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There was a time when homeowners had only one option when choosing the best way to remodel their kitchen: complete kitchen cabinet replacement. Somewhere along the line, kitchen contractors have created yet another option: kitchen cabinet siding.
There is little doubt that economics played into this introduction. After all, if a kitchen remodeling company can’t sell a potential client the cost of a complete and thorough project, why not settle for a less expensive job that, while not as professional, would give the buyer a sale? contractor?
The theory was simple, but a little off the mark. If a customer’s current cabinets were solid wood and structurally sound, why replace the cabinets entirely? Instead, why not simply replace cabinet doors and drawer fronts to modernize the look of a kitchen cabinet? In the cabinet renovation process, laminate is applied directly to the face frames and sides of all existing cabinets with an adhesive.
As with most “upgrades” to traditional home remodeling, kitchen remodeling leaves a lot to be desired. First of all, you probably have a cabinet that, far from being built from solid wood, is made from particle board. So keeping your existing cabinet structure can frankly be less of a home improvement and more of a detriment to the quality of your kitchen remodel.
Second, we’ve all heard the saying, “If you can’t take the heat, stay out of the kitchen.” There is a reason we are familiar with this axiom; the kitchen tends to be the hottest part of the house! When you use your stove and oven in the summer months, temperatures rise significantly and can remain elevated for hours. Laminates, which are simply glued to the exteriors of the cabinet, can only be adhered for so long before the sections start to peel off.
Think about your current kitchen or the one you grew up using when you lived with your parents. If you’re like most Americans, you’ve experienced Formica or another brand of laminate countertops. Remember how the corners would eventually separate from the block of wood that the laminate was adhered to? That’s the same idea behind cabinet restoration.
In an age where homeowners have the option of installing granite countertops or other solid surfaces, it pays to make sure your new cabinetry can literally handle the weight of these heavier countertops. Retrofitting means you can rely on a relatively weak cabinet to carry a much heavier load than originally intended.
Finally, when you settle for remodeling instead of new cabinets, you can’t alter the layout of your kitchen to make it more efficient. New cabinets allow your kitchen contractor to design a layout that not only suits your purposes, but adds a modern and convenient style to a newly remodeled kitchen. Suppose you want a double sink and the sink base cabinet is only 27″ wide. Well, you’re out of luck and you’ll be forced to install another single bowl sink. Unless you replace your cabinets to fit the kitchen layout correctly to accommodate a larger sink and perhaps larger appliances.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t take an expert to admire the difference between a renovated kitchen and a completely remodeled one. Friends and family alike will notice the quality of materials and creativity of a new kitchen design when you choose a complete professional cabinet replacement.