Kitchen Cabinet Refacing VS Replacing: Which Is Right For Your NJ Kitchen?

Kitchen cabinet remodeling is where the biggest savings hide. Refacing keeps sound boxes and replaces every visible surface for $7,500–$22,000; full replacement starts where cabinetry becomes 40% of a remodel. The right call depends entirely on what we find behind the doors.

Reface When The Boxes Are Sound

• Plywood or solid boxes with no swelling at the sink base.
• Layout already works and nothing needs to move.
• Face frames are square and firmly attached to the wall.
• You want a 1–3 week job instead of 5–8 weeks.

Replace When Any Of These Are True

• Particleboard boxes that are sagging, delaminating or water-damaged.
• You are moving the sink, range or a wall new layout, new cabinetry.
• You need different cabinet heights, depths or drawer configurations.
• The existing run has dead corners you cannot reach.

What Refacing Actually Includes?

New doors and drawer fronts, matching veneer on every exposed side and face frame, soft-close hinges and full-extension drawer boxes, plus new hardware. Done properly, nobody can tell it is not a new kitchen. Done cheaply, the veneer seams show in a year which is why we specify the finish in writing and warranty it.

A Real Example

An Edison homeowner came to us for a full replacement. The boxes were plywood and dead level, so we refaced, added two pull-outs and new quartz instead about $14,000 less than the quote they arrived with.