Does refacing keep my cabinet boxes?
Yes. Refacing retains your existing boxes and replaces the doors and drawer fronts while applying matching veneer to the exposed box faces.
Keep the boxes. Replace the doors, fronts, and exterior surfaces.
Cabinet Refacing in Indianapolis
Cabinet refacing keeps your existing cabinet boxes and replaces the parts you see and touch. New doors and drawer fronts are installed, and matching veneer or skin is applied to the exposed faces of the boxes. Because the boxes stay, the layout and footprint remain the same while the door style and exterior can change completely.
Explore new doors for your existing cabinets
Discuss door styles and whether your existing cabinet boxes are suitable for refacing. Final scope, suitability, and pricing require review.
Prefer to talk? Call (317) 445-9151Is cabinet refacing right for you?
Refacing is the right choice when your cabinet boxes are sound but you want a new door style or new exterior surfaces — not just a new color. It is more involved than refinishing and less involved than a full replacement, which changes the boxes and layout too.
New fronts need sound retained boxes
Inspect box attachment, moisture damage, square openings, hinge mounting points, and drawer operation before choosing a door style. Refacing replaces the exterior, not a failing structure. An active leak or unsafe cabinet attachment must be resolved first; layout changes and new cabinet boxes are separate replacement decisions.
Separate doors-only work from complete refacing
Count new doors and drawer fronts alongside retained face frames, exposed ends, island backs, fillers, and trim. Complete refacing coordinates new fronts with matching exterior veneer or skin. Limited door replacement is a narrower scope whose matching, sizing, installation, and acceptance need review. Drawer boxes, interiors, shelves, and storage upgrades are not automatically replaced.
Confirm sizing, hinges, and installation choices
Photograph open cabinets, hinge mounts, corner clearances, glass fronts, and tall pantry doors. Discuss door overlay, swing clearance, pull locations, and whether the retained construction supports the proposed hardware. Agree on component specifications and representative finish samples before ordering; style photos alone do not establish fit or material availability.
Plan access while the exterior is replaced
Confirm component removal, staging space, protection, appliance access, and which cabinets must be emptied. Preparation, adhesive requirements, any coating cure, and final hardware adjustment depend on the specified system and conditions. Obtain installation and return-to-use instructions instead of assuming the kitchen is fully usable throughout.
From request to a written proposal
Send counts, box-interior and exterior photos, existing damage, and the desired profile. CabinetPro reviews suitability and scope before confirming assessment availability, components, pricing, and scheduling. Compare installed fronts, exterior treatment, hardware, repairs, and exclusions together; a supply-only door price is not a complete refacing quote.
What stays
- Existing cabinet boxes and interiors
- Kitchen layout and footprint
- Cabinet positions and openings
What changes
- Doors and drawer fronts (replaced with new components)
- Exposed box faces and end panels (new matching veneer or skin)
- Door style and profile
- Hardware, hinges, and exterior appearance
What happens to each cabinet component
The clearest way to see how cabinet refacing differs from the alternative.
| Component | Refinishing | Refacing |
|---|---|---|
| Cabinet boxes | Kept in place, faces re-coated | Kept in place, faces re-veneered |
| Doors | Kept, refinished in current style | Replaced with new doors |
| Drawer fronts | Kept, refinished | Replaced with new fronts |
| Exposed box faces / ends | Refinished to match | New matching veneer or skin |
| Door style | Stays the same | Can change entirely |
| Finish / color | New paint or stain | Set by the new components |
| Hardware | Optional change | Typically new |
| Layout / footprint | Unchanged | Unchanged |
Best for
- Sound cabinet boxes with dated or damaged doors
- Homeowners who want a different door style
- Changing the exterior look while keeping the layout
- Projects where refinishing the old doors is not enough
Not ideal when
- You only want a color change (refinishing may suit better)
- The cabinet boxes themselves are failing
- You want to change the layout or add cabinets
- You want an entirely new cabinet system
The cabinet refacing process
- Step 1
Assessment
Confirm the boxes are sound, then document door and drawer counts, exposed faces, door style, and veneer selections.
