Is It Time To Replace Your Old Cabinetry?

Whether you simply want to update the look of your kitchen or are planning a complete makeover or remodel, deciding what you want to do about your cabinetry is one of the most important decisions that you will need to make. Not only do they define the look of the kitchen, but HGTV.com reports that new cabinets typically account for about 50-percent of the budget for a kitchen renovation. While you may be tempted to cut back on the cost by keeping the ones you have, there are some things to consider that can help you to decide.

How old is your kitchen? If you or the previous homeowner have not updated the kitchen in the past several years, then it's a pretty good guess that everything in the kitchen is approximately the same age as the house. If everything in the kitchen is 10 years or older, the next question to ask yourself is if the cabinets will hold out for at least another 10 years. Since most new countertops are made of materials that have at least that long of a lifespan, you will not want to have to invest even more money down the road when the cabinets have outlived their usefulness.

Do you like the layout of your old kitchen? Since there is usually a lot of wasted space in older cabinetry (particularly in the corners), updating everything in the kitchen all at once gives you the opportunity to optimize the space for more room and create the kitchen of your dreams. Whether you want more drawers, a lazy Susan, or framed glass doors for displaying your favorite dishes, you can create a layout that suits your tastes instead those of whoever built the house.

What condition is your cabinetry in? Are the doors hanging crooked or not aligning properly with each other? Do the drawers stick when you open them? What are they made out of? If pressboard has been used the drawers will generally be held together with either staples or glue. While pressboard initially starts out looking shiny and new, it tends to start looking less attractive as it receives wear and tear with use. If everything is made of solid wood, however, they are usually built to last. One way to identify if your cabinetry is made of wood is too look at one of the drawers. If it is wood, you will most likely see dovetail joinery at the corners.

Are you replacing the countertop and sink? If money will allow, it is usually better to go ahead and do a complete remodel that includes the cabinetry instead of updating part of the kitchen now and part of the kitchen later. When money is a factor, you may find that it is more cost efficient in the long run to go ahead and replace everything, but perhaps use a less expensive countertop during your remodel. You can then take it out and replace it with a more expensive one later on when your budget will allow it.