It comes down to the boxes, not the doors. If the boxes are plywood, square, securely attached, and free of water damage, refacing works well. If you see swelling, soft spots, or separation at the corners — especially near the sink or dishwasher — the boxes are likely already compromised and replacement is the better long-term answer.

Done well, yes — refacing changes every visible surface (doors, drawer fronts, face frames, exposed sides, hardware), so the finished look is essentially indistinguishable from new cabinetry. What it doesn't change is the interior of the boxes or the layout.

Refacing typically runs about half the cost of full replacement for a comparable kitchen, largely because there's no demolition, no new box construction, and significantly less labor and disposal involved.

That's a strong sign the boxes are particleboard or low-grade material that's absorbed water over time, which doesn't reverse. Swelling near plumbing fixtures usually means the box material has already started to lose structural integrity, which points toward replacement rather than refacing.

Minor changes — like adding a new pull-out or swapping hardware style — can sometimes be worked into a refacing project, but any real layout change (moving a run of cabinets, changing the island footprint) requires new boxes, which means replacement.

Refacing typically takes a few days to about a week; replacement, since it involves full demolition and new cabinet installation, generally runs one to two weeks or longer depending on whether the layout is changing.

High-pressure laminate and rigid thermofoil are more affordable and highly consistent in appearance, while real wood veneer gives genuine wood grain and can be stained to match existing millwork — it costs more but reads as authentic wood rather than a resurfaced finish.

The veneer and finish resist humidity well, but refacing only performs as well as the boxes underneath it — which is exactly why we check box material and condition before recommending refacing in the first place.