Every month someone asks us to reface their kitchen cabinets. Sometimes we say yes. Sometimes we talk them out of it. Here’s the honest breakdown.
What refacing actually is
Refacing keeps your existing cabinet boxes and replaces the doors, drawer fronts, and visible surfaces with new material. It’s a facelift, not a new kitchen.
What replacement is
Replacement is new cabinetry — new boxes, new doors, new hardware, built for your space. It’s the whole thing, done right.
Cost in Portland (2026)
Refacing a typical Portland kitchen usually runs $8,000–$15,000. Full custom replacement from a shop like ours typically runs $25,000–$60,000+ depending on size, material, and finish. Refacing costs less. That’s the entire argument for it, and it’s a real one.
When refacing makes sense
Your cabinet boxes are solid, square, and in good shape. You like your kitchen’s layout and don’t want to move anything. Your budget is firm and the layout works.
When replacement is the right call
The boxes are damaged, warped, or particleboard that’s swelling. You want to change the layout — move the range, add an island, fix the dead corner. The drawers are falling apart and the hinges have given up. You’re already spending enough on counters and appliances that cheap boxes underneath them don’t make sense.
Here’s the part most refacing companies won’t tell you: refacing a kitchen with bad boxes is like putting new tires on a car with a cracked frame. It looks better for a while. The problems are still there.
Timeline
Refacing: 1–2 weeks. Replacement: our standard lead time is 4–6 weeks from approved drawings, plus installation.
Our take
If your boxes are good and your layout works, refacing is smart money. If they aren’t, replacement costs more once — refacing costs twice, because you’ll replace them later anyway. We’ll tell you which one you’re looking at, honestly, before you spend anything.
Request your free estimate at https://foundrycabinets.com/free-estimate/ or call/text (360) 606-1106.
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