Cabinet Refinishing In Scottsdale: Should You Hire A Professional Or Do It Yourself?

Cabinet refinishing in Scottsdale is a cost-saving way to revitalize your kitchen. Instead of tearing out your existing cabinets and starting from scratch with new ones, you can replace doors, drawer fronts and veneers. The end result is a completely new look for your kitchen.

Depending on your approach, you can save substantially on refinishing or refacing your cabinets rather than replacing them. Industry experts estimate savings of 50% or more for refacing versus replacing. If you're doing additional remodeling projects, the cabinet savings can then be applied to other areas of your budget.

So, a great case can be made for cabinet refinishing in Scottsdale. But, should you do it yourself or hire a professional contractor?

What's Involved in Cabinet Refinishing?
For the purposes of this article, refinishing and refacing will be used interchangeably and refer to the following procedure:

-Remove and replace (if desired) cabinet hardware.
-Remove and replace cabinet doors.
-Remove and replace drawer fronts.
-Using the existing cabinet boxes, apply a veneer to the fronts of the cabinet boxes. Any exposed box sides will also be veneered. Veneers come in a wide variety of wood grains and colors.

This process involves more than applying a wood stain or painting over the existing cabinet. The end result is more dramatic and closer to a new cabinet installation.

Do You Have the Skills, Time and Tools to Do It Yourself?
Many homeowners think they can easily do cabinet refinishing in Scottsdale since they aren't replacing the entire cabinet. However, the opposite often holds true. Typically, it's easier to replace your old cabinets than reface them.

A person with good carpentry skills can handle replacing cabinets. On the other hand, refacing requires more finesse and is a specialized skill that most people don't have.

In particular, veneering is the part of the project that presents the most challenges and has the steepest learning curve. The quality of the end result depends entirely on the installation. If installed incorrectly, the veneer could peel. You can spend hours trying to make your refaced cabinet look like new and never achieve the desired outcome.

You'll also need to measure precisely. For example, your replacement doors must be perfectly level and flush. Any deviation will cause the doors not to open properly.

Another factor to consider is your available time. Remodeling always takes longer than you expect and can turn into a never-ending project. If you've got a full-time job, will you be able to devote enough time to cabinet refinishing in Scottsdale? Do you want your kitchen out-of-commission for as long as it will take you to finish the project?

Finally, the right tools make cabinet refinishing in Scottsdale go much easier. You must make sure the adhesive is secured and the seams come together flawlessly. If you have to invest in the required tools, you may be negating the savings you gained from doing the project yourself.

Why You Should Hire a Pro
If you're trying to save money, remember you can end up spending more if something goes wrong during your cabinet refinishing in Scottsdale. Hiring a professional eliminates risks of non-quality work - you won't complete payment to a contractor until the work is finished per your agreement.

Here's why hiring a professional to do your cabinet refinishing in Scottsdale makes good sense:

-A well-qualified remodeling company will have years of experience during these projects. A contractor will know the ins and outs of cabinet refacing. They'll know all the industry best practices for deliver the best possible result. And, they'll take precise measurements.
-A professional contractor can do a cabinet refacing project in at least half the time of a do-it-yourself-er. Typical turn-around time for cabinet refinishing in Scottsdale is two to four days. Since they know what they're doing, the work will also be done without excess mess.
-Because they live remodeling, a professional contractor can offer design ideas and suggestions for making the most of your existing layout. They know the available style choices, current trends and latest products. They can help you choose trim, hardware and accent colors. And, they can advise on modernization techniques, such as adding pull-out or swivel shelves.
-Professional remodeling contractors have many vendor relationships and get quantity discounts on orders. These savings for cabinet refinishing in Scottsdale are often passed on to homeowners.
-Experts agree kitchen remodeling, of which cabinets are the major component, contribute most to your home's value. If you don't do it right, it will detract from your value.

Although you may want to save money or enjoy doing projects around your home, it's best not to tackle a cabinet refacing project. The National Kitchen and Bath Associations agrees and cautions homeowners who may want to undertake kitchen remodeling projects on their own. Although you may think you're saving money, you may pay more in the long run. Hiring a professional remodeling contractor gives your project the best chance of success.