If you are planning a kitchen renovation in the GTA, you have likely stared at your current cabinets and wondered: Do I really need to tear all of this out, or can I just give it a facelift?
It is one of the most common questions we hear from homeowners. You might like the general footprint of your kitchen, but the style is outdated. Or perhaps the layout has bothered you for years, and you are ready for a complete transformation.
Deciding between cabinet refacing and full cabinet replacement is the first major fork in the road for your renovation. Both have their place, but they deliver very different results in terms of value, functionality, and longevity.
Here is an honest look at the pros and cons of each method to help you make the right choice for your home.
What Is Cabinet Refacing?
Cabinet refacing (sometimes called resurfacing) is essentially a cosmetic update. You keep your existing cabinet boxes—the skeletons of your cabinetry—exactly where they are.
The process typically involves:
- Removing the old doors and drawer fronts.
- Applying a new veneer or laminate skin to the exposed exterior of the cabinet boxes to match your new style.
- Installing brand-new doors, drawer fronts, hinges, and handles.
The Pros of Refacing
- Lower Upfront Cost: Because you aren’t buying new cabinet boxes or paying for demolition, refacing generally costs 30% to 50% less than a full replacement.
- Faster Turnaround: Since there is no heavy demolition, the project is often completed in under a week.
- Less Mess: You can often keep using your kitchen (at least partially) during the process.
The Cons of Refacing
- The Layout Is Locked In: This is the biggest drawback. If your refrigerator is in an awkward spot or you lack counter space, refacing cannot fix it. You are dressing up the existing footprint.
- Old Internal Components: You get new doors, but the drawer boxes, glides, and internal shelving remain the same. If your drawers stick now, they will likely still stick after refacing unless you pay extra to repair them.
- Hidden Damage: If your existing cabinet boxes are made of older particleboard that has suffered water damage or warping over the last 15 years, putting a new veneer on top is only a temporary band-aid.
What Is Cabinet Replacement?
Cabinet replacement involves removing the entire kitchen down to the studs and installing brand-new cabinetry. This is a full reset for the room.
The Pros of Replacement
- Total Design Freedom: This allows you to correct layout flows that have always bugged you. We can move appliances, add an island, or extend cabinetry to the ceiling to maximize storage.
- Modern Functionality: New custom kitchen cabinets in Toronto homes come with modern standards that older kitchens lack: soft-close hinges, full-extension drawer glides, and specialized organizers for spices or waste bins.
- Correcting Structural Issues: Demolition often reveals hidden issues—like uneven flooring or old electrical—that can be fixed properly before the new install.
- Higher ROI: For resale value, a brand-new custom kitchen generally offers a higher return on investment than a refaced one, as buyers can spot the difference in quality and layout.
The Cons of Replacement
- Higher Investment: It requires a larger budget for materials and labour.
- Longer Timeline: From design to installation, the process takes longer than a simple reface.
The “Toronto Factor”: Layout and Space Optimization
When considering custom kitchen design in Toronto, context matters. Many Toronto homes—whether Victorian row houses, mid-century bungalows, or condos—have unique spatial challenges.
Often, kitchens built 20 or 30 years ago didn’t utilize space efficiently. They may have bulkheads that waste vertical storage or blind corners where items disappear forever. Refacing cannot solve these spatial problems.
If you are living in a home where space is at a premium, replacement allows for “space optimization.” This is a core part of what we do at Magna Custom Cabinetry & Design. By building custom boxes, we can utilize every inch of width and height, giving you significantly more usable storage in the same square footage.
Which Option Is Right for You?
To help simplify the decision, here is a quick guide.
You should consider Refacing if:
- You absolutely love your current layout and workflow.
- Your cabinet boxes are in pristine structural condition (no water damage or sagging).
- You are on a strict budget or a very tight timeline.
- You plan to sell the home very soon and just want a quick cosmetic refresh.
You should consider Replacement if:
- The current layout is frustrating or inefficient.
- You need more storage space or specialized features (like a pantry pull-out or deep pot drawers).
- The existing cabinets are 20+ years old or showing signs of wear.
- You plan to stay in your home for years and want a kitchen tailored to your lifestyle.
- You are investing in high-end countertops (it is risky to install expensive stone on old, weak cabinets).
The Verdict: Value vs. Cost
While refacing is cheaper in the short term, it isn’t always the best value. If you spend thousands refacing a kitchen only to realize the layout still doesn’t work for your family, that investment hasn’t truly improved your daily life.
As a trusted cabinet maker with over 25 years of experience serving the GTA, we believe that custom kitchens in Toronto should be built to last. A well-designed replacement isn’t just about new wood; it’s about creating a space that functions seamlessly for decades.
If you are unsure which route to take, it helps to get a professional eye on your current space. We can look at your existing boxes and layout to give you an honest assessment of what is possible.
Ready to explore the potential of your kitchen? Call us at 416-727-9795 to discuss your project.
We are here to help you make an informed decision, not just a sale.
