Comparison Guide
Cabinet refacing vs. replacing — which is right for your Orlando kitchen?
Updated April 27, 2026
Refacing keeps your existing cabinet boxes and replaces the visible doors, drawer fronts, and hardware. Full replacement removes everything and installs new cabinets — usually paired with new layout, counters, and finishes. Replace when your boxes are particle-board, the layout needs to change, or you're doing a full kitchen remodel. Reface when boxes are sound and you only want a visual update.
A note on what we do: we focus on full kitchen remodels and cabinet replacement. If your kitchen genuinely calls for refacing rather than replacement, we'll tell you honestly during the in-home walkthrough and refer you to a refacing specialist. The rest of this page is straight comparison so you can decide which approach fits your home.
Side-by-side comparison
| Factor | Refacing | Full replacement |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet boxes | Existing boxes stay | All-new boxes (plywood or particle-board) |
| Layout flexibility | Keeps existing footprint | Full layout flexibility — move sink, add island, remove walls |
| Visible result | New door style and hardware on existing frames | Entirely new cabinetry inside and out |
| Disruption to home | Kitchen mostly usable during install | Kitchen out of service during build |
| Right when… | Boxes are sound, layout works, only the look needs updating | Boxes failing, layout wrong, or part of a larger remodel |
Refacing fits when…
- Cabinet boxes are plywood or solid wood and structurally sound
- The current layout already works for how you cook
- You only want to update the visible style — door style, color, hardware
- You don't want to be without a kitchen for an extended period
- Your kitchen was built in the 1990s or later with quality boxes
Replacement fits when…
- Cabinet boxes are particle-board, water-damaged, or sagging
- You want to change the kitchen layout (move sink, add island, remove peninsula)
- You need to add cabinets where there were none
- You want soft-close drawers and full-extension slides — most older boxes can't accept these
- You're doing a full remodel that includes counters, floor, and structural changes anyway
- You want fully custom cabinetry built specifically for your space
The honest path for most Orlando homeowners
The decision usually comes down to the cabinet boxes and the layout. If the boxes are sound plywood, the layout works for how you actually cook, and you only want a visual update — refacing can be a fit, and a refacing specialist is the right partner.
For most of our clients — homes built in the 1970s–80s with particle-board boxes, or kitchens where the layout doesn't fit modern living, or owners who want a full design refresh with new cabinets, counters, and finishes coordinated together — full cabinet replacement as part of a kitchen remodel is the right call. That's the work we do.