Kitchen Cabinet Refacing in Encinitas, CA
Kitchen cabinet refacing gives you the look of new cabinets without tearing out the ones you have. The cabinet boxes stay; the doors, drawer fronts, visible frames, end panels, hinges, and pulls are replaced. Homeowners in Leucadia, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, and across Encinitas choose it when the layout already works.
- Licensed under California's CSLB contractor licensing rules
- Permits coordinated with the City of Encinitas Building Division
- Free design consultation and a written contract before work starts
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Please call us at (760) 983-2449.
When Refacing Makes Sense
The test is simple: are the boxes sound, and do you like where everything is? If the answer to both is yes, refacing delivers most of the visual change of new cabinets for a fraction of the disruption, and your countertops can usually stay.
If a base cabinet has been soaked by a sink or dishwasher leak, if shelves bow, or if you want a different layout, new cabinets are the better spend. We open every door at the consultation and tell you which camp your kitchen is in.
Refacing also keeps the kitchen usable. Because the counters, sink, and appliances stay connected, most families cook through the job with only a day or two of real disruption. That is a big difference from a full tear-out, where the kitchen can be out of service for weeks.
Refacing, Piece by Piece
Doors and drawer fronts
New doors and fronts in shaker, slab, or other styles, finished to your choice.
Frames and panels
Face frames and exposed sides wrapped in matching veneer.
Hardware
Soft-close hinges, new pulls, and upgraded drawer slides where needed.
Upgrades
Crown, light rail, glass inserts, and pull-out organizers.
Permits, Lighting, and Scope
A pure refacing job changes no plumbing, wiring, or structure. Adding under-cabinet lighting circuits, moving a sink, or removing a wall changes that. California requires a CSLB license for home-improvement work above $1,000, and a B-2 Residential Remodeling license does not cover substantial changes to major plumbing or electrical systems, so those items are scoped separately and permitted through the City of Encinitas Building Division when needed.
If new lights are part of the plan, any kitchen lighting the remodel changes must be high-efficacy under the state energy code. We choose fixtures that meet it.
Refacing pairs well with other upgrades. If some boxes need to go, we can mix in new cabinet installation for those runs, and if you want to change the whole room, see our complete kitchen remodel page.
A few finishing choices make refaced cabinets read as new: matching the end panels to the doors, adding a taller crown to reach a higher ceiling, and replacing worn toe kicks. We price each option so you can decide what is worth it.
The Sequence
Refacing Timeline
Consult and Measure
Every box inspected and every opening measured.
Fabrication
Doors, fronts, and veneer made to size.
Installation
Old doors off, veneer on, new doors and hardware installed.
Final Tune
Doors aligned, drawers adjusted, and a walkthrough.
Common Questions
Refacing Questions
How long does cabinet refacing take?
Site work is typically a few days after materials arrive. Most of the wait is fabrication. If you add lighting circuits, an inspection by the City of Encinitas Building Division joins the schedule.
Is cabinet resurfacing the same as refacing?
People use the words loosely. Painting or resurfacing changes the finish on existing doors; refacing replaces the doors and fronts and covers the frames. We explain both and recommend the one that suits your cabinets.
What should my refacing contract show?
Door style, finish, hardware, add-ons, schedule, and payment phases, in writing. California caps the deposit at a deposit of $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less and gives you three business days to cancel the contract, five for homeowners 65 and older.
Is refacing worth it on a high-value home?
Often. In a city where the median home is valued at $1,646,800, refacing makes sense when the boxes and layout are good. If they are not, we will say that new cabinets are the better investment.
See Door Styles in Your Kitchen
We bring samples so you can see them in your own light. Book a free consultation or return to the home page.