diff --git a/pkg/app/application.go b/pkg/app/application.go
index 77ba7c233..1a5b7065e 100644
--- a/pkg/app/application.go
+++ b/pkg/app/application.go
@@ -318,7 +318,8 @@ func (a *applicationImpl) resolveRefVars(resources resmap.ResMap) (map[string]st
 	for _, refvar := range vars {
 		refGVKN := resource.NewResId(refvar.ObjRef.GroupVersionKind(), refvar.ObjRef.Name)
 		if r, found := resources[refGVKN]; found {
-			s, err := resource.GetFieldValue(r.Unstruct().UnstructuredContent(), strings.Split(refvar.FieldRef.FieldPath, "."))
+			s, err := resource.GetFieldValue(
+				r.UnstructuredContent(), strings.Split(refvar.FieldRef.FieldPath, "."))
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to resolve referred var: %+v", refvar)
 			}
diff --git a/pkg/diff/rundiff.go b/pkg/diff/rundiff.go
index 5918ea35c..1c04fb0c1 100644
--- a/pkg/diff/rundiff.go
+++ b/pkg/diff/rundiff.go
@@ -51,12 +51,12 @@ func writeYamlToNewDir(in resmap.ResMap, prefix string) (*directory, error) {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	for gvkn, obj := range in {
-		f, err := dir.newFile(gvkn.String())
+	for id, obj := range in {
+		f, err := dir.newFile(id.String())
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
-		err = print(obj.Unstruct(), f)
+		err = print(obj, f)
 		f.Close()
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
diff --git a/pkg/resmap/configmap.go b/pkg/resmap/configmap.go
index 6c24a9745..f95d475b7 100644
--- a/pkg/resmap/configmap.go
+++ b/pkg/resmap/configmap.go
@@ -28,42 +28,37 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/validation"
 )
 
-func newResourceFromConfigMap(l loader.Loader, cm types.ConfigMapArgs) (*resource.Resource, error) {
-	corev1CM, err := makeConfigMap(l, cm)
+func newResourceFromConfigMap(l loader.Loader, cmArgs types.ConfigMapArgs) (*resource.Resource, error) {
+	cm, err := makeConfigMap(l, cmArgs)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
-
-	data, err := newUnstructuredFromObject(corev1CM)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	return resource.NewResource(data, cm.Behavior), nil
+	return resource.NewResourceWithBehavior(cm, resource.NewGenerationBehavior(cmArgs.Behavior))
 }
 
-func makeConfigMap(l loader.Loader, cm types.ConfigMapArgs) (*corev1.ConfigMap, error) {
+func makeConfigMap(l loader.Loader, cmArgs types.ConfigMapArgs) (*corev1.ConfigMap, error) {
 	var envPairs, literalPairs, filePairs []kvPair
 	var err error
 
-	corev1cm := &corev1.ConfigMap{}
-	corev1cm.APIVersion = "v1"
-	corev1cm.Kind = "ConfigMap"
-	corev1cm.Name = cm.Name
-	corev1cm.Data = map[string]string{}
+	cm := &corev1.ConfigMap{}
+	cm.APIVersion = "v1"
+	cm.Kind = "ConfigMap"
+	cm.Name = cmArgs.Name
+	cm.Data = map[string]string{}
 
-	if cm.EnvSource != "" {
-		envPairs, err = keyValuesFromEnvFile(l, cm.EnvSource)
+	if cmArgs.EnvSource != "" {
+		envPairs, err = keyValuesFromEnvFile(l, cmArgs.EnvSource)
 		if err != nil {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("error reading keys from env source file: %s %v", cm.EnvSource, err)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("error reading keys from env source file: %s %v", cmArgs.EnvSource, err)
 		}
 	}
 
-	literalPairs, err = keyValuesFromLiteralSources(cm.LiteralSources)
+	literalPairs, err = keyValuesFromLiteralSources(cmArgs.LiteralSources)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error reading key values from literal sources: %v", err)
 	}
 
-	filePairs, err = keyValuesFromFileSources(l, cm.FileSources)
+	filePairs, err = keyValuesFromFileSources(l, cmArgs.FileSources)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error reading key values from file sources: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -72,13 +67,13 @@ func makeConfigMap(l loader.Loader, cm types.ConfigMapArgs) (*corev1.ConfigMap,
 
