Most kitchen cabinet refacing projects take 2 to 5 days of work in your home. From the first estimate to the final walkthrough, plan on about 3 to 5 weeks, because your new doors, drawer fronts and veneer are made to order after we measure.
That’s the biggest difference between refacing and a full cabinet replacement. A tear-out remodel can leave you without a working kitchen for a month or more. With refacing, your cabinet boxes stay in place, your countertops stay put, and you keep using your kitchen most evenings while we work.
If you’re hoping to host family in a refreshed kitchen this holiday season, timing matters. Below is a day-by-day look at how a typical Denver-area refacing project runs, what can stretch the schedule, and how to plan around it.
The cabinet refacing timeline, step by step
| Stage | When | What happens | Can you use your kitchen? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free in-home estimate | Week 1 | We look at your cabinet boxes, take rough measurements and walk you through door styles, wood species and colors. You get a written quote. | Yes |
| Design and final measure | Week 1–2 | You pick your door style, finish and hardware from our door and color samples. We take exact measurements of every door, drawer and exposed cabinet surface. | Yes |
| Ordering and production | Weeks 2–4 | Doors, drawer fronts and veneer are built to your measurements. This is the longest wait, and nothing happens in your kitchen. | Yes |
| Day 1: Prep and removal | Install week | We protect your floors and counters, remove the old doors, drawer fronts and hardware, and clean and prep the cabinet frames. | Mostly, with open shelves |
| Days 2–3: Veneer | Install week | New veneer or laminate is applied to the cabinet frames and exposed sides so every visible surface matches your new doors. | Limited during work hours |
| Days 3–4: Doors, drawers and hardware | Install week | New doors and drawer fronts go on with new hinges. Soft-close hinges and new drawer boxes are added here if you chose them. Pulls and knobs go on last. | Yes, in the evenings |
| Final day: Adjustments and walkthrough | Install week | We align every door and drawer, touch up any edges, clean up and walk through the kitchen with you. | Yes |
Smaller kitchens and bathroom vanities often finish in 1 to 2 days. Larger kitchens with an island, pantry or crown molding can run 4 to 5 days. A quick cabinet redooring, where we replace only the doors and drawer fronts, can be done in about a day.
What can make refacing take longer
Most delays happen before install week, not during it. These are the factors that change your schedule the most:
- Kitchen size and layout. More doors and more exposed cabinet sides mean more veneer and more install time. An island or a tall pantry usually adds about a day.
- Door style and material. Stock styles in common finishes arrive faster than custom colors or specialty wood species. Ask which options have the shortest lead time if you’re working toward a date.
- Add-ons. New drawer boxes, soft-close hinges, pull-out organizers, crown molding and light rail each add a little time. They’re easiest to do during the same visit. Read should you replace drawer boxes when refacing if you’re deciding.
- Cabinet box repairs. Refacing works because your existing boxes are solid. If we find water damage under the sink or a sagging shelf, we fix it first, which can add a few hours to a day.
- Other trades. If you’re also replacing countertops, a backsplash or appliances, the order of work matters. Countertops typically go in after the cabinets are refaced, so plan the two jobs together.
- The holidays. November and December are the busiest months for kitchen projects. Booking your estimate early in the fall gives your order time to arrive before family does.
Refacing vs. replacing cabinets: how the timelines compare
Refacing keeps your kitchen out of commission for days instead of weeks. Here’s how the two approaches typically compare:
| Cabinet refacing | Full cabinet replacement | |
|---|---|---|
| Work in your home | 2–5 days | 2–6 weeks |
| Demolition | None; boxes stay in place | Cabinets and often countertops torn out |
| Countertops | Usually stay | Often removed and replaced |
| Plumbing and electrical | Untouched | Often disconnected and reconnected |
| Kitchen usable during the job | Most evenings | Usually not |
| Dust and debris | Light | Heavy |
The time savings come from skipping demolition. When the cabinet boxes stay, so do your sink, dishwasher, countertops and wiring. That’s also a big part of why refacing usually costs much less than replacing. See 5 advantages of cabinet refacing over full renovation for more.
How to live in your kitchen during refacing
A little prep makes install week easy. Your sink, stove and fridge keep working the whole time.
Pick your hardware early. Choosing pulls and knobs at the design stage keeps install week on schedule.
Empty the cabinets the night before. Clear out the cabinets and drawers we’ll be working on, and set up a short-term pantry on a table or in boxes nearby.
Keep a cooking corner. Your appliances stay connected, so simple meals are still on. Plan easy dinners for days 2 and 3, when the most work is happening.
Clear the counters. We need space to work and to protect your countertops.
Plan for pets and kids. We’ll have tools out during the day, so keep a door or gate between them and the kitchen.
Cabinet refacing timeline FAQs
How long does it take to reface kitchen cabinets? Most kitchens take 2 to 5 days of work in your home. The full project, including design and ordering, usually takes 3 to 5 weeks.
Why is there a wait between the estimate and the install? Your doors, drawer fronts and veneer are made to your exact measurements. That production time is the longest part of the project, and your kitchen works normally while you wait.
Can I use my kitchen while cabinets are being refaced? Yes. Your sink, stove, dishwasher and fridge stay connected. Most homeowners cook simple meals during install week, especially in the evenings.
Is refacing faster than painting cabinets? The on-site work is similar, often 3 to 5 days for either. Refacing includes a wait for custom doors, but it gives you new door styles and a finish that holds up better than paint on high-use cabinets.
How long does it take to reface a bathroom vanity? A single vanity is usually done in a day. See our post on bathroom vanity refacing.
Can my kitchen be refaced before the holidays? Often, yes, if you book early enough for your doors to be made. Call us for current lead times. For more answers, see our cabinet refacing FAQs.
Get a new-look kitchen in days, not weeks
Cabinet refacing gives you new doors, new finishes and new hardware without tearing out your kitchen. Home Improvements of Colorado refaces kitchens across Denver, Littleton, Parker, Aurora, Lakewood and the rest of the Front Range.
Get a ballpark number with our cabinet refacing cost estimator, browse door styles and colors, or schedule your free in-home estimate. The sooner you book, the sooner your doors go into production.
