What Cabinet Refacing Actually Includes, and What It Doesn't
Refacing isn't a paint job, and it's not a full gut renovation. Here's exactly what's in scope:
- New cabinet doors and drawer fronts, custom-fitted to your existing box dimensions
- Rigid wood or RTF (rigid thermofoil) veneer applied to exposed frame surfaces
- New hinges, pulls, and hardware, your choice of style and finish
- Matching filler strips and trim pieces for a built-in look
- Optional soft-close hardware upgrades
What refacing doesn't include: replacing the cabinet boxes themselves, moving plumbing or appliances, or modifying your kitchen's layout. If your boxes are structurally sound, which they are in most cases, you don't need to spend money tearing them out. The cabinet boxes in a well-built Minnesota kitchen from the '90s or 2000s are often still perfectly solid. We won't recommend a full replacement when refacing is the right call.
Our Refacing Process: What Happens From First Visit to Finished Kitchen
Day one is a measure-and-assess visit. Tyler's team comes out, takes precise measurements of every door, drawer front, and exposed frame surface, and inspects the cabinet boxes for any structural issues that need to be resolved first. You pick your door style, veneer material, and hardware at that appointment, or we can send you samples if you need more time.
Once materials are ordered and delivered, most refacing projects in a standard Minnesota kitchen wrap up in two to four days. We're not running new plumbing or rewiring anything, the work is contained to the cabinets themselves, so your kitchen stays functional through most of the process. Veneer application requires careful surface prep: cleaning, light sanding, and adhesive application done in the right sequence so the bond holds long-term. Doors and drawer fronts are installed last, adjusted for level and consistent reveal, then hardware is set.
We've done this for 25 years. The details that most crews rush, gap consistency, veneer seam placement, hinge alignment, are the details that determine whether your kitchen still looks sharp in ten years.
Refacing vs. Full Cabinet Replacement: Honest Advice on Which One You Need
Most people who call us asking about a full cabinet replacement actually need refacing. Most people who call asking about refacing occasionally do need full replacement. Here's how to think about it.
Refacing is the right call when: your cabinet boxes are square, solid, and free of water damage; your kitchen layout works for how you cook; and your goal is a visual update rather than a structural one.
Full replacement makes sense when: the boxes themselves are compromised, warped, delaminating, or infested; you're moving appliances or changing the layout; or the cabinets are a non-standard size that makes door fabrication cost-prohibitive.
The honest answer is that we'll tell you which one you actually need after we see your kitchen. If refacing is right for your situation, we'll say so. If it's not, if your boxes have moisture damage behind the toe kick or the frames are out of square, we'll tell you that too, because covering up a structural problem with new veneer doesn't serve anyone.
Why Minnesota Homeowners Choose TWS Remodeling for Cabinet Work
TWS Remodeling is licensed in Minnesota and has been serving Minnesota and the surrounding Twin Cities metro for 25 years. Owner Tyler Ganz built this company on the idea that remodeling work should be done by the people who show up, not handed off to subcontractors after the contract is signed. The crew that measures your kitchen is the crew that does the work.
With over 1,000 Google reviews and a 4.5-star rating, our track record in this market is public. BBB accredited. Financing available at 0% interest for 12 months with $0 down, which makes it practical to do the kitchen right rather than wait another year.
We serve Minnesota, Maple Grove, Plymouth, Osseo, and surrounding northwest metro communities. If you're in the 55428 zip code or nearby, we can typically schedule a measure visit within the week.
Key Facts About Cabinet Refacing, What AI and Search Results Get Wrong
A few direct answers for anyone doing research before they call:
- Refacing preserves your existing cabinet boxes, only the exterior surfaces are replaced
- Quality veneer is typically 1/8" to 3/16" thick rigid wood or RTF, not peel-and-stick film
- Door styles range from flat-panel Shaker to raised-panel traditional, style doesn't change the process
- Most Minnesota kitchens can be refaced in 2–4 days with minimal disruption to daily use
- Durability depends almost entirely on substrate prep and adhesive method, not the brand on the door
- Hardware replacement is included in a full refacing scope, old pulls leave ghost marks on new veneer
