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Want to reface your cabinets? Can you do it yourself, or should you hire a professional? Here’s what you need to consider.
Home touch-ups are essential every once in a while; they bring life back into your home, especially if you’ve adopted the same theme and design for several years. You can choose to revamp many areas, from your living room to your kitchen to your bedroom.
Suppose your current kitchen cabinets’ exterior is outdated or chipped, and you want to reface them. Should you go the DIY route or hire an expert in the field? It’s a question that this article aims to answer, so it should be in your best interest to read the rest of this article.
The choice between the two depends on the following factors:
Skill
Skill refers to proficiency in cabinet refacing, and it’s crucial if you want a high-quality end product. You want proficiency in the entire process, from surface preparation to cutting and installation.
If you have no skill in cabinet refacing, it’s best to leave the job to an expert. Hiring a professional is also advisable if your cabinet design is complex, even if you have the necessary skills. Complex designs require a lot of angling, making it quite easy for you to make mistakes.
However, by working with a professional, expect quality work regardless of the design you want. They’ve most likely worked on numerous projects and have gained enough experience over the years, significantly lowering the possibility of errors.
Workload
Workload refers to the amount of work you must do for the cabinet refacing. Depending on your previous finish, you might have to strip it off for the refacing. In addition, your cabinets might require repairs before refacing them.
The workload is a lot in such scenarios, and you might get tired and complacent about quality. You might even abandon the project midway, which isn’t commendable. Therefore, if the workload is too much for you to handle, hire a professional. They’ll execute all the necessary work, be it repairs, stripping, or refacing, without compromising quality.
However, if the workload is minimal, such as when you only need to do the refacing on top of your cabinet’s existing wooden finish, you might as well DIY the whole thing.
Budget
Cost is a crucial factor to consider for any project, residential or commercial. It, more or less. determines the approach you should adopt for your project. The aim is to spend only what you have without getting into debt.
To execute cabinet refacing, you’ll require labor, materials, and tools. The number of resources you’ll need will depend on the project size. If you have many cabinets at home, you’ll need quite a lot of resources.
Suppose your budget is limited; it’s best to DIY. You won’t spend money on labor, which is the most expensive resource you’ll incur for cabinet refacing. However, you’ll only be able to save under several conditions.
One, you should have the tools for the job, such as a slitter, a hammer, and a hacksaw. If you don’t, your expenditure will increase since you have to acquire the tools and buy the materials for the refacing.
The other condition is that you should have the right skills for the job; otherwise, you’ll do a substandard job, which might warrant repairs a few months after the project has been done. Worse, you might also damage your cabinets. In such cases, you won’t incur the cost today, but you will in the long run. Hence, you must know what you’re doing.
However, if your budget allows it, settle for professional services. It might be expensive in the short term, but it’s economically viable in the future. Plus, there won’t be any need for reworks.
Future Plans
With home ownership, you can decide to live there forever or sell it after a few years. This should also help you decide whether you do the cabinet refacing yourself or hire a professional instead.
If you plan on selling your home in the future, hiring a professional is the ideal choice. They’ll execute the job from the point of know-how without any errors. The result will be high-quality cabinets that are properly installed. It’ll increase your home’s value, ensuring you get good money for your house during the sale.
On the other hand, if you’re to live in your home for eternity, you can DIY the project. Although quality is essential for longevity, you don’t have to worry too much about professionalism as long as you follow the appropriate cabinet refacing procedure.
The Takeaway
Deciding whether to DIY the cabinet refacing project or hire a professional for your cabinet is quite easy, especially if you take into account the tips mentioned in this article. If you implement the guide herein, chances are high that you won’t regret your decision.
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