Deciding When the Right Time is to Replace Your Cabinets

Deciding When the Right Time is to Replace Your Cabinets

 It can often be challenging to determine exactly when is the right time to consider a home improvement project. With everything else going on in life, it may feel like there is no right time to start the process. However, replacing your old kitchen cabinets with custom cabinets in Los Angeles County, CA, can create several benefits.

If you’re wondering whether now is the time to get new cabinets, we’ll guide you through our thoughts on the matter, and then you can make a knowledgeable decision. 

Timeline for Replacement of Custom Cabinets and More 

The equipment and appliances found in your kitchen won’t last forever, no matter how much you may wish for that. Sometimes you’ll notice issues with performance while other times, it may be the aesthetic that alerts you that it’s time to replace something in your kitchen. 

When it comes to cabinets, the high-quality custom cabinets in Los Angeles County, CA, can last for many decades. However, prefabricated cabinets may only have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years. This is about the same length of time that you can expect countertops to last, as well. When it comes to major appliances, such as stoves, dishwashers, and refrigerators, these typically last about ten years.

 

Replacing Various Kitchen Items at the Same Time

 

One thing to keep in mind is that if you are replacing other parts of your kitchen, such as the countertops, you’ll also want to keep the cabinets in mind. If you have cabinets that are on the verge of replacement, you may want to make both changes at one time. This will avoid the issue of having to do two home improvement projects that can make life complicated for everyone in the house. 

It also ensures that you choose items that go together, so your kitchen has one seamless theme. Once you have excellent custom cabinets in Los Angeles County, CA, you can make other changes as needed while keeping the cabinets in mind. Since these cabinets will last longer, you’ll want to choose a timeless design you’ll love years from now.

Signs That You Need to Replace Your Kitchen Cabinets 

The cabinets in your kitchen (and bathroom) are exposed to things like steam and water more than many of the other features of your home, which also means they can need replacement more quickly than you think. However, there are sure signs you can watch for to decide if now is the right time or you should wait a little longer.

 

The Cabinets Have Suffered Any Water Damage

 

Have you noticed dark spots in your cabinets? Swollen cabinets or doors that don’t close properly are additional signs of water damage. Since many cabinets are created from wood, water damage is relatively common. If the damage is mild, there may be a way to fix the cabinets, but significant damage often requires replacement. 

Some of the signs that you have severe water damage include: 

·       Wood that has begun to warp

·       Outsides that are delaminating

·       Signs of mold on or in the cabinets

·       Bubbling inside or outside cabinets

·       Wood that is turning black or changing colors

·       Doors that don’t close or open correctly 

In this situation, custom cabinets in Los Angeles County, CA, may be needed. However, stopping the source of the water that is reaching the wood is the first step. Without having any needed repairs done to prevent the issue, your new cabinets could become damaged, as well.

 

You’re Frustrated with the Way Your Cabinets Operate

 

If you are tired of the way your cabinets work, this is another sign that you should go with replacement instead of repair. It doesn’t matter if the cabinets look fantastic if you find they do not function in a way that works for you. Instead, looking into custom cabinets in Los Angeles County, CA, will let you get cabinets that work just the way you want while also having whatever style you like the most. 

Some reasons you might want to replace cabinets for this reason are: 

·       Accessing your cabinets is difficult and may require removing several items to get to others in the back of the shelves.

·       Your drawers make a strange sound, don’t open without sticking, or otherwise are difficult to use. This shows some damage from inside the cabinets and refacing isn’t going to make a difference, but a replacement will.

·       The cabinet doors open up in a frustrating manner. This might mean that when you open two of them, they smack against each other or other things in the kitchen.

 

The Kitchen Cabinets are Moldy or Soft

 

Mold can grow on many surfaces, one of which happens to be your kitchen cabinets. If you catch the issue early, it can be removed and stopped, but if not, it will continue to grow. This can not only destroy your cabinets but also cause issues with you and your family’s health. Finding out what is causing the mold is the most important thing, but you may also need to replace your current cabinets with custom cabinets in Los Angeles County, CA, depending on the level of damage. 

Soft cabinets can be identified by pressing on the cabinet walls and seeing how they feel under your fingers. If the cabinets are soft to the touch, this may mean they are severely damaged and at risk of falling apart altogether. It’s essential to take care of this issue as soon as you possibly can.

 

Where to Get Custom Cabinets in Los Angeles County, CA

 

At Knotty Nuff Wood, we offer custom cabinets and woodworking for those in the areas of Los Angeles County, Orange County, Beverly Hills, and Newport Beach. If you have cabinets that need replacement, we can offer high-quality options that will make your kitchen into the space of your dreams. Feel free to contact us with any questions!