Paint
The lowest-cost route for sound cabinets. Quality comes from the prep: degreasing, sanding, priming and spraying. Rushed paint jobs chip at the edges. Ask how the doors will be finished, and whether they come off site.
Cabinet guide
Kitchen cabinets in Titusville: reface, paint or replace?
If the boxes are solid and the layout works, painting or refacing is usually the better buy. If they have swollen, sagged or gone soft near the sink, replace them. Call now to talk to a local kitchen remodeler about yours.
Cabinets take the biggest share of the budget
That makes this your most important decision, and the one where a sales pitch can cost you the most.
Cabinets are usually the largest single line in a remodel, so the choice between keeping and replacing them moves the total more than anything else. It also sets the schedule, because new cabinets come with a lead time while painted ones can be finished in days. Before anyone quotes you, it helps to know which side of the line your kitchen is on.
Signs your cabinets are worth keeping
- Boxes are plywood or solid wood, and they feel rigid when you push on them.
- Doors hang true and shelves are flat.
- The sink base is dry and firm, with no stains or soft spots.
- You like where everything is. The layout works for how you cook.
Signs it is time to replace them
- Particleboard edges have swollen or crumbled, usually by the dishwasher and sink.
- Face frames have separated, or drawers no longer run square.
- You can smell mustiness in closed cabinets, or see mold on back panels.
- You want to change the layout, in which case the old boxes will not fit anyway.
Original 1960s cabinets in Titusville ranch houses are often better built than what replaced them in later decades. They may be solid wood with real joints, and a skilled painter or refacer can do a lot with them. But they are usually shallow and have no drawers worth keeping, so a remodeler may still suggest new base cabinets with refaced uppers.
Three ways to handle cabinets
Reface
New doors, drawer fronts and a thin veneer over the existing boxes. You get a new look without tearing out the kitchen. It only works if the boxes underneath are sound and the layout stays the same.
Replace
New stock, semi-custom or custom boxes. This is the only way to gain deep drawers, pull-outs and a new layout. Semi-custom is the usual middle ground. Remember that counters come off too, which adds to the job.
Choosing cabinets for humid air
Florida humidity is hard on the wrong materials. A few questions will show you which quotes have thought about it.
What are the boxes made of? Plywood handles moisture better than particleboard, particularly at the sink base and beside the dishwasher. Some manufacturers offer plywood as an upgrade, and it is usually worth it in those two spots even if the rest stay standard.
How are the doors built? Five-piece shaker doors let wood panels move with the seasons, but painted joints can show hairline cracks. That is normal in any climate with humidity swings. MDF center panels reduce it.
How will the cabinets acclimate? Boxes that were shipped dry should sit in the air-conditioned house for a few days before installation. The AC needs to run through the whole job, because the EPA's guidance is to keep indoor humidity below 60 percent.
What is the hardware made of? Near the Indian River or the beach, plated pulls and basic hinges can pit fast. Stainless pulls and quality soft-close hinges cost little more at the planning stage.
Where does the steam go? A ducted range hood removes moisture and grease that would otherwise settle on the cabinet finish above the range.
Cost and comparing quotes
Cabinet pricing varies too much for a useful single number, because it depends on kitchen size, material and how much of the work is included. What you can compare is scope. Ask each remodeler to spell out the cabinet line or maker, box material, door style, finish, hardware, whether old cabinets are hauled away, and whether counters are removed and replaced as part of the quote.
Look for a price that separates the base cabinets from the uppers. In many ranch kitchens, spending on new base cabinets while refacing the uppers can give you most of the function for a smaller budget. See the Titusville cost guide for how cabinets fit into a whole-kitchen number, and the countertop guide for what goes on top.
Finally, remember the order of work. If you are keeping cabinets but changing the counters, check whether an old laminate top is glued or screwed down, because removing it can damage the boxes. In a pre-1978 home, sanding or removing painted surfaces is also regulated work for paid contractors, under the EPA's lead-safe renovation rules. Anyone quoting a paint job on original cabinets should bring that up without being asked.
Any contract you sign will be directly with the remodeler, so take your time on the details. Ask for their license and proof of insurance, and look the license up with the Florida DBPR.
Cabinet questions
Is it cheaper to reface or replace kitchen cabinets?
Refacing usually costs less than replacing, since the boxes stay and the counters often can too. It only saves money if the boxes are sound and you are happy with the layout. If not, the savings disappear when you pay to fix problems later.
How long does a cabinet refacing job take?
Often less than a week on site, with lead time beforehand for the doors. Painting is similar. Full replacement takes longer, since counters, plumbing and sometimes flooring are all involved.
Are thermofoil cabinets a good idea in Florida?
Thermofoil is a vinyl film over MDF. It can peel near heat sources like ranges and toasters, and warm kitchens do not help. If you choose it, ask about heat shields and warranty terms.
Can I keep my countertops and change the cabinets?
Only sometimes. Stone can sometimes be lifted and reset, but it may crack, and most remodelers will not promise it. New cabinets may also differ in width or height. Ask for that risk to be addressed in writing.