What is the difference between refinishing, refacing, and replacing?
Each option draws the line in a different place between what stays and what goes. That line is where the money goes.
- Cabinet refinishing is the restoration of an existing wood finish. The old coating is stripped, damage is repaired, the wood is re-stained, and a clear coat seals it. The grain stays visible.
- Cabinet painting is often grouped with refinishing. The doors and boxes are cleaned, sanded, primed, and sprayed a solid colour, which hides the grain.
- Cabinet refacing replaces the doors and drawer fronts and applies veneer to the existing boxes so everything matches.
- Cabinet replacement removes the boxes, installs new ones, and refits the countertops.
Refinishing vs resurfacing: is there a difference?
Resurfacing is a general word rather than its own process. One company uses it for painting, another for refinishing, and a third for refacing. In St. Albert, painting starts at $3,000 and refacing starts at $5,000, so two "resurfacing" quotes can describe very different jobs.
Before comparing quotes, read what each written estimate says will happen to the doors. Stripped and re-stained means refinishing. Primed and sprayed means painting. Replaced means refacing. The scope matters more than the label on the first page.
Refinishing vs refacing vs replacing compared side by side
| Factor | Refinishing | Refacing | Replacing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 St. Albert price | $4,000 to $10,000 | $5,000 to $12,000 | $20,000 to $40,000+ |
| Doors | Stripped, re-stained, sealed | New doors and drawer fronts | New |
| Cabinet boxes | Refinished on site | Kept and veneered | Torn out and rebuilt |
| Countertops and plumbing | Stay in place | Stay in place | Removed and refitted |
| Thermofoil cabinets | Not possible, no grain | A common reason to reface | Possible |
| Layout change | No | No | Yes |
| Time | Confirmed at the quote | 5 to 14 days by size | 4 to 8 weeks |
For a full price breakdown by door count, see the 2026 cabinet refinishing cost guide.
Is it cheaper to refinish or replace kitchen cabinets?
Cabinet refinishing costs less than replacement at every kitchen size in St. Albert. The most expensive refinishing tier, $8,000 to $10,000 for 35 to 50+ doors, still sits below the $20,000 starting point for new cabinets once demolition, installation, and countertop refitting are counted.
The most common job, an average 20 to 35 door oak kitchen, costs $6,000 to $8,000 to refinish. Replacing that same kitchen means 4 to 8 weeks of demolition and construction, with the sink and counters out of use for part of that time.
Is it cheaper to paint or replace kitchen cabinets?
Cabinet painting is the cheapest of all four options. A painted St. Albert kitchen costs $3,000 to $8,000 and takes 5 to 12 days depending on size. Painting saves 50 to 70 percent against new cabinets, which works out to roughly $12,000 to $30,000 for most owners.
National figures point the same way. The HomeStars guide to painting kitchen cabinets reports that replacing kitchen cupboards costs three to five times more than painting them, and adds that painting only makes sense when the boxes are structurally sound and the doors sit flat.
Is refinishing kitchen cabinets worth it?
Refinishing or painting is worth it when three things are true:
- The boxes are sound. Solid wood boxes from 1980s and 1990s homes usually are.
- The layout already works for how you cook.
- The problem is the finish or the colour, not the shape of the doors.
Refinishing is not worth it when the boxes are water damaged, when you want to move the sink or add an island, or when the doors are thermofoil. Thermofoil peels near stoves and dishwashers after 10 to 20 years and cannot be refinished, so kitchen cabinet refacing is the better fix for those doors.
Key takeaway: Keep the boxes if they are sound. Refinish or paint when you like the doors, reface when you do not, and replace only for water damage or a new layout. Call 587-817-6477 or book a free in-home consultation to have your cabinets checked.
Best option for your kitchen by what you want to change
| What you want | Best fit | 2026 St. Albert price |
|---|---|---|
| A new colour on sound doors | Cabinet painting | $3,000 to $8,000 |
| Honey oak turned white or navy | Cabinet painting with grain filling | $3,000 to $6,000 |
| A worn wood finish renewed, grain showing | Cabinet refinishing | $4,000 to $10,000 |
| A different door style or no more peeling foil | Cabinet refacing | $5,000 to $12,000 |
| Modern doors before listing the house | Pre-sale refacing refresh | $4,000 to $7,000 |
| A new layout or water-damaged boxes | New cabinets | $20,000 to $40,000+ |
How to choose between refinishing, refacing, and replacing in St. Albert
Start in your own kitchen. Open the sink base and look for swollen or soft panels. Press on a few shelves to check for sag. Then decide whether the current layout is one you want to keep for another decade. If the boxes pass and the layout stays, painting, refinishing, or refacing will cost a fraction of replacement.
Cabinet Refinishing St. Albert offers a free in-home consultation and a detailed written estimate covering prep, products, and labour, and the quoted price is the price you pay. Every job carries a 5-year written workmanship warranty and is completed by in-house, WCB-covered crews. Read cabinet refinishing for solid wood, or what cabinet refacing includes if new doors are on the table.