2 Oct 2026

Kitchen Remodel in South Florida: Reface, Replace or Refresh?

Handyman Gold Hands

Most kitchen remodels in South Florida fall into one of three levels. Choosing the right one is the biggest decision you make, because it sets the budget, the schedule and how long the kitchen is out of service.

Level 1: Refresh

A refresh keeps the cabinets, countertop and layout and changes everything you look at:

• new cabinet hardware and, if the finish is tired, painted cabinet doors;
• a new backsplash — tile changes a kitchen more than almost anything else for its size;
• a new sink faucet, garbage disposal and under-cabinet lighting;
• a range hood or microwave installed properly;
• paint.

A refresh is mostly a few days of work and the kitchen keeps working through most of it.

Level 2: Reface

Refacing keeps the cabinet boxes — if they are solid and square — and replaces what's on the outside: doors, drawer fronts, veneer and hardware. It usually goes together with a new countertop and backsplash. In many 1990s and 2000s Florida kitchens the boxes are perfectly good; the doors and laminate countertops are what date the room.

We tell you honestly if the boxes are worth keeping. Swollen particleboard under the sink, sagging shelves or a layout that doesn't work are reasons to go to Level 3.

Level 3: Replace

A full replacement means new cabinets, a new countertop — usually quartz or stone, templated and cut by a fabricator after the cabinets are installed — new backsplash, sink and appliances, and often new lighting. If plumbing or electrical moves for a new layout, that work is permitted and performed under our Florida-licensed general contractor partner, and inspections are part of the schedule.

How the work is sequenced

1. Photos, wall lengths and the layout you want → a written, line-item quote.
2. Permits where needed; cabinets and materials ordered.
3. Demolition, then cabinet installation.
4. Countertop templating and installation.
5. Backsplash, sink and faucet, appliances, lighting, paint.
6. Walkthrough: doors aligned, appliances running, every quote line checked.

We sequence the work so water and power come back as early as possible, and set up a temporary sink area when the layout allows.

Things specific to South Florida kitchens

• Humidity is hard on particleboard and on caulk around sinks; we use moisture-resistant materials at the sink base and re-seal properly.
• Condo rules often limit work hours and noisy days — share them with us and we plan around them.
• Hurricane season (June–November) can delay deliveries; we order long-lead items early and keep you posted.

Getting a price

Send photos of every wall of the kitchen, approximate wall lengths and what you'd like to change. You get a line-item quote — free by phone or from photos — that lets you scale the scope up or down before approving it.

More on the kitchen remodeling page, or the pages for Doral, Weston and other areas.