Mike Holmes' Budget-Friendly Tip For Updating Old Cabinets Saves You Time And Money

Cabinets make up a significant portion of the kitchen, and damaged or worn ones can impact the entire look and feel of the space. Unfortunately, a full cabinet replacement is costly and may not be in the budget for many homeowners. The good news is, there is another way to refresh your cabinets that HGTV's Mike Holmes says could save you time and money: replacing the veneers.

Veneers are thin pieces of wood or plastic that are applied directly to the surface of cabinet doors and drawers. Wood veneers are made from a variety of wood species, including oak, pine, and walnut. They come in differently sized sheets or strips, which are cut as needed and applied to the front-facing parts of your cabinetry with an adhesive. 

Veneers are a great option if you're looking to update the finish on your existing wood cabinets or make mixed kitchen cabinets look cohesive. You can also cover laminate with wood veneer for a more expensive look. When you replace the veneers, "you keep the existing cabinetry, but still give it a new look that can change the look of your existing kitchen dramatically," Holmes writes on Make it Right. "You're looking at a drastically reduced cost to reface your cabinets instead of a full replacement," he says. 

The cost of refacing with veneer depends on the type of veneer, the number of cabinets, and, of course, labor costs. Typically, plastic veneers cost about $90 to $110 per linear foot (not including labor). Higher-quality veneers that mimic the look of real wood range from $150 to $200 per linear foot, while natural wood veneer will cost around $450 per linear foot. You'll also need to factor in the price of new hinges and hardware. On that note, if you're looking for new & budget-friendly cabinet hardware, head to Hobby Lobby to find some inexpensive options.

While applying new veneer is more affordable and quicker than replacing all of your cabinetry, it's pricier than painting them yourself. However, Mike Holmes notes that veneers will offer greater durability. "Painted cabinets build up grease and dust more easily than refaced cabinets, so they'll require more maintenance unless you use a specialty company," he says. Changing veneers will also give you a more dramatic transformation. "Painting your existing cabinets freshens up the existing look of your kitchen cabinetry, while refacing them gives it a new look almost entirely," the home expert explains on his blog.

Veneers may not work in all cases, however. If your cabinet boxes are in bad shape or too old to drill new holes into, Holmes says, veneers are not a good option. In these cases, you're likely going to need to replace the cabinets entirely.