Green Kitchen Cabinets: Reface, Don't Replace

By Leslie A.M.
RefacingCabinet.com Columnist

Green kitchen cabinets are often touted to be best when made of a sustainable material like bamboo. Really, the most green material for a home is always the material that is already there. Before you go shopping for new cabinets or replacement kitchen cabinet doors, start calling cabinet refacers to see when they can give you an estimate.

Green Kitchen Cabinets

According to green building regulations, re-using materials are one of the best ways to mitigate waste and spare landfills from large, bulky items. Resurfacing kitchen cabinets is oftentimes your best option if you want your home to be as green and as eco-friendly as it can be.

How to Reface Kitchen Cabinets

You can call professional cabinet refacers or you can put on your tool belt. As long as your cabinets are in good shape, resurfacing kitchen cabinets is a reasonable do-it-yourself project. You can apply veneer to your cabinets or use paint or stain. Depending on the material you start with, your best options will be evident. In addition to adding a new surface, you might need to do some minor kitchen cabinet repair to tighten hinges.

Cabinet Refacing Prices

The best part of your green kitchen cabinets is the green you will save. Resurfacing kitchen cabinets can be done for a small fraction of the cost of new kitchen cabinets. A few gallons of paint, sand paper and some wood fill don't cost much more than $100. If you choose to update your hardware with new knobs and drawer pulls, that's where more of your cost will be--depending on your choices. But even a few hundred dollars all totaled is much less than a whole new kitchen.

With green on your pocket and green in your home, you'll be cooking up some good times in your updated kitchen.

 

About The Author

Leslie A.M. Smith is a freelance writer and desperately needs a new kitchen. Until she can afford it, she has her eye on refacing her cabinets.