 	// merge key value pairs from all the sources
 	for _, kv := range allPairs {
-		err = addKV(corev1cm.Data, kv)
+		err = addKV(cm.Data, kv)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("error adding key in configmap: %v", err)
 		}
 	}
 
-	return corev1cm, nil
+	return cm, nil
 }
 
 func keyValuesFromEnvFile(l loader.Loader, path string) ([]kvPair, error) {
diff --git a/pkg/resmap/resmap.go b/pkg/resmap/resmap.go
index f62809786..b39efe40e 100644
--- a/pkg/resmap/resmap.go
+++ b/pkg/resmap/resmap.go
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ package resmap
 
 import (
 	"bytes"
-	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"reflect"
@@ -30,7 +29,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/kubernetes-sigs/kustomize/pkg/loader"
 	"github.com/kubernetes-sigs/kustomize/pkg/resource"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1/unstructured"
-	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
 	k8syaml "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/yaml"
 )
 
@@ -40,8 +38,8 @@ type ResMap map[resource.ResId]*resource.Resource
 // EncodeAsYaml encodes a ResMap to YAML; encoded objects separated by `---`.
 func (m ResMap) EncodeAsYaml() ([]byte, error) {
 	ids := []resource.ResId{}
-	for gvkn := range m {
-		ids = append(ids, gvkn)
+	for id := range m {
+		ids = append(ids, id)
 	}
 	sort.Sort(IdSlice(ids))
 
@@ -49,7 +47,7 @@ func (m ResMap) EncodeAsYaml() ([]byte, error) {
 	var b []byte
 	buf := bytes.NewBuffer(b)
 	for _, id := range ids {
-		obj := m[id].Unstruct()
+		obj := m[id]
 		out, err := yaml.Marshal(obj)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
@@ -87,8 +85,8 @@ func (m1 ResMap) ErrorIfNotEqual(m2 ResMap) error {
 		if !found {
 			return fmt.Errorf("%#v doesn't exist in %#v", id, m2)
 		}
-		if !reflect.DeepEqual(obj1.Unstruct(), obj2.Unstruct()) {
-			return fmt.Errorf("%#v doesn't match %#v", obj1.Unstruct(), obj2.Unstruct())
+		if !reflect.DeepEqual(obj1, obj2) {
+			return fmt.Errorf("%#v doesn't match %#v", obj1, obj2)
 		}
 	}
 	return nil
@@ -153,11 +151,11 @@ func newResMapFromBytes(b []byte) (ResMap, error) {
 
 	result := ResMap{}
 	for _, res := range resources {
-		gvkn := res.Id()
-		if _, found := result[gvkn]; found {
-			return result, fmt.Errorf("GroupVersionKindName: %#v already exists b the map", gvkn)
+		id := res.Id()
+		if _, found := result[id]; found {
+			return result, fmt.Errorf("GroupVersionKindName: %#v already exists b the map", id)
 		}
-		result[gvkn] = res
+		result[id] = res
 	}
 	return result, nil
 }
@@ -165,11 +163,11 @@ func newResMapFromBytes(b []byte) (ResMap, error) {
 func newResMapFromResourceSlice(resources []*resource.Resource) (ResMap, error) {
 	result := ResMap{}
 	for _, res := range resources {
-		gvkn := res.Id()
-		if _, found := result[gvkn]; found {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("duplicated %#v is not allowed", gvkn)
+		id := res.Id()
+		if _, found := result[id]; found {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("duplicated %#v is not allowed", id)
 		}
-		result[gvkn] = res
+		result[id] = res
 	}
 	return result, nil
 }
@@ -197,21 +195,17 @@ func newResourceSliceFromBytes(in []byte) ([]*resource.Resource, error) {
 func Merge(maps ...ResMap) (ResMap, error) {
 	result := ResMap{}
 	for _, m := range maps {
-		for gvkn, obj := range m {
-			if _, found := result[gvkn]; found {
-				return nil, fmt.Errorf("there is already an entry: %q", gvkn)
+		for id, obj := range m {
+			if _, found := result[id]; found {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("there is already an entry: %q", id)
 			}
-			result[gvkn] = obj
+			result[id] = obj
 		}
 	}
 
