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Replacing Kitchen Cabinets on a Budget

By Christopher Smith

Anyone who has ever looked at replacement cabinets for their kitchen knows what an expensive project it can be. Most people wander through the kitchen showrooms without realizing that it would cost them thousands of dollars to install those same lovely cabinets in their own kitchens. Many people who price them decide their old cabinets aren’t so bad after all. Others look for less expensive ways to update their kitchens that will still look nice but won’t break the bank. They may opt for used kitchen cabinets, or they could turn to less expensive lines of cabinets, such as those offered by Mills Pride.

You can read through listings on Craigslist and find kitchen cabinets that people are advertising absolutely free. It sounds like a godsend, but it could be your worst nightmare if you don’t consider a few problems in advance. Most of the people who are advertising free or inexpensive used cabinets are only looking for someone to haul them away for free. Having the old cabinets removed from the premises is just another expense in any kitchen remodel, so it is to their advantage if someone wants to take the cabinets away for them.

There can be a couple of problems with taking them up on their offer, however. First of all, you never know what kind of condition the cabinets will be in after they’ve been removed. Sometimes cabinets can be severely damaged by the techniques used to remove them from walls and floors. This is especially true of cabinets made of MDF. You may run into a second problem when the homeowner tries to hold you to your deal even though the cabinets have been smashed to smithereens.

An alternative which isn’t quite as cost-effective but which might result in better-quality kitchen cabinets would be for you to take a look at two lines of cabinets produced by Mills Pride, a division of Kraftmaid. They offer lines of both assembled and unassembled cabinets at much lower prices than most of the pre-built cabinets you will find. These kitchen cabinets are definitely an option that the budget-minded kitchen remodeler should take a look at.