Submitted by dan_alyst t3_10tuc19 in pittsburgh
My wife and I are planning a kitchen remodel and would like to be able to save our cabinets. But unsure how well the refresh service works. Anyone have experience they can share?
Submitted by dan_alyst t3_10tuc19 in pittsburgh
My wife and I are planning a kitchen remodel and would like to be able to save our cabinets. But unsure how well the refresh service works. Anyone have experience they can share?
Yeah. We’ve considered this route but our goal isn’t just a cosmetic upgrade. The layout of our kitchen is not very functional. Our cabinets are fine structurally but the layout is not great. We’re trying to workout a way we can rearrange cabinets to make it more functional. If that can workout then paint, countertops, and appliances would go a long way
Then go Ikea.
If, you like and are ok with 100% IKEA. their stuff doesn’t mix and match without heavy customization. Make sure you like the IKEA sink etc.
I'm not sure what you mean by "heavy customization." Countertops all attach the same way. Sinks are just sinks. Either drop-in or undermount.
IKEA sink cabinets are built for IKEA sink widths which are annoyingly not any of the standard widths used elsewhere. The particularly limiting one is if you want a front apron “farmhouse” style.
Ah I see. I actually got a farmhouse drop-in from Ikea, but it was wider than my sink base so I had to trim some material out of the neighboring base for the strainer. Then I used wall cabinets to make a coffee bar base with a bar sink, which also required some trimming. To me that seems like a reasonable amount of tweaking. So if you want everything to just fit by default that could be a problem. I still think they are very easy to work with and "customize" with relative ease.
Molyneaux does not gut or rearrange the current layout - can paint or replace current doors/drawers, get new countertops, backsplash, etc. I used to work there and still have friends there, feel free to DM if you have more questions / want to get hooked up with one of the consultants
Also interested in refresh experiences. The one quote we got elsewhere for a full remodel of our little kitchen in our little house was way too high to justify, so we put it off in favor of other projects.
I’ve only dealt with Molyneaux for flooring, but they were always so much more expensive than other places for the same flooring. Like more than double.
Call a private contractor molenoux will bang you over the head on money
That's easier than it sounds, though. A lot of private contractors are booked solid, they don't return calls, and they don't want to do a smaller job. At least with a company like Molyneaux, there's more accountability than with the guy that your neighbor's cousin recommended.
I see those commercials for the West Shore bathtub replacement in a day, and am tempted, because even if it's more expensive, it just seems easier. I'm not handy, and I don't want my only bathroom torn up for a week.
Yeah. I’ve heard they’re pricy. I’m not sure how to find a private contractor that I know will do a good job though. Particularly for building new doors
Molenoux refresh service isn’t your best choice for kitchen cabinets - your cabinets should be refinished with a high build lacquer not house/trim paint that molenoux uses. You will need frequent touchups and repairs with their service. Hire a carpentry company or painter for your cabinets.
Thanks for the advice. Do you know a good carpenter in the Pittsburgh area I could call?
Clay building solutions
Essig renovations
Humble hands woodworking
I’m sure they’d do well, but there’s cheaper options
My parents just had this done. Went fine but not flawless
Thanks for the info. Do you know what they had done? Was it just replacing doors & painting cabinets?
I’m not sure exactly but I’m pretty sure that was it
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If cabinets are in good shape you can do a little refresh yourself to get a little more time out of it. Just clean them. I'm honestly not joking. They get a film of grease and funk that doesn't really come off. You can use floor wax stripper. They aren't all equal so you need to test a spot that isn't in a spot you can see. Give it a couple days to make sure it doesn't hurt the finish. It kind of depends on the quality of cabinets to how well it works. Cheaper cabinets aren't as smooth of a finish so harder to get fully clean. Sometimes it makes them look like just installed. It could buy your kitchen a few more years to save up more money to change it how you like.
I've used. Trewax heavy duty floor stripper. It says it's step 1 -strip
Make sure you test like I said.
Desirable Kitchens & Refacing
You won’t regret it. We love our (cheap) kitchen redo.
AlleghenyCityHolding t1_j795z1w wrote
New countertop, paint your cabinets, get new appliances.
I just saved you a >$20k remodel.