 	return result, nil
 }
 
-const behaviorCreate = "create"
-const behaviorReplace = "replace"
-const behaviorMerge = "merge"
-
 // MergeWithOverride merges the entries in the ResMap slice with Override.
 // If there is already an entry with the same Id , different actions are performed
 // according to value of behavior field:
@@ -221,44 +215,30 @@ const behaviorMerge = "merge"
 func MergeWithOverride(maps ...ResMap) (ResMap, error) {
 	result := ResMap{}
 	for _, m := range maps {
-		for gvkn, resource := range m {
-			if _, found := result[gvkn]; found {
-				switch resource.Behavior() {
-				case "", behaviorCreate:
-					return nil, fmt.Errorf("Create an existing gvkn %#v is not allowed", gvkn)
-				case behaviorReplace:
-					glog.V(4).Infof("Replace object %v by %v", result[gvkn].Unstruct().Object, resource.Unstruct().Object)
-					resource.Replace(result[gvkn])
-					result[gvkn] = resource
-				case behaviorMerge:
-					glog.V(4).Infof("Merge object %v with %v", result[gvkn].Unstruct().Object, resource.Unstruct().Object)
-					resource.Merge(result[gvkn])
-					result[gvkn] = resource
-					glog.V(4).Infof("The merged object is %v", result[gvkn].Unstruct().Object)
+		for id, r := range m {
+			if _, found := result[id]; found {
+				switch r.Behavior() {
+				case resource.BehaviorReplace:
+					glog.V(4).Infof("Replace object %v by %v", result[id].Object, r.Object)
+					r.Replace(result[id])
+					result[id] = r
+				case resource.BehaviorMerge:
+					glog.V(4).Infof("Merge object %v with %v", result[id].Object, r.Object)
+					r.Merge(result[id])
+					result[id] = r
+					glog.V(4).Infof("The merged object is %v", result[id].Object)
 				default:
-					return nil, fmt.Errorf("The behavior of %#v must be one of merge and replace since it already exists in the base", gvkn)
+					return nil, fmt.Errorf("Id %#v exists; must merge or replace.", id)
 				}
 			} else {
-				switch resource.Behavior() {
-				case "", behaviorCreate:
-					result[gvkn] = resource
-				case behaviorMerge, behaviorReplace:
-					return nil, fmt.Errorf("No merge or replace is allowed for non existing gvkn %#v", gvkn)
+				switch r.Behavior() {
+				case resource.BehaviorMerge, resource.BehaviorReplace:
+					return nil, fmt.Errorf("Id %#v does not exist; cannot merge or replace.", id)
 				default:
-					return nil, fmt.Errorf("The behavior of %#v must be create since it doesn't exist", gvkn)
+					result[id] = r
 				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
 	return result, nil
 }
-
-func newUnstructuredFromObject(in runtime.Object) (*unstructured.Unstructured, error) {
-	marshaled, err := json.Marshal(in)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	var out unstructured.Unstructured
-	err = out.UnmarshalJSON(marshaled)
-	return &out, err
-}
diff --git a/pkg/resmap/secret.go b/pkg/resmap/secret.go
index 810c2cd5d..6d9fe94a4 100644
--- a/pkg/resmap/secret.go
+++ b/pkg/resmap/secret.go
@@ -28,32 +28,34 @@ import (
 	corev1 "k8s.io/api/core/v1"
 )
 
-func newFromSecretGenerator(p string, s types.SecretArgs) (*resource.Resource, error) {
-	corev1secret := &corev1.Secret{}
-	corev1secret.APIVersion = "v1"
-	corev1secret.Kind = "Secret"
-	corev1secret.Name = s.Name
-	corev1secret.Type = corev1.SecretType(s.Type)
-	if corev1secret.Type == "" {
-		corev1secret.Type = corev1.SecretTypeOpaque
+func newResourceFromSecretGenerator(p string, sArgs types.SecretArgs) (*resource.Resource, error) {
+	s, err := makeSecret(p, sArgs)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
-	corev1secret.Data = map[string][]byte{}
+	return resource.NewResourceWithBehavior(
+		s, resource.NewGenerationBehavior(sArgs.Behavior))
+}
 
