Can refacing fix cabinet doors that no longer close properly?
Often yes. New doors with new hinges are cut to the opening, so they will hang evenly, provided the boxes underneath are sound. If a frame is warped, swollen from moisture or pulling away from the wall, we correct it or recommend replacement. We check frame squareness at the survey, before you commit to a route.
Will the walls and floor need repair after old cabinets come out?
Usually some. Old cabinets leave paint lines, nail holes and sometimes unfinished floor beneath them. Replacement means patching drywall, touching up paint and sometimes extending flooring under the new base cabinets. We scope that repair before work begins. Refacing avoids most of it, because the boxes stay where they are.
Will taller cabinets or crown molding fit under my ceiling?
It depends on the ceiling height, any soffit and the hood or ductwork. We measure the full wall, not only the cabinet run. If there is a soffit, you can keep it, box it into the cabinetry, or remove it, which may involve ductwork or wiring. We decide this at the survey, before doors or cabinets are ordered.
Which appliances should I change before the cabinets?
Any appliance that sets a cutout size, such as a range, wall oven, cooktop or built-in refrigerator. Replacement cabinets are built to those dimensions, and a new model with different measurements can leave a gap or force a rework. If an appliance is staying, we measure it and plan around it.
Are the water shutoffs and supply lines replaced during a cabinet swap?
On a replacement, we recommend it. The sink base is cut for the new plumbing, so we replace shutoff valves and supply lines while the cabinet is open. Old valves that were never turned often fail when first moved. Moving the sink itself is a permit item; swapping the cabinet underneath it normally is not.
Do glass-front or lit cabinets need electrical work?
Yes. Interior lighting needs a power feed, and a hidden driver or transformer needs an access point so the lights can be serviced. Plug-in LED strips use an existing outlet. Hardwired lighting is electrical work, and we confirm at the survey whether it needs a permit. We plan the wiring before the cabinet faces go on.
What should I empty before the crew arrives?
Everything in the cabinets, drawers and under the sink, plus items on the counters. For refacing, that includes the contents of every cabinet getting new fronts. Move dishes and pantry food to another room. Remove anything fragile from adjacent walls. Clearing the kitchen the evening before saves a morning of delay.
Do new doors arrive faster than a full set of cabinets?
Often, because a door order is smaller than a full cabinet order. Both are made to order, so the time depends on the maker, the finish and the supplier's schedule. We confirm the lead time when you approve the drawings and do not promise a firm date until the manufacturer confirms. Ordering early protects the schedule.
