Author: James Zoppetti

Cabinet refacing is a big job, and one that you want to make sure is done right. Refacing your kitchen cabinets can refresh your space and help you update the look of your kitchen without having to replace your current cabinets.

Four Mistakes To Avoid When Getting Your Cabinets Refaced

Not Hiring A Professional For Cabinet Refacing

Cabinet refacing is not a do-it-yourself project. You need to hire a professional who has the experience and knowledge to do the job correctly. Trying to save money by doing it yourself will likely end up costing you more in the long run. It may end up looking worse! It is not simply installing new cabinets, it is the replacement of veneers and other components that are cut to cover the existing cabinet finish.

Not Preparing The Cabinets Properly

Once you’ve decided to have your kitchen cabinets refaced, the first step is to remove all of the doors, drawers, and hardware. This can be a time-consuming process, but it’s important to do it right. Otherwise, you risk damaging your cabinet boxes during this phase of the refacing process. This is still the simplest part of cabinet refacing, and you may be encouraged to continue, but the greatest difficulty is in the measuring and cutting.

Not Measuring Your Cabinets Properly

Before you start the refacing process, you need to take accurate measurements of your kitchen cabinets. This will ensure that the new doors and drawer fronts fit properly. Not measuring correctly is one of the most common mistakes made when refacing kitchen cabinets. This is where you will waste the most money.

Not Ordering Enough Material

When ordering material for cabinet refacing, always order more than you think you’ll need. It’s better to have too much material than not enough. This can be costly, however. If you run out of material in the middle of the project, it can be difficult to match the finish and style of the existing cabinets. If you are new to the process and not a professional cabinet refacer you will likely waste more product.

Kitchen Cabinet Refacing Services in Pittsburgh

Avoid these four mistakes, and your kitchen cabinet refacing project will go smoothly. Hiring a professional, preparing your cabinets, taking accurate measurements, and ordering enough material are the keys to success. With a little planning and attention to detail, you can have the kitchen of your dreams!

Work with Desirable Kitchens and Refacing today to refresh your kitchen!

If you’ve been thinking about refreshing your kitchen with a remodel, then you may be wondering if this type of home construction requires a permit.

As your top choice for kitchen remodeling in Pittsburgh, we have designed and built a variety of kitchens throughout the area. Using our expertise, we’ve put together a guide on the kitchen remodeling process.

Why do I Need a Permit?

Permits are used by your city to regulate construction. They are used as a way to govern the city safely while also ensuring energy conservation. While they can be inconvenient, not having the proper permits can cause your project to be delayed.

If you plan to move or add plumbing, electrical, walls, or mechanical elements within the home, then you will need a permit. On the other hand, if you are refinishing or removing your cabinets, you likely won’t need a permit.

Our team at Desirable Kitchens and Refacing can help answer any permit questions you may have!

Types of Kitchen Remodeling Permits

There are various types of permits to consider. If you are doing anything related to plumbing, electrical, or mechanical, then you will need a trade-specific permit. For example, if you are changing or moving the plumbing, you will need a plumbing permit.

The next permit you may need to consider is a building permit. If you plan to remove a wall, then a building permit is required. If you’re moving plumbing and removing a wall, you will need both a building permit and a plumbing permit.

To get a permit, you need first to have a draftsman measure your property and create drawings, known as as-built drawings, which show the home as it is currently built. Using this set of plans, a plan will be created for how you plan to remodel the kitchen.

How Will Permits Affect My Kitchen Remodel?

When starting a kitchen remodeling project, it’s important to understand the timeline for a remodel. It can take 4-6 weeks to obtain a kitchen remodeling permit, and once you have the permit, you will need to have your home inspected throughout the build.

While working with your local remodeling contractor, we will be able to call for inspections as needed. Keep in mind these inspections can cause delays as we will need to schedule the inspection and then stop work until the inspection approves.

Ready to Remodel Your Kitchen? Call us Today!

Our experienced team can help you bring your kitchen vision to life while making the permit process a breeze. We are kitchen remodeling experts in Pittsburgh! Contact us today to learn more!

Having great, functioning kitchen cabinets is critical to the convenience and flow of your kitchen. Since we use our cabinets daily, they experience wear and tear, leading to these and more; common issues with kitchen cabinets.
Continue reading “Common Kitchen Cabinet Issues”

Many of you may know that cabinet refacing is a viable alternative to a full kitchen remodel.  As cabinet refacing experts, when people come to us looking for an affordable kitchen remodel, they always ask about resurfacing or refinishing. These are completely different kitchen remodeling options.

Desirable Kitchens and Refacing would like to set the record straight on the differences between cabinet refacing and cabinet resurfacing as well as explain why cabinet refacing is the best option available to bring new life to your kitchen cabinets affordably.

Comparing Cabinet Refacing With Cabinet Resurfacing

The cabinet refacing process involves replacing everything but the cabinet boxes or frames with substitutes of your choice, essentially giving you new cabinets at a fraction of the price. The cabinet resurfacing process involves removing existing paint or stain and applying a new finish to your cabinets.

Cabinet Resurfacing Only Removes The Finish

Cabinet resurfacing, also known as cabinet refinishing, will only work with solid wood cabinets with a finish like paint or stain.  This can be accomplished by using strong chemicals that remove the adhesion between the paint and the wooden or by aggressively sanding and scraping the cabinet door and drawer fronts.

