Cabinet Refinishing vs. Refacing
Both keep your cabinet boxes in place — but the cost, finish, and timeline are very different. Here's how factory-sprayed refinishing stacks up against refacing in Metro Detroit.
Typical Metro Detroit kitchen, factory-sprayed 2K coating, on-site.
New doors, drawer faces, and box veneer. Same layout, much higher cost.
Side-by-Side
| Refinishing | Refacing | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical cost | $3,500–$9,000 | $7,000–$15,000 |
| Timeline | 5–10 days | 2–4 weeks |
| Demolition / disruption | None | Door & veneer removal |
| Layout change | Not required | Not required |
| Color flexibility | Any color, color-matched | Limited to door catalog |
| Finish quality | Factory-grade 2K coating | New laminate / wood doors |
| Keeps original wood doors | Yes | No — replaced |
Why Most Homeowners Choose Refinishing
When Refacing Actually Makes Sense
- Your existing doors are damaged beyond repair (warped, water-rotted, broken).
- You want a totally different door style (e.g. raised panel → flat slab).
- Your cabinet boxes are particle-board and visibly failing.
If none of those apply to your kitchen, refinishing will almost always give you a better finish for a lot less money.
Frequently Asked
Not when it's done right. The whole job is in the prep — degrease, sand, and a real bonding primer — followed by a 2K (catalyzed) topcoat. That's the same chemistry the factories use.
Yes. We color-match Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, Renner and Milesi, and proof a sample before we spray anything.
No. We mask the kitchen off, run dust containment, and most clients stay home and use the rest of the house normally.