If your kitchen cabinets are looking worn, dated, or just plain tired, you’re probably asking yourself the same question thousands of Ohio homeowners ask every year: Should I refinish my cabinets or replace them entirely? It’s one of the most important decisions you’ll make in a kitchen renovation — and the answer can save you thousands of dollars if you get it right.
At Willow & Wick Cabinet Coatings, we’ve helped homeowners across Columbus, Mansfield, Marion, Toledo, and all of North Central Ohio make this exact decision. Here’s our honest, expert breakdown to help you choose the best path for your home and budget.
Cabinet refinishing — also called cabinet painting or cabinet recoating — is the process of transforming your existing cabinet boxes and doors with a fresh, professional-grade finish. At Willow & Wick, our refinishing process uses a 100% spray application with low VOC, industrial-grade wood coatings to deliver a factory-smooth, durable finish that looks and feels brand new.
Our process includes a sealed-off preparation system that protects your home from dust and overspray — so there’s no mess left behind. No brushes. No rollers. Just a flawless, professional result.
Cabinet replacement involves removing your existing cabinets entirely and installing brand-new ones. This is a full construction project that typically requires a contractor, significant lead time for cabinet orders, and a kitchen that may be out of commission for weeks.
| Factor | Refinishing | Replacement |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Fraction of replacement cost | Significantly higher |
| Timeline | 2–5 days | 4–8+ weeks |
| Kitchen Disruption | Minimal | Major |
| Finish Quality | Factory-smooth (spray applied) | Varies by cabinet brand |
| Eco Impact | Sustainable — reuses existing cabinets | Generates significant waste |
| Layout Changes | Not possible | Fully customizable |
| Best For | Structurally sound cabinets needing a refresh | Damaged boxes or full remodels |
There’s a third option that many homeowners overlook: cabinet refacing. Willow & Wick offers refacing as a middle-ground solution — perfect for homeowners whose cabinet boxes are in good shape but whose doors are damaged, outdated, or simply ready for a new style.
With cabinet refacing, we paint or refinish your existing cabinet boxes and install brand-new doors made to your specifications. You can choose from a wide variety of door styles and finishes, and optionally add crown molding, end panels, or island panels for a truly custom look — all at a fraction of the cost of full replacement.
We want you to know what to expect each step of the way. Our process is strategically planned to create not only the best possible finish, but to give our clients an amazing and hassle-free experience.
We begin by removing all doors and drawers and labeling them as well as your hinges and hardware. Then we start degreasing, scrubbing, and rinsing all your cabinets and the workspace to prepare surfaces for best adhesion.
Your entire kitchen and project area will get covered and protected. The walkways into the space, the floors, walls, backsplash, and countertops will be taped off and covered in plastic and paper. Plastic walls will be created to trap in fumes, dust, and protect against overspray.
We will sand down all your cabinet boxes, then shop vac and wipe them down again to prepare the surface for painting.
After spraying the first coat of primer we will fix blemishes. Everything then gets sanded and wiped down again before we spray the final coats of primer.
We will spray multiple finishing coats of our industrial grade, Low VOC, water-based lacquer. This product is not only durable and rated for kitchen usage but it creates a beautiful ceramic finish. We also do stains and dyes if you are looking for a more natural wood tone.
After your bases are completed, we remove the paper and plastic and clean up the work area. You will have access back to your space while we spend a few days working in our shop. All your doors and drawers will get taken back to our shop — if we are upgrading hardware or hinges, we will drill out for those in shop as well.
We clean and degrease, sand, and fill your doors and drawers. We then spray multiple coats of primer and multiple coats of our industrial grade water-based lacquer for a flawless, durable finish.
We bring all your doors and drawers back, install hardware and hinges onsite, make sure everything is level, and install door bumpers.
Our team will do a thorough review after install and complete any needed touch ups. We will clean up the work areas and ensure everything is left in better condition than when we arrived.
We always do a final walk through with you to ensure you are 100% happy with the finish on your cabinets. We’ll leave you with care instructions and a 1-year workmanship warranty.
Here’s the bottom line: if your cabinet boxes are structurally solid, refinishing is almost always the smarter investment. You get a stunning, like-new result in days — not weeks — and at a cost that leaves room in your budget for countertops, hardware, or other upgrades you’ve been dreaming about.
Not sure which option is right for you? That’s exactly what our free in-home consultations are for. We’ll walk through your kitchen with you, assess the condition of your cabinets, and give you an honest recommendation — no pressure, no upselling.
Willow & Wick Cabinet Coatings is a family-owned business proudly serving Columbus, Mansfield, Marion, Toledo, and all of North Central Ohio. Whether you’re leaning toward refinishing, refacing, or just need expert advice, we’re here to help you make the best decision for your home.
📞 Call or text us at (419) 982-2209
📧 Email: info@willowandwick.com
🗓️ Schedule your free in-home consultation today at willowandwick.com