Cabinet Refacing Supplies and Costs: What It Takes to Do the Job Right
By Kelly RichardsonRefacingCabinet.com Columnist
Hire a professional and keep your hands clean, or do it yourself (DIY) and save a boatload of money. That's the conundrum facing many homeowners when considering home improvement projects. Cabinet refacing is certainly no different. But here's a secret.
Refacing your cabinets is a project that you can do on your own. Even if your DIY skills are intermediate at best, there is a wealth of resources at your disposal--on the Internet and through your manufacturer--that can help you achieve success. Here's the lowdown on cabinet refacing supplies and costs to help you plan for the project.
Cabinet Refacing Supplies List
Chances are you have many of these items in your toolbox already. But DoItYourself.com offers this comprehensive list of tools and supplies for a trip to the home and garden center.
- Saws. A miter saw for angles, a circular saw for panels and a handsaw for excess materials
- Drivers. A cordless drill driver, flathead and Phillips screwdrivers, and assorted screws
- Nailers. A pneumatic Brad nailer, a hammer, and assorted nails
- Levelers. A level, assorted clamps and a straight edge
- Assorted Materials. A utility knife, a tape measure, a small pry bar, wood glue and a pencil
Estimated Cabinet Refacing Costs
So we return to the question: Hire a contractor and pay for the service or do it yourself and save some money. Here are two estimates on cabinet refacing costs to consider:
- Contractor. WOODWEB sets the price for cabinet refacing services at $125 per opening for installation labor--that's $2,125 for 17 openings.
- DIY. About.com's cabinet refacing blog maintains that you can save up to 50 percent of the custom price to do it yourself.
It all comes down to how much effort and money you're willing to put into the job. In other words, pay less and work harder or pay more and save time.
About The Author
Kelly C. Richardson, MEd is a freelance writer and manic do-it-yourselfer. He specializes in home improvement projects ranging from savvy landscaping to house repair and beyond. Find out more about him at kellyrichardsoncopywriting.com.