- Step 2
Remove old fronts
The existing doors and drawer fronts are removed from the retained boxes.
- Step 3
Prepare boxes
Exposed box faces and end panels are prepared for new veneer or skin.
- Step 4
Apply veneer
Matching veneer or skin is applied to the visible box surfaces.
- Step 5
Install new components
New doors and drawer fronts are fitted, hung, and aligned.
- Step 6
Hardware and adjustment
Hinges, pulls, and any accessories are installed and adjusted for consistent reveals.
What drives the cost
Door and drawer count
The number of new doors and drawer fronts is the largest driver of a refacing scope.
Exposed box surfaces
More visible box faces and end panels mean more veneer area to prepare and apply.
Door style and material
The selected door style and front material change the components used.
Veneer or skin selection
Matching the new fronts across the exposed box surfaces affects materials and labor.
Hardware and hinges
New hinges, pulls, and accessories add to the scope.
Layout complexity
Islands, tall pantries, and specialty cabinets add handling and coordination.
Explore cabinet refacing
component
Shaker Cabinet Refacing in Indianapolis
Shaker refacing changes the door style by fitting new shaker doors and coordinated drawer fronts to sound existing boxes...
component
Slab Door Cabinet Refacing in Indianapolis
Slab-door refacing replaces existing fronts with flat, unframed faces while retaining suitable cabinet boxes. The result...
problem
Refacing Options for Peeling Thermofoil Cabinet Doors in Indianapolis
When thermofoil lifts from cabinet doors, another coat over the loose film is not a reliable fix. Replacing affected fro...
component
Change Raised-Panel Cabinet Doors to Shaker in Indianapolis
Changing a raised-panel door to a shaker profile is a component change, not a color change. Refacing can replace the exi...
cost
What Drives Cabinet Refacing Cost
Refacing cost is driven by the number of new doors and drawer fronts, the exposed box surfaces that need veneer, the doo...
process
The Cabinet Refacing Process
Refacing follows a defined sequence: confirm the boxes are sound, remove the old doors and fronts, prepare the exposed b...
component
New Doors, Drawer Fronts, and Veneers
The three components of refacing are new doors, new drawer fronts, and matching veneer on the exposed box faces. Togethe...
Which option fits your cabinets?
Use your cabinet condition and goal to find the right starting point. Final scope and suitability are confirmed during an in-home assessment.
Boxes and doors are sound; you want a new color or finish
Suggested: Cabinet refinishing
Boxes are sound but you want a different door style or new exterior
Suggested: Cabinet refacing
You want to keep the layout but are unsure which fits
Suggested: Compare both options
The cabinet boxes themselves are failing or you want a new layout
Suggested: Refacing or replacement — confirm with an assessment
Considering cabinet refinishing instead?
Refinishing is the right choice when your cabinet boxes and doors are structurally sound and you want a new color or finish rather than a new door style. It is not the right choice when doors are damaged beyond repair or you want to change the door profile itself — those situations point toward refacing or replacement.
Common questions
Can refacing change my door style?
Yes. Because the doors and drawer fronts are replaced, you can change to a different door style, unlike refinishing which keeps the existing doors.
How is refacing priced?
Pricing follows the verified scope: door and drawer counts, exposed box surfaces, door style and material, veneer selection, and hardware. A project-specific quote confirms the scope before work begins.
Is refacing the same as replacement?
No. Refacing keeps the boxes and layout; replacement removes the boxes and can change the layout. Refacing sits between refinishing and full replacement.
Cabinet Refacing by service area
Cabinet Refacing in CarmelCabinet Refacing in ZionsvilleCabinet Refacing in FishersCabinet Refacing in GeistCabinet Refacing in NoblesvilleCabinet Refacing in WestfieldCabinet Refacing in Meridian HillsCabinet Refacing in McCordsvilleCabinet Refacing in BrownsburgCabinet Refacing in AvonCabinet Refacing in Broad RippleCabinet Refacing in Meridian-KesslerCabinet Refacing in GreenwoodCabinet Refacing in Lawrence
Get a project-specific estimate
Share your cabinet counts, condition, and goals to receive a useful planning range for your cabinet refacing project.
Start the quote