The cabinet resurfacing process is time-consuming and is only a cosmetic improvement to your kitchen cabinets that will not fix warped cabinet doors, dented cabinet doors, or issues with loose hardware.

If your cabinets are in good condition and do not have ornate designs and intricate facets, cabinet resurfacing is a suitable optoin.

Cabinet Refacing Removes All But The  Cabinet Frame

During a cabinet refacing project, the cabinet doors, the drawer fronts, hardware, toe kicks, and any valances, if they are present, are all removed from the cabinet frames. This is a much better option, especially if you just want to stay with the same layout as before and your cabinet frames are still in good condition.

At this point, the cabinet frames are prepared to receive new trim, doors, drawers, and a veneer or other finishing method to make the front of the cabinet frame match the new doors and drawers.

Refacing is not as time-consuming as resurfacing, though we do recommend hiring a professional since the process can be tricky, and noticeable mistakes can have you wishing you had just hired someone with experience to do it.

Cabinet Refacing is Better Than Resurfacing

With cabinet refacing, you are essentially getting new cabinets at a fraction of the price minus the boxes if they are still in good condition. You now have the option to select completely new designs and materials for ALL of the visible parts of your cabinets, including the hardware.

You can improve every aspect of your cabinets during the refacing process with less time and less money. You also do not need to deal with the harsh fumes from chemicals involved in the stripping process of resurfacing, as well as the fumes from the new paint or stain.

Cabinet refacing also allows you to correct issues with your current kitchen cabinets. These issues can be things like misaligned doors or loose hardware. There are other common problems with kitchen cabinets that can be fixed during this process as well, such as the natural tendency for cabinet doors to shrink due to moisture and temperature changes that negatively affect the wood that makes up your cabinets.

Find out more about cabinet refacing and what is involved in the process,

Cabinet Refacing Pittsburgh

If you want to restore your cabinets, Desirable Kitchens & Refacing has been refacing cabinets for years and recommends refacing over refinishing.  Contact us on our website or give us a call at 412-515-0582 to get a cabinet refacing quote!

Whether you are preparing to remodel your kitchen or are concerned about the condition of your kitchen cabinets, you may be wondering how long you can expect your kitchen cabinets to last. Kitchen cabinets are typically durable and sturdy, but the daily wear and tear and moisture they experience can eventually affect them.

The Lifespan of Your Kitchen Cabinets

If your cabinets are in poor condition or you want to refresh your kitchen’s style with the new trends, they should be replaced. In some cases, top-quality kitchen cabinets can last up to 50 years with the right care and maintenance. On the other hand, cheaply manufactured or poorly maintained cabinets will last less than half the time of quality cabinets.

We recommend high-quality custom kitchen cabinets that are likely to last 25 years when properly maintained. In many cases, kitchen cabinet manufacturers provide you with a 25-year guarantee on kitchen cabinets. These cabinets should last unless they suffer from termite or water damage.

Kitchen Cabinet Refacing to Give Cabinets New Life

If your cabinets are in good structural condition, but you want to change the style, opt for cabinet refacing. This is a process where we will take off the old cabinet doors and replace them with new ones for a refreshed look.

You can not only change the style of the doors and the hardware, but we can also change the color and then paint or laminate the cabinet framework to match. With cabinet refacing, you can take it easy on your budget and still get a brand new style!

If you have shelves and cabinet frames that are in good, functional condition and free of water or termite damage, we can reface them to give them a new look!

How Long Will Refaced Kitchen Cabinets Last?

If your refaced kitchen cabinet boxes are made from solid wood and are in good condition, you can expect to gain anywhere from 15 to 20 years more after a cabinet refacing job.

To ensure you get the most out of your cabinet’s lifespan, be sure to ventilate moisture and steam out of your kitchen while cooking. You should also clean and coat cabinets regularly and maintain them with a coat of waterproof veneer or polyurethane coating to protect them.

The more careful you are with your maintenance, the longer the refacing will last!

Signs You Need to Replace Your Kitchen Cabinets

In some cases, you won’t be able to reface your existing cabinets, and you will need to replace them. Here are some signs that it’s time to replace your kitchen cabinets with new ones:

Rot or mold is present in your cabinets

If your cabinet frames are rotting or you have moldy cabinet frames, it’s time to replace them. Once your cabinet frames are compromised, there is no saving the cabinets.

They are cheaply made cabinets

If you purchased the cabinet cheap and they are made from materials such as MDF or particleboard, they will only last so long before they become water damaged from the moisture in the kitchen, so if you’re considering new cabinets, it is best to replace the cheaper ones for a high-quality option.

Your cabinets have a musty smell

As cabinets age, they can take on a funky, musty smell that can sometimes be taken care of with a deep clean. If you can’t eliminate the smell, it’s time for new cabinets.

You want to change the kitchen layout

If you plan to change your entire kitchen layout during the remodel, you will need to replace your current cabinets with a new set that matches your layout. If you still like your current cabinets, you may be able to repurpose them, depending on the layout.

You simply don’t like the cabinets anymore

If the kitchen cabinets you have no longer serve your needs or style, consider replacing them with new ones!

Professional Cabinet Refacing or Replacement in Pittsburgh

At Desirable Kitchens and Remodeling, we can reface your current kitchen cabinets or install your new kitchen cabinets. You can trust our experienced team to complete your cabinet installation safely and efficiently for great results! Contact us today to learn more!

Read to find out more about kitchen cabinet refacing!