DIY Cabinet Refacing vs. Hiring a Pro: What You Should Know

Whether you choose to DIY your cabinet refacing project or hire a pro will ultimately come down to your skills, budget, and the results you’re looking for. While DIY will save you money and provide more creative control, it takes significant time, tools, and precision.

When you hire a pro like Big Easy Renovations, you can be confident in their expertise, high-quality materials, and durable finishes. Pros have experience dealing with the unexpected and can tackle it quickly. Each option comes with its own set of advantages. Do the math beforehand to weigh the costs, labor, and long-term benefits before you commit.

What Is Cabinet Refacing?

Cabinet refacing is a simple way to update your kitchen or bathroom. It’s more time and cost-effective than a complete cabinet tear-out. This process accentuates the attractive aspects of your cabinets, including doors and drawer fronts.

It usually means redoing the cabinet frames but keeping the original structure intact. This method is especially attractive to homeowners looking for a fresh appearance without stretching their budget.

Hiring a Professional for Cabinet Refacing

By hiring a professional for your cabinet refacing, you’ll guarantee the best quality and precision. It’s nearly impossible to replicate that kind of craftsmanship with DIY endeavors. Refacing specialists have years of practice and technical expertise. They use high-performance materials to provide you with a professional-looking result that will enhance both the beauty and longevity of your cabinets.

Services Provided by Professionals

Professional cabinet refacing involves the removal of old fronts and the repair of structures, while a new set of doors and veneers is installed. A host of companies today offer several finishes, some custom, but strong 3D laminates can be installed as well.

Such advanced material working experience helps transform the space into a modern and permanent look. Many minor adjustments involve matching doors to install new hardware or provide cabinet storage to refresh the complete structure.

Benefits of Hiring a Professional

A seasoned contractor makes re-facing a cabinet piece of cake. He knows all the technical steps in sanding and applying a veneer to create a smooth and beautiful finish. Professional technicians employ their skills for accurate results.

Most expert cabinet refacing businesses provide a warranty of 1-5 years to cover against defects. Homeowners who choose to hire a professional do not need to purchase expensive, specialty equipment that can cost several hundred dollars.

Potential Drawbacks of Hiring a Pro

Professional service will result in a higher-quality finish but will cost more than doing it yourself. A homeowner should plan for labor and materials, depending on the size of the project and the finish options chosen.

A professional’s services will not be as prone to costly errors since 20-25% of calls to correct poorly executed DIY cabinet work demonstrate the challenge of attempting such projects on one’s own.

Comparing Costs and Time Commitment

When considering DIY cabinet refacing versus hiring a professional, understanding the financial and time investment for each option is crucial. Each approach has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, which should match your budget, technical abilities, and project timeline.

Cost Breakdown for DIY Refacing

It costs more than 50% less than cabinet replacement, thus ideal for any homeowner who cannot afford to break the bank to refinish a cabinet. This cost ranges between $200 to $2,000, depending on the size of your kitchen and the quality of materials used, which includes veneer, paint, and adhesive.

Additional hardware costs $100 to $1,000, depending on the style and finish. However, some hidden costs may add up, such as renting tools or equipment and mistakes, especially if you are not experienced in home improvement.

Cost Breakdown for Hiring a Professional

A professional ensures precision and convenience, but his services can be expensive. Refacing a mid-sized kitchen generally costs between $4,501 and $10,546. Labor usually runs over 50% of the total cost in this range.

This expense covers professional craftsmanship, high-quality materials, and warranty coverage to ensure long-lasting. Remodeling a kitchen entirely can run anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000; refacing cabinets should be significantly less expensive for a professional.

Time Required for Each Option

Like any major DIY refacing project, it requires a lot of flexibility and patience. This would take a moderately skilled homeowner one to two weeks. Professionals, on the other hand, can complete the same amount of work in as little as 1-3 days, thus not interrupting your day-to-day activities for long. The short period means that no one waits too long to get results, but quality finishes are not compromised.

Pros and Cons of DIY vs Hiring a Pro

If you’re considering cabinet refacing, consider the pros and cons of tackling the project yourself. Weigh the difficulties you face when hiring a professional. Each option addresses different needs, based on your skills, time, and priorities.

Pros of DIY Cabinet Refacing

By working on a project DIY, you have control over your project. You can take your time and choose materials, finishes, and styles to your liking, work around your schedule, and sometimes save money on tools if you already have what you need.

The more experience you get with doing projects yourself, the easier future projects will be. This is a good opportunity to get hands-on training if you enjoy hands-on work. Most of all, you’ll be customizing your kitchen!

Cons of DIY Cabinet Refacing

Most DIY projects take even part-time hours a day. You will consume all the evenings and weekends without sanding, painting, or installing. Buying tools you do not already have is very quick money to spend.

Poor mistakes in the refacing process can lead to mismatched textures and colors. They can lead to poorly installed veneers, which drastically decrease the lifespan of your cabinets. Without the skill of a professional, getting a beautiful, durable outcome is difficult at best.

Pros of Hiring a Professional

Professionals guarantee a nice, seamless finish with both experience and speed. When you hire a service, you won’t have to purchase a single tool. You avoid that second, third, and fourth trip back to the hardware store.

Experienced contractors can often complete projects in a matter of days, saving you days, weeks, or months of disruption to your home and routine. Handled the right way, professionally refaced cabinets should last you more than a decade and a half. This level of durability means that they are truly worth the investment!

Cons of Hiring a Professional

The biggest con to hiring a professional is still the price. Though it is more expensive upfront than doing it yourself, you have to balance that with the long-term savings. With a professional service, you will avoid costly errors and ensure that the job gets done right the first time.

Spark Your Home With Cabinet Refacing

You may reface your cabinets if you wish to change your kitchen, but cannot handle the price point for a full remodel. Refacing is either DIY or professionally done. One could save money and enjoy the satisfaction of doing this type of work on their own; however, time, tools, and patience are required.

On the other hand, professionals do the job precisely and of high quality, but costs you more. The choice depends on your skills at DIY, your budget, and your timeline. If you want something quick, the pro would be the best choice; if you like working with your hands, then DIY is a great option.

In any case, cabinet refacing can beautify your home. Ready to get started? Contact us at Big Easy Renovations and let’s bring new life to your space together!