Cabinet comparisons

Reface vs replace. This is a condition test, not a taste test. Sound boxes plus a layout you are happy with equals reface. Water-damaged, sagging or swollen boxes, or any desire to move things, equals replace. Modernize puts refacing at $4,000-$9,500 nationally against replacement that commonly starts around $4,000 and climbs steeply with tier. The trap is being sold a replacement for a kitchen that needed doors.

Stock vs semi-custom vs custom. At $80-$120, $150-$300 and $500-$800 per linear foot respectively, this is the second biggest lever. Stock suits standard rectangular kitchens. Semi-custom buys sizing and finish flexibility and is where most well-executed mid-range kitchens land. Custom is for genuinely awkward rooms and specific unavailable designs.

Plywood vs particleboard boxes. Plywood is cross-laminated veneers, stiffer and more tolerant of moisture. Particleboard is compressed wood fiber and resin, flat and stable but prone to swelling if water gets in and the edges are unsealed. Plywood boxes are a real upgrade under a sink or in a laundry. Note, though, that both materials can appear in cabinets carrying the ANSI/KCMA A161.1 certification seal - the certification tests performance, not material, which is why it is a better filter than a materials argument.

Painted vs stained. Painted finishes show hairline cracks at joints over time as wood moves; stained finishes hide wear better. Neither is objectively better. If you have kids and heavy use, stained or a durable factory-applied painted finish is the practical choice.