Carpentry and Woodworking - Is it worth it to replace the doors on cabinets with particle board sides

:confused: We have cabinets from the 80's with those ugly flat white laminate doors with oak trim at the bottom. The front frames are wood and the sides are particile board. I really dislike these cabinets and would prefer to replace them, but we only plan on staying in the house for a couple more years and don't want to put a ton of money into a total kitchen remodel (I think our house is already on the high end for our street). We're already redoing the floor, walls, and lighting (all equally tacky), and possibly the countertop. Is it worth it to reface the cabinets--or will it ultimately be more work than it's worth, both in terms of aesthetics and resale? Thanks for any advice you have!

Some people like melamine doors because they're easy to clean. People with kids, practical people, you never know.

It won't cost a fortune to change doors, and changing drawer fronts could be simple or nightmarish. This will totally change the look of the kitchen. But maybe for the worse in another's eyes..?

Maybe just put on new handles?

Thanks for the perspective. These doors are completely flat with wood slats at the bottom for door pulls, so I think it would look odd to put handles on as well. If we want to replace the doors, any suggestions for where to look?

Forgot my other question: our drawers are 'three-sided' with the drawer front being the fourth side. Is this the nightmarish situation? Would it be better to get new drawers and new drawer fronts?

I think it would look odd to put handles on as well.
Oops. And you're right.
the drawer front being the fourth side.
If you look at the bottom inside of the front, you'll probably see locking slots where the drawer sides were slid in - with glue. To re-front such drawers would be extraordinary trouble. A cabinet maker will rather put in all new drawers.

I get asked to do these sort of jobs often, and usually steer people away from the idea. Pay North American wages for half-new by thoughtful custom work, or Indonesian wages for all-new by assembly line? Cheaper to pay a local so-called cabinetmaker (who cuts Indonesian prefab parts to size) for all-new cabinets, than have these components made up from scratch. The only exception is where you demand something unique, or a level of quality no prospective home buyer will notice.

Yup, if the drawer fronts are basically a part of the drawer box, you'll likely need to replace the box AND front. What the heck, throw in some new ball-bearing drawer slides and you have a deal.

Call around to several cabinet shops, both large and small, have them come by (at different times please!) and get a few quotes, and maybe some new ideas.

BTW, look for doors called RTF (rigid thermofoil). It's a nice raised-panel looking door made of MDF (medium density fiberboard, a fantastic material for doors) which has a thermally fused foil cover stamped onto it, looks very nice. Tons of styles and colors. Now, they are NOT the best door in long-term durability, but if you want a NICE looking door, a decent price, and very easy cleanability, then RTF is the way to go. If you're going to be there only for a few years, go with RTF (they are going to be light years better than the ones you already have anyhow, as they have an MDF core and not particle board, and MDF to particle board what bologna is to leather).

A good cabinet shop can make you some nice drawer boxes (they'll want to replace the drawer guides and you'll likely want them too, I prefer side-mount ball bearing slides), new RTF drawer fronts and doors with new hinges, and you'll be AMAZED at how this brightens up the kitchen.

You can buy new cabinet doors, drawer fronts, and drawer boxes online. The RTF ones are very reasonable. I wouldn't spend more on a house you plan on selling in a few years. You'll probably make your money back as house hunters seems to just look at the doors and hardware anyway.