock or semi-stock cabinets. If you want a custom look, hiring a professional is a must.
3. Warranties and guarantees. In some cases, kitchen cabinet manufacturers will only cover the warranties and guarantees if their product is installed by a professional. Doing the job yourself can void that warranty. That doesn’t matter much if you never have problems with your cabinets, but what if you do?

Which option is best for you?

If you are very good with tools, have some experience with home improvement projects and can afford the time it will take to do the job right, then handling cabinet refacing on your own is a possibility. But if you are like a majority of homeowners and don’t have much experience with the toolbox, cabinet refacing is a project best left to the professionals.

About Shannon Dauphin

Shannon Dauphin has written 13 posts in this blog.

Shannon Dauphin is a journalist and occasional novelist with a serious weakness for real estate. Her current home was built in 1901, so home repair and renovation have become her necessary hobbies.

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