Why I think cabinet refacing is a total waste of money for most homes

I refaced my kitchen cabinets three years ago instead of replacing them and I seriously regret it. Everyone in the DIY community talks about refacing like it's this amazing budget option. But here's the thing - that guy who sold me the veneer told me "it'll look brand new for a decade." Well after about 18 months the edges started peeling up where my kids grab the handles. Then last week I noticed the door hinges are getting loose because the particle board underneath is never gonna hold up like real wood. I spent $1,200 on materials and all that time measuring and cutting. For like $800 more I could have just built simple shaker doors from scratch that would actually last. Has anyone else had their refacing job fall apart way sooner than they expected?

2 comments

2 Comments

angela_park3d ago

Wait, you're saying the edges peeled up after 18 months? I was actually one of those people who thought refacing was the smart move, I almost did it to my own kitchen last year. The idea of saving money and keeping the same box structure seemed so practical, I was ready to order the veneer and everything. But hearing that your hinges started getting loose because the particle board underneath can't hold up, that makes total sense now, I never thought about how the base material really matters. Honestly you changed my mind completely, I was about to waste a bunch of time and money on something that sounds like it just falls apart way too fast.

noah_palmer423d ago

Dude same thing happened to my buddy. He did the whole refacing thing thinking he was being smart and saving cash. After like a year and a half the edges looked terrible and the hinges were all wobbly. The particle board underneath just gets soft and can't hold screws anymore, it's a total joke. You definitely dodged a bullet by not going through with it, the money saved is not worth the headache later lol.