How a kitchen cabinet refacing job runs, step by step
If you’ve had a contractor experience that went sideways, or heard about one from a neighbor, this page is for you. Here’s exactly what happens at each stage, how long it actually takes, and what we do when something needs to change along the way.
Step 1. The call and the site visit
You call or request an estimate, and we schedule an in-home visit, usually within a few days. We measure your cabinet boxes, check their construction and condition, and go over door styles and finish options with you in your kitchen. This takes 30 to 45 minutes.
Step 2. The written quote
Within a few days of the site visit, you get a written quote with linear footage, materials, hardware, any box repair needed, a timeline, and a payment schedule. Nothing is quoted verbally, and nothing starts until you've approved it in writing.
Step 3. Selections and ordering
Once you approve the quote, we finalize door style, veneer, and hardware selections and place the order. Doors, drawer fronts, and veneer are built to your exact box dimensions, which typically takes four to six weeks to come back from the shop.
Step 4. Permits
Most refacing jobs don't require a permit, since no structural, electrical, or plumbing work is involved. If your project grows to include any of that, we file with the Wellesley building department before that portion of the work starts. This step usually takes no time at all; on the rare job where a permit is needed, plan on one to two weeks for review.
Step 5. Demolition and protection
Materials arrive, and we schedule your install date. On day one, we protect your floors and countertops, then remove existing doors, drawer fronts, and hardware. This is the least disruptive stage of the job since the boxes themselves stay on the wall. Plan on half a day to a full day.
Step 6. The build
New veneer goes on every exposed box surface and end panel, then cures before new doors, drawer fronts, and hardware go on. This is the bulk of the job and typically runs three to five working days, depending on kitchen size.
Step 7. Inspection and punch list
We go through every door and drawer ourselves before we ever ask you to look, checking alignment, swing, and closure. Anything that needs adjusting gets fixed the same day. This takes a few hours, usually the same day the build wraps up.
Step 8. Final walkthrough and warranty
We walk the finished kitchen with you, open and close everything together, and address anything you flag before we call the job complete. The work is covered under our workmanship warranty ({WARRANTY_TERMS}). This step takes 20 to 30 minutes.
How We Handle Change Orders
If something needs to change once we’re into the job, whether it’s a box that needs more repair than expected or a selection you want to revise, we price it in writing and get your approval before that work continues. You will never be asked to make a decision standing in a kitchen with the doors off and no context for what it costs. If you say no to a change, we proceed with the original scope.
How We Keep Your House Liveable
We work between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and clean up before we leave every day, so your kitchen isn’t sitting in dust or debris overnight. Because refacing doesn’t involve cutting into boxes or walls, there’s very little dust to begin with compared to a full remodel, but we still lay down floor protection and cover countertops for the whole job. Your sink, refrigerator, and stove stay in place and usable the entire time.
In Wellesley specifically, a lot of the older homes near the village center sit on narrow lots with tight driveways, some shared with a neighboring property. We park on your driveway or on the street, never blocking a shared drive or a neighbor’s access, and we’ll confirm parking with you at the site visit if your property has any of these constraints.
Ready to start with a site visit? Call 857-837-2572, see the full scope of a refacing job on the service page, or reach us through the contact page.
