The Kitchen Cabinet Dilemma
Your kitchen cabinets are one of the most visible and impactful elements of your home. When they start looking dated, worn, or simply no longer match your style, you face a decision: replace them entirely or refinish what you have. For many homeowners in Traverse City and Northern Michigan, cabinet refinishing offers a compelling combination of dramatic visual impact and significant cost savings.
Cost Comparison: Refinishing vs. Replacement
| Option | Average Cost (standard kitchen) | Timeline | Disruption Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Cabinet Replacement | $15,000 - $30,000+ | 4 - 8 weeks | High (kitchen unusable) |
| Cabinet Refacing | $8,000 - $15,000 | 2 - 4 weeks | Moderate |
| Professional Refinishing | $4,000 - $8,000 | 3 - 5 days | Low to moderate |
Professional cabinet refinishing typically costs 50 to 70 percent less than full replacement while delivering a transformation that looks and feels like a brand-new kitchen. For a standard Traverse City kitchen with 20 to 30 cabinet doors and drawer fronts, most refinishing projects fall in the $4,000 to $8,000 range.
When Refinishing Is the Right Choice
Cabinet refinishing is ideal when your existing cabinets are structurally sound but cosmetically outdated. If the cabinet boxes, hinges, and hardware are in good condition, there is no reason to tear everything out and start from scratch. Refinishing works particularly well for solid wood cabinets, which are common in many Traverse City homes built in the 1980s through 2000s.
Refinishing is also the smart choice when you want to update your kitchen's color scheme. Transforming dark oak or cherry cabinets into a modern white, gray, or two-tone finish can completely change the feel of your kitchen without the cost and hassle of a full renovation.
When Replacement Makes More Sense
Full replacement is the better option when cabinets are structurally damaged, warped, or made from low-quality materials like particleboard that will not hold up to refinishing. It is also the right choice if you want to change the layout of your kitchen, add more storage, or upgrade to soft-close hinges and pull-out organizers throughout.
The E&A Coatings Refinishing Process
Our cabinet refinishing process delivers factory-quality results through careful preparation and premium materials. We start by removing all doors, drawers, and hardware. Each piece is thoroughly cleaned, deglossed, and sanded to create the ideal surface for adhesion. We apply a bonding primer followed by two coats of high-durability cabinet-grade paint or lacquer, with light sanding between coats for a smooth, professional finish.
The result is a kitchen transformation that looks like you spent $20,000 or more, at a fraction of that cost. Ready to see what refinishing can do for your kitchen? Call E&A Coatings at (231) 444-2261 for a free in-home estimate.