Kitchen cabinet resurfacing offers Manchester homeowners a cost-effective alternative to full replacement. If your cabinet boxes are structurally sound but the finish looks dated, professional resurfacing can transform your kitchen for a fraction of replacement costs, typically 60 to 75 per cent less.
Understanding kitchen cabinet resurfacing terminology
The kitchen industry uses four different terms that mean related but distinct things. Getting this straight prevents expensive mistakes.
- Resurfacing: means applying new finish to existing cabinet surfaces. In Manchester, this typically involves professional spray painting of doors, drawer fronts, and visible cabinet frames. Everything stays in place. The colour and finish change, but the structure remains identical.
- Refacing: involves replacing doors and drawer fronts entirely while keeping cabinet boxes. The visible sides are covered with matching veneer or laminate. This changes both style and finish but maintains the same layout.
Most people searching online use these terms interchangeably. We’ll focus on resurfacing via professional respraying rather than a full cabinet replacement, as these are the two main options for Manchester kitchens.
The cabinet box assessment: Is resurfacing right for you?
Cabinet boxes determine whether resurfacing is worth it. Doors and drawer fronts can always be replaced or resprayed. The boxes dictate your options.
Stand in front of your cabinets and pull each door fully open. Look at the inside corners where the sides meet the top and bottom. Run your fingernail across any scratches or joints. Solid joints mean the box structure is sound. Gaps, cracks, or separations indicate structural failure. These boxes need replacing.
Check for water damage next. Open the sink base cabinet. Look for dark staining, warped wood, or delaminated panels. Water damage spreads. If it shows significant damage, adjacent cabinets likely have hidden issues.
This assessment takes 15 minutes and determines whether you’re looking at a £3,000 resurfacing project or a £12,000 replacement job.
When kitchen cabinet resurfacing works perfectly
Certain situations make cabinet resurfacing the obvious choice financially and practically.
Professional services cost £2,500 to £4,500 for an average Manchester kitchen. This includes removing doors, spraying everything in your chosen colour, and refitting with new handles. The kitchen looks completely different for about 30 per cent of the replacement cost.
The layout already functions well, storage is adequate, and appliances fit properly. Replacement in the same layout costs £10,000 to £18,000 but delivers the same functionality with a different appearance. Resurfacing achieves the appearance change for far less.
Replacement takes 4 to 8 weeks from order to completion. Resurfacing takes 3 to 5 days. If you’re selling the house, expecting a baby, or hosting an event, speed justifies choosing resurfacing even when replacement might otherwise be the better option.
When cabinet replacement is worth it
Some situations require new cabinets regardless of the resurfacing appeal.
Structural damage eliminates resurfacing as an option. Warped boxes, water-damaged panels, or separated joints won’t improve with a new finish. They’ll continue degrading and eventually fail. Replace these immediately.
Modern functionality features justify replacement for some customers. Soft-close hinges, pull-out shelves, corner cabinet solutions, integrated bins, and charging stations didn’t exist in older kitchens. If these features matter significantly, new cabinets incorporate them. Resurfacing can’t add functionality.
In specific cases, desired style changes exceed resurfacing capabilities. Shaker-style doors replacing flat panels, or glass-fronted cabinets instead of solid doors, require replacement of the doors at a minimum. Sometimes the desired change is so substantial that full replacement costs become justified.
Kitchen cabinet resurfacing cost breakdown: Manchester market
Numbers help make decisions. Here’s what resurfacing versus replacement actually costs in Manchester.
Professional prices
● Small galley kitchen (8 to 10 doors, four drawers): £2,000 to £3,200
● Standard family kitchen (15 to 18 doors, 6 to 8 drawers): £3,500 to £5,000
● Large kitchen (25+ doors, 12+ drawers): £5,500 to £7,500
These figures include all labour, materials, removal, spraying, and refitting. New handles add £150-£400, depending on the choice. The finish lasts 10 to 15 years with normal use.
Full replacement costs
● Small galley kitchen: £7,000 to £11,000
● Standard family kitchen: £12,000 to £20,000
● Large kitchen: £20,000 to £32,000
Replacement costs include new cabinet boxes, doors, drawer fronts, hardware, and installation. They exclude worktops, appliances, flooring, tiling, and electrical work, which is often required during a full replacement.
The difference typically represents 60 to 75 per cent savings for resurfacing. That £10,000 to £15,000 difference funds other improvements or goes toward different household priorities.
Finish types and durability for resurfaced cabinets
Not all resurfacing finishes perform equally. Understanding options helps choose appropriately.
- Matt and eggshell finishes: hide fingerprints and smudges well. They create a contemporary look popular in current kitchen trends. These finishes require gentle cleaning with non-abrasive products.
- Satin finishes: balance appearance and practicality. A slight sheen adds depth without a high-gloss shine. Easy to clean with standard cleaners. This represents the most popular choice among our Manchester customers.
- Gloss finishes: deliver a traditional kitchen appearance. High shine reflects light, creating a bright, shiny appearance. However, every fingerprint, smudge, and splash is immediately visible. Cleaning becomes a daily rather than a weekly task.
We use professional-grade two-pack paints specifically formulated for kitchen environments. These resist moisture, heat, grease, and daily wear far better than standard paints. Correctly applied, a professional finish lasts 8 to 12 years. DIY attempts using standard paints often fail within 2 to 3 years.
Making your kitchen cabinet upgrade decision
Start with the cabinet box assessment. If boxes are damaged, warped, or water-affected, replacement is necessary regardless of other factors. Sound boxes open the resurfacing option.
Consider your timeline. The need for completion within two weeks points to resurfacing. Having months available allows replacement scheduling.
Evaluate layout satisfaction honestly. If you love your current layout, then resurfacing works brilliantly. If you want significant changes, then budget for replacement.
How we approach cabinet resurfacing projects
MCR Repairs specialises in on-site kitchen cabinet resurfacing across Manchester and the North West. Our respraying service covers residential properties, rental units, and commercial spaces.
We assess every kitchen professionally before making a recommendation. Some cabinets genuinely need replacing. Telling customers this upfront builds trust even when it means losing the immediate job.
We remove doors and drawer fronts, spray them off-site, then spray the remaining cabinet frames on location using professional equipment and two-pack paints designed for kitchen environments.
Commercial clients get project management included. Multiple properties, coordinated scheduling, and tenant liaison. We work with property management companies, student accommodation providers, and rental agencies, handling kitchen updates across portfolios.
All work includes a workmanship guarantee. If problems occur due to our workmanship within the warranty period, we return and correct them at no charge.
Getting your assessment today
Free assessments prevent wasted time and money. Send us photos or arrange a site visit before making decisions.
We need to see inside cabinet boxes, door alignment, and any damage present. Photos help, but site visits provide a more accurate assessment.
Professional evaluation comes first. We’ll tell you immediately if your cabinets need resurfacing or if replacement is worth it. Sometimes the answer is neither: the cabinets are fine and just need cleaning.
Call us on 0161 2416888 or email sales@mcrrepairs.co.uk. We cover Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Altrincham, and throughout the North West. We respond quickly to enquiries and can usually schedule assessments within a few working days.
Whether you choose resurfacing or a full replacement, a proper assessment determines which option is best for your specific situation. The decision affects how you use your kitchen for the next decade. Get it right by understanding all factors before committing.
