By Bruno Venichand, J. Perry & Sons — Florida CGC1540699
Cabinet refacing vs replacing comes down to the boxes. Refacing a typical 20–30 linear ft kitchen with new doors, drawer fronts and veneer on the boxes costs $10,000–$16,000 in South Florida. Replacing the cabinets with semi-custom plywood boxes runs $22,000–$45,000 installed, and usually brings new countertops with it. If the boxes are dry, square and in a layout you like, refacing wins. If they are swollen, sagging or in the wrong place, it does not. We handle both through J. Perry & Sons kitchen renovation.
Cabinet refacing vs replacing: cost side by side
| Option | What changes | Typical kitchen (20–30 linear ft) |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet painting, sprayed enamel | Finish only; same doors, boxes, hardware | $120–$170 per door or drawer front |
| Refacing | New doors, drawer fronts, hinges, pulls; veneer on box faces and end panels | $10,000–$16,000 |
| Refacing plus new drawer boxes and soft-close slides | Above, with new drawer interiors | $12,500–$19,000 |
| Replacement, semi-custom plywood boxes | Everything; counters removed and usually replaced | $22,000–$45,000 cabinets installed |
| Replacement with new quartz counters | Cabinets plus template, fabrication and install | add $7,750–$13,000 |
| Full mid-range remodel, same layout | Cabinets, tops, backsplash, floor, permit | $54,000–$80,000 |
Refacing keeps the existing countertops in most cases, which is where a lot of its savings come from. A new cabinet run means removing the old tops, and stone rarely survives removal in a reusable shape.
When refacing is the better choice
Refacing makes sense when the problem is how the kitchen looks, not how it works. The checklist we use on a site visit:
- The boxes are plywood or solid particleboard with no swelling at the sink base or dishwasher sides.
- The face frames are square and the doors close evenly once adjusted.
- The layout works: the sink, range and refrigerator are where you want them.
- The countertops are staying, or you are fine with new tops on the same footprint.
- You want the kitchen usable during the work. Refacing is mostly done with the kitchen in service.
A refaced kitchen with new pulls, under-cabinet lighting and a new backsplash often reads as a new kitchen at roughly a third of the cost of a remodel. Pair it with our kitchen backsplash cost guide to price the full refresh.
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or send us your project. Send a photo of the kitchen and one close-up of the sink base cabinet open, and we'll tell you the same day whether refacing is on the table.
Call (561) 556-7509 or send us your project with photos, the city, approximate dimensions, and material selections.
When replacing the cabinets wins
Replacement is the right call when any of these is true:
- Water damage. Particleboard under a sink or next to a dishwasher swells and does not come back. Florida humidity and one slow leak are enough. Veneer over a swollen box will peel.
- Layout. You want an island, a moved sink, a wall removed or taller uppers. Refacing cannot change cabinet sizes or positions.
- Height and depth. Builder-grade 30" uppers under a soffit can only be refaced as 30" uppers. Going to 42" or ceiling height means new boxes.
- Function. Deep drawers instead of base shelves, a pull-out pantry, a trash pull-out. A few can be retrofitted; a full reorganization needs new boxes.
- New counters anyway. If the stone is coming off regardless, the price gap between refacing and replacing narrows.
What each job involves
Refacing. We remove doors and drawer fronts, clean and scuff the face frames, apply a matching veneer or laminate to the frames and exposed end panels, then hang new doors on new soft-close hinges and fit new drawer fronts. Crown, light rail and toe-kick panels are replaced to match. On a standard kitchen this is 3–5 working days and the sink stays in service.
Replacing. Counters are disconnected and removed, cabinets come out, the wall is patched, and the floor under the old cabinets is dealt with. If the floor tile stops at the old cabinet line, a new layout exposes bare slab, which is why many replacements turn into a new floor. New boxes are set, scribed and anchored, then countertops are templated and fabricated over 7–14 days. See the kitchen remodel timeline for the full sequence.
South Florida factors that change the math
Humidity and box material. Plywood boxes hold screws and resist swelling better than particleboard. Many 1990s and 2000s tract kitchens in Broward and Palm Beach have particleboard boxes; we check the sink base and dishwasher sides before recommending a reface.
Condo buildings. Refacing is quieter, generates almost no debris and usually avoids the elevator reservations and dumpster rules that come with a full tear-out. Some associations treat it as cosmetic work.
Permits. Neither refacing nor a same-place cabinet swap usually needs a permit. Moving plumbing or adding circuits does, and we pull it.
Resale. In higher-end neighborhoods, buyers open drawers. Refaced doors on tired drawer boxes show. Adding new dovetail drawer boxes and full-extension slides to a reface closes most of that gap.
Kitchen cabinet work by city
- Kitchen renovation in Weston
- Kitchen renovation in Pembroke Pines
- Kitchen renovation in Boynton Beach
- Kitchen renovation in Jupiter
- Kitchen renovation in Tamarac
- Kitchen renovation in Miami Beach
- Kitchen renovation in Miramar
Related guides: Kitchen remodel cost · Kitchen island addition cost · Quartzite countertop cost
Prefer to send photos or plans? Send us your project
Cabinet refacing vs replacing — FAQ
Is refacing cabinets cheaper than replacing them? Yes, typically by half or more. Refacing a 20–30 ft kitchen runs $10,000–$16,000, while new semi-custom cabinets installed run $22,000–$45,000 before countertops.
Can you reface cabinets with water damage? No. Swollen particleboard will not hold veneer or hinges. Damaged boxes are replaced, sometimes just the sink base, and the rest of the run can still be refaced if the sizes match.
Do I need new countertops if I reface? No. Refacing is done around the existing tops. If you want new counters anyway, compare the total against replacement before deciding.
How long does cabinet refacing take? Three to five working days on site for most kitchens, after the doors are made. Replacement with new counters takes several weeks.
How do I get an exact price? Call (561) 556-7509 or send photos and rough dimensions through our project form. A written estimate is typically ready within 24–48 hours after a site review and scope confirmation.
Free estimate — call (561) 556-7509 or send us your project. Licensed Florida general contractor CGC1540699. Serving Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties.
Call (561) 556-7509 or send us your project with photos, the city, approximate dimensions, and material selections.