Three ways to change cabinets
| Option | What it is | Fits when | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| New cabinets | Boxes, doors and drawers are replaced. | The boxes are worn or damaged, the layout needs to change, or storage falls short. | Lead time, exact measurements, appliance specs, and that the countertop is measured after the cabinets are set. |
| Refacing | New doors and drawer fronts, and new veneer on the visible faces of the existing boxes. | The boxes are sound and the layout works. | It cannot change the layout, and old box sizes and damage stay. |
| Refinishing or painting | The existing doors and boxes are cleaned, repaired and refinished. | The doors are solid and well built and you mainly want a different look. | Preparation decides the result. In a house built before 1978, paint on old cabinets may contain lead. |
Ask for more than one option in writing when you are unsure. Refacing keeps the boxes, which avoids tearing out and rebuilding, but it only makes sense if the boxes are worth keeping.
Are your cabinet boxes worth keeping?
- Look inside, not just at the doors. Water damage near the sink, swollen or crumbling board and sagging shelves are signs the boxes are finished.
- Check that drawers and doors close square. Frames that have racked are hard to fix.
- Ask whether the layout is the reason you are unhappy. New doors will not fix a sink that is too far from the dishwasher.
- If you are changing the counters to a heavier material, the boxes need to carry it.
What good storage looks like
The cabinets you choose matter less than what goes inside them. These are the changes homeowners most often ask for:
- Drawers instead of doors in the base run, so you see what is in the back.
- A pull-out for the trash and recycling near the sink.
- A corner solution, such as a corner drawer or a swing-out, instead of a dark blind corner.
- Deep drawers for pots, and shallow ones for utensils and spices.
- Tall cabinets to the ceiling where the room allows, to use the dead space on top.
Materials and construction, in plain terms
Cabinets are generally built either with a face frame, where a solid frame sits on the front of the box and the doors attach to it, or frameless, where the doors attach to the box sides and the opening is slightly larger. Boxes are made of plywood, particleboard or similar board, and doors are made of solid wood, veneered board or painted board. Ask what the boxes and drawer boxes are made of, how the drawers are joined, and what the finish is. Those answers say more than the door style does.
Permits and your town
The state building code lists cabinets, countertops and similar finish work that does not involve structural changes among the work exempt from a permit, and town guides such as East Haven’s say the same. Some towns add that replacing cabinets can need a permit depending on the layout. If any plumbing or electrical work comes with the cabinets, that part is permit work. See permits in New Haven.
Cabinets and countertops go together
The countertop fabricator measures after the cabinets are set, so plan the two as one job. Kitchen countertops explains the sequence, and the order of work shows where each step falls.
Common questions
Is refacing cheaper than new cabinets?
Refacing keeps the boxes, so it avoids demolition and rebuilding, which is where much of the work in a replacement goes. Whether it costs less for your kitchen depends on the size and the materials. Ask for both options in writing and compare.
How long do new cabinets take to arrive?
It varies by maker, style and finish. Ask the supplier for a written date before demolition starts, so the kitchen is not torn out while you wait.
Can I change the layout with refacing?
No. Refacing changes the faces, not the footprint. If the layout needs to change, see kitchen layout changes.