If you want to give your kitchen cabinets a new look without the expense of a full remodel, cabinet refacing is a great option. It can give your kitchen a fresh, updated look at a fraction of the cost of a full remodel. However, it’s important to be careful when choosing an Albuquerque company to handle your cabinet door replacement work. Make sure to avoid companies that use veneers and here’s why:
What are Cabinet Veneers?
First, you need to know what exactly veneers are. Veneers are manufactured from thin sheets of wood or melamine, which is a type of plastic known as thermofoil. Essentially, either the wood or plastic is attached to particle board and then applied to your cabinets.
The Problem with Veneers
One of the main drawbacks of using veneers for cabinet refacing is that they are not as durable as other materials. Since they are just a thin covering applied to the surface of the cabinets, they are prone to chipping and damage, especially around the edges and corners. This can lead to an unsightly appearance and take away from the look you’re going for. Refacing your cabinets with new, hardwood doors and drawer faces, the way N-Hance does, provides the durability a kitchen needs. Our refacing process will stand up to heavy-duty kitchen traffic and ensure a quality finish.
Using veneers on your cabinets are prone to both chipping and water damage. Since veneers are thin coverings attached to the surface of the cabinets, moisture can easily get between the veneer and the cabinet which leads to warping and bubbles. These issues can be difficult to fix and can compromise the overall appearance and durability of your cabinets.
Additionally, veneers often crack as they are exposed to different elements and temperatures, such as hot water or grease. This can cause the veneers to expand at a different rate than the wood underneath.
Even if you don’t see damage on the surface, the particle board underneath can be easily damaged. That’s because particle board is made from leftover, cheap materials, like wood shavings, and then glued together. The result? They are porous and prone to ripples, cracks, sagging, and more. Even if your cabinet veneers are attached to plywood, they can also suffer damage easily, especially when it comes to moisture. While plywood might last longer than particle board, hardwood wins the race and lasts decades.
Tempted by the Cheap Cost of Veneers?
Don’t be! When you’re investing in your home, you want beautiful end results. Veneers will take a hit over time, especially if you have a busy family and a kitchen with a lot of foot traffic. They may seem cheap upfront but can end up looking worse than your original cabinets.
If, on the other hand, you opt for a cabinet refacing company that relies on hardwood and remakes your cabinets doors and drawer fronts from scratch, like we do at N-Hance, you’ll wind up with a superior product.
As the saying goes, “you get what you pay for,” and this holds true for cabinet refacing. Plus, you can still save significantly when compared to a full replacement.
Ready for a Better Choice?
At N-Hance, we use solid hardwood to reface kitchen cabinets, offering a wide variety of styles, colors, and finishing techniques to choose from. Not only that, but we cure the coating with our proprietary Lightspeed® Nano system, so your cabinets are rock-hard on the surface. This ensures they don’t crack or peel, regardless of high traffic and heavy use in your home.
In addition, N-Hance can provide a selection of custom accessories and hardware, from soft-close drawer glides to knobs, pulls, glass cabinets, crown molding, wine racks, shelves, and dovetail drawer boxes. Your cabinets will look brand new and completely different with help from our team of refacing experts.
Cabinet Refacing in Albuquerque
Want a quality look at a fraction of the cost of a traditional remodel? The cabinet refacing team at N-Hance can deliver. Call N-Hance of Albuquerque at (505) 314-1997 to set up a FREE consultation.