Why not re-face or paint existing cabinets?

Typically, your existing kitchen will have design elements of lower priced mobile homes and trailers.  Therefore very little will be gained in value by re-facing or painting. (See Kitchens, Baths, etc)

When painting, the process is labor intense to remove all the doors, drawer fronts and matching panels, then completely stripping the grease and old finish, then finish them like fine furniture.

If the cabinet fronts, finished sides & panels are not finished in a controlled factory environment; the end result usually has dirt, dust, hair, insects, pot marks and/or bubbles in the finish.

You should be able to rub your hand over the doors, drawer fronts and finished panels and not feel any imperfections.

The old boxes must be stripped and finished (to get rid of mold, mildew, odors, grease and dirt).  Usually the walls and floor will need to be repaired from water and mold damage.

If purchasing all new doors, drawers and finish panels they can cost as much as new cabinets.  The most expensive part of a cabinet is the finished fronts and panels.  The boxes are made in a factory by automated machines with very little labor.