As any homeowner knows, kitchen cabinets play a critical role in the overall function of your kitchen. Everything from the decorating scheme to your kitchen storage capacity is largely determined by your kitchen cabinetry. Older cabinets might not present the eyesore of old laminate counters or linoleum floors, but homeowners who neglect their kitchen cabinets do so at their own peril and to the detriment of their kitchen remodeling projects. Since there are plenty of older kitchens in and around St. Louis, kitchen cabinets are often worn enough to warrant an upgrade; whether for form or function, replacing or enhancing Gateway City cabinetry is often the key to kitchen remodeling success.

St. Louis Kitchen Cabinet Remodeling: Stock vs. Custom
While there are literally thousands of choices for upgrading your cabinets, whether you choose handles or knobs, faceless or face-frame, or any of hundreds of color options, most St. Louis kitchen cabinets are one of two varieties: stock and custom. Stock cabinetry offers convenience and affordability; custom cabinetry is a whole other ballgame.

• St. Louis Stock Cabinets: By far the most popular type of new kitchen cabinets in and around St. Louis, stock cabinets are mass-produced, inexpensive, and easy to install. While the number of design options will be somewhat limited, the versatility of these cabinets has increased exponentially over the last few years. Semi-stock cabinets can largely be made to order, although they may take some time to make and will cost quite a bit more.

• St. Louis Custom Cabinetry: If your budget allows, there is no better choice for upgrading your kitchen than custom cabinetry. St. Louis is a city where old-fashioned workmanship never goes out of style, and finding a local cabinet maker to construct high-quality custom cabinets is the perfect choice for higher-end kitchen remodels. Custom cabinet makers will survey your kitchen space and measure cabinets for the optimal storage, layout, and design. There is no space too big, small, or awkward for a custom cabinet maker. Plus, custom cabinets are substantially more durable. As is the case all over the country, there's no shortage of modest budgets in St. Louis. Custom cabinetry is hardly the best choice for those who need to squeeze the most from their remodeling dollar, but in the long run, the value, durability, and overall performance of custom cabinets simply can't be matched by stock models.

Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets: St. Louis's Replacement Alternative
While there's no doubt that replacing old, worn out cabinets can make a huge impact on any classic St. Louis kitchen, cabinets are an item that can last for decades upon decades if they meet two criteria: they are made of wood and you are happy with their current layout and performance. If this describes your existing kitchen cabinetry, refinishing is often a far better (and more affordable) option than replacement.

Refinishing wood cabinets allows you to get the look and feel of new wood by actually removing the surface of your existing cabinets to expose a fresh surface underneath. Since refinishing requires removing some of the existing surface, there are a limited number of times the operation can be performed. Unless your cabinets are over 100 years old, chances are they have one or two potential refinishings left in them; once their surface is stripped, sanded, sealed, and possibly stained, your cabinets will look like you spent a lot more on them than you actually did!

Cost of Kitchen Cabinet Remodels in St. Louis, MO
The cost of new or renovated kitchen cabinets can range all over. There is always a wide range with home improvements as the law of statistics says different estimates from contractors will show a certain amount of various, but with new kitchen cabinets, you can spend as little as one or two grand on the simplest and smallest possibility for your kitchen or $25,000 or more for top-of-the-line custom cabinets. Most homeowners naturally gravitate toward the middle and for good reason. While it's nearly impossible to overestimate the importance of your kitchen cabinetry, in terms of kitchen remodeling budgets, every dollar you spend on cabinets is another dollar you can't spend on countertops, flooring, or appliances.

Finding St. Louis Kitchen Cabinet Remodeling Contractors
Too many homeowners seeking new cabinets rush to their local home improvement stores. The price tags and discounts may look appealing, but these stores are also notorious for over-charging on installation. In many cases, your local St. Louis custom cabinetry builders are happy to perform installations of stock cabinets for a lower cost than the big box stores will offer.

When looking at the difference between cabinet installation contractors and custom cabinet makers keep in mind, too, there is no reason you can't mix and match. Particularly if you have an odd corner, an idiosyncratic under-counter design, or special needs associated with elderly or disabled homeowners, you may have limited and specialized cabinetry needs. Whatever you decide, ServiceMagic can help you find the right professional. Ask us to find the best local cabinet contractors and take advantage of our quality-controlled, online customer ratings and reviews.