Refacing puts new doors, drawer fronts and panels on the cabinet boxes you already have. So how long refaced cabinets last comes down to two things: the boxes you keep and the doors you choose.
Short answer: there is no single number. A refaced kitchen lasts as long as its boxes hold up and its new doors suit how the kitchen is used. Sound boxes, the right door material and simple care make the difference, which is why we check the boxes before we recommend refacing at all.
The boxes you keep
Refacing doesn’t renew the boxes. If they already have water damage, swelling or sagging, new doors won’t change that. We look at the boxes at the free in-home consultation and tell you if new cabinets would be the better choice. More on that in when to reface and when to replace.
The door material you choose
The new doors are the part you see and touch every day, and each material ages differently:
- Laminate is the most durable door we make, a hard surface that stands up to daily use.
- Thermofoil resists staining, cracking, chipping and warping, and wipes clean. Keep it away from sustained heat, including the oven’s self-cleaning cycle. It can’t be refinished, so a damaged door gets replaced.
- Painted MDF has no grain to show through the paint, and it doesn’t move with the seasons, so the doors stay square. A deep chip is a refinishing job, and the door can be resprayed years later.
- Solid hardwood varies in grain and colour, and paint on hardwood will show some grain over time.
- Aluminium frames don’t swell or warp with steam the way a wood frame can.
Compare them side by side in which cabinet door style is right for your Vancouver kitchen.
How you look after them
Simple care helps any door last. Wipe up spills and standing water straight away, don’t drape damp towels over the doors, and skip abrasive pads and cleaners with bleach or ammonia. Our product care guide has the full list.
Is refacing right for your kitchen?
If the boxes are sound and the layout works, refacing changes the look of the kitchen without replacing every cabinet. It is priced by quote. New doors and drawer fronts take 3 to 6 weeks to make, depending on the material, then a few days to a week to install.
See how we handle refacing your kitchen cabinets, or contact us for a free in-home consultation. You can also call (604) 559-8080, Monday to Friday, 9 to 5.