Kitchen cabinets are quite an investment and can often be repaired rather than replaced. Quality, age, and style help determine which path to take.

When updating a kitchen or just trying to make it function better, improving things without over-spending can be tough. Cabinets, which include all cabinet bases, doors, drawers, and hardware, play a major role in kitchen design and function. It’s helpful to take inventory of factors such as quality, cost, and style, as these elements play an important role in deciding if you should repair or replace kitchen cabinets.

Quality Matters

The main thing to consider is the quality of the cabinetry. Is it worth saving?

If the cabinets are solid hardwood and have stood the test of time, refinishing and fixing them up might be worth the work and cost savings. If you are going to put in the time for repairs but will have to repeat the repairs regularly because of poor quality, replacing may be a better option.

Damaged Drawers, Cabinet Bases, and Doors

Even a well-maintained and high-quality set of kitchen cabinets can see its fair share of damage through the years. Too many deep scratches on doors, drawers with faces that are falling off, or cabinet bases with corners nearly gone from years of wood chipping away are sometimes beyond repair.

On the other hand, with the right skills, some repairs can go a long way. Maybe that crooked drawer just needs a new undermount slide, or perhaps you could make the scratched drawer look like new with some wood filler, sanding, and fresh paint.

When deciding if you should repair or replace kitchen cabinets, check every area to see if the damage is extensive enough to warrant replacing rather than repairing.

The Layout Isn’t Working

Repairs can’t do much for the kitchen if you don’t like the layout of the cabinets. In this case, a complete remodel may need to take place rather than fixing up what you currently have.

Style

Style is another tough factor to consider but, sometimes, it’s possible to repair and upgrade an outdated style rather than replace it entirely. If you have old metal cabinets and want to swap them with wood then, by all means, replace the cabinets. However, if the style issue is simply the color of your cabinets, it will be far less expensive to paint the cabinets than replace them.

Decide what your style is, and go from there. Get creative, and you may see ways you can incorporate your new style into your old cabinets.

Hardware

The easiest thing to replace on kitchen cabinets and drawers is the hardware. There is no need to replace cabinets if the hardware is the only issue. You can easily install new drawer pulls, cabinet knobs, and even undermount drawer glides, replacing old, worn-out ones. Even if the old hardware is in great shape, you can replace it with a more updated look. Woodworker Express has everything you need for kitchen cabinet and drawer repairs, along with many other options for improving the style, storage, and function of your kitchen