The nature of our business is such that we have plenty of opportunity to advise people during their kitchen remodeling projects. A question we hear quite often goes something like this: “do I need new cabinets to go with my new countertops?” It’s a great question and one that can only be answered with a bit more investigation. It’s not as simple as saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
We fabricate granite, marble, and quartz countertops. That’s our business. We also install everything we sell. So it makes sense that we would encourage people to buy new countertops as often as possible. We would expect cabinetmakers to do the same. But here’s the thing: we ultimately want you to be happy with the finished product. If making you happy means helping you spend less, that’s what we want to do.
The only way to know whether you need new cabinets to go with your countertops is to look at the whole project from a big picture point of view. To that end, here are some things you would need to consider:
Guarantees and Warranties
The guarantees and warranties offered on countertops vary from one manufacturer to the next. For example, did you know that the generic countertops sold at DIY stores are often designed around the assumption that customers will also be installing new cabinets? Product warranties and guarantees may reflect that assumption.
On the other hand, custom countertops can be designed specifically for your existing cabinetry, should you decide to keep it. Any guarantees or warranties attached to the countertops would remain the same regardless.
Your Choice of Materials
Something else to consider is your choice of materials. Let’s say you are getting rid of laminate countertops in favor of a custom quartz countertop. Quartz is going to be heavier, but not as heavy as granite or marble. The point here is whether your existing cabinetry can support the weight of your new countertops.
If they can, the next question is for how long? Maybe you are looking at cabinets that are already several decades old. Replacing them might be the better choice to accommodate a heavier natural stone countertop.
Your Overall Design Goals
Of course, your overall design goals are likely to influence whether you replace your cabinets or not. Keeping older cabinetry underneath a more modern-looking countertop could ruin the look you are trying to achieve. Perhaps you could overcome those older cabinets with a fresh coat of paint. On the other hand, you might be better off replacing the cabinets.
The Layout of Your Kitchen
Sometimes the question of whether to keep cabinets has little to do with aesthetics. Rather, it is a matter of layout and function. So ask yourself this: are you happy with the current layout? And if not, is your remodeling project designed to account for a new layout?
A new layout almost always calls for new cabinets. Trying to fit old cabinets into a new configuration rarely works out well. In addition, going with a new layout typically means gutting the space and starting over. As long as you are going to that extent, you might just as well replace the cabinets.
Replacing cabinets is not mandatory. There are usually several choices for installing new countertops while leaving the cabinets alone. Ultimately, you and your family need to decide what is best for you. We can help with design advice and the highest quality materials in the business, but whether you keep your cabinets or not is a choice only you can make.