-	for k, v := range s.Commands {
+func makeSecret(p string, sArgs types.SecretArgs) (*corev1.Secret, error) {
+	s := &corev1.Secret{}
+	s.APIVersion = "v1"
+	s.Kind = "Secret"
+	s.Name = sArgs.Name
+	s.Type = corev1.SecretType(sArgs.Type)
+	if s.Type == "" {
+		s.Type = corev1.SecretTypeOpaque
+	}
+	s.Data = map[string][]byte{}
+
+	for k, v := range sArgs.Commands {
 		out, err := createSecretKey(p, v)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
-		corev1secret.Data[k] = out
+		s.Data[k] = out
 	}
-
-	obj, err := newUnstructuredFromObject(corev1secret)
-
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-
-	return resource.NewResource(obj, s.Behavior), nil
+	return s, nil
 }
 
 func createSecretKey(wd string, command string) ([]byte, error) {
@@ -65,7 +67,6 @@ func createSecretKey(wd string, command string) ([]byte, error) {
 	defer cancel()
 	cmd := exec.CommandContext(ctx, "sh", "-c", command)
 	cmd.Dir = wd
-
 	return cmd.Output()
 }
 
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ func createSecretKey(wd string, command string) ([]byte, error) {
 func NewResMapFromSecretArgs(p string, secretList []types.SecretArgs) (ResMap, error) {
 	allResources := []*resource.Resource{}
 	for _, secret := range secretList {
-		res, err := newFromSecretGenerator(p, secret)
+		res, err := newResourceFromSecretGenerator(p, secret)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/resmap/secret_test.go b/pkg/resmap/secret_test.go
index b2b495143..d36037e17 100644
--- a/pkg/resmap/secret_test.go
+++ b/pkg/resmap/secret_test.go
@@ -30,10 +30,10 @@ import (
 
 var secret = schema.GroupVersionKind{Version: "v1", Kind: "Secret"}
 
-func TestNewFromSecretGenerators(t *testing.T) {
+func TestNewResMapFromSecretArgs(t *testing.T) {
 	secrets := []types.SecretArgs{
 		{
-			Name: "secret",
+			Name: "apple",
 			Commands: map[string]string{
 				"DB_USERNAME": "printf admin",
 				"DB_PASSWORD": "printf somepw",
@@ -41,19 +41,20 @@ func TestNewFromSecretGenerators(t *testing.T) {
 			Type: "Opaque",
 		},
 	}
-	re, err := NewResMapFromSecretArgs(".", secrets)
+	actual, err := NewResMapFromSecretArgs(".", secrets)
 
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
 	}
+
 	expected := ResMap{
-		resource.NewResId(secret, "secret"): resource.NewResource(
+		resource.NewResId(secret, "apple"): resource.NewBehaviorlessResource(
 			&unstructured.Unstructured{
 				Object: map[string]interface{}{
 					"apiVersion": "v1",
 					"kind":       "Secret",
 					"metadata": map[string]interface{}{
-						"name":              "secret",
+						"name":              "apple",
 						"creationTimestamp": nil,
 					},
 					"type": string(corev1.SecretTypeOpaque),
@@ -62,11 +63,9 @@ func TestNewFromSecretGenerators(t *testing.T) {
 						"DB_PASSWORD": base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString([]byte("somepw")),
 					},
 				},
-			},
-			""),
+			}),
 	}
-
-	if !reflect.DeepEqual(re, expected) {
-		t.Fatalf("%#v\ndoesn't match expected:\n%#v", re, expected)
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(actual, expected) {
+		t.Fatalf("%#v\ndoesn't match expected:\n%#v", actual, expected)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/resource/generationbehavior.go b/pkg/resource/generationbehavior.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..dea2254f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/resource/generationbehavior.go
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2018 The Kubernetes Authors.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+package resource
+
+// GenerationBehavior specifies generation behavior of configmaps, secrets and maybe other resources.
+type GenerationBehavior int
+
+const (
+	// Unspecified behavior typically treated as a Create.
+	BehaviorUnspecified GenerationBehavior = iota
+	// Make a new resource.
+	BehaviorCreate
+	// Replace a resource.
+	BehaviorReplace
+	// Attempt to merge a new resource with an existing resource.
+	BehaviorMerge
+)
+
+// String converts a GenerationBehavior to a string.
+func (b GenerationBehavior) String() string {
+	switch b {
+	case BehaviorReplace:
+		return "replace"
+	case BehaviorMerge:
+		return "merge"
+	case BehaviorCreate:
+		return "create"
+	default:
+		return "unspecified"
+	}
+}
+
+// NewGenerationBehavior converts a string to a GenerationBehavior.
+func NewGenerationBehavior(s string) GenerationBehavior {
+	switch s {
+	case "replace":
+		return BehaviorReplace
+	case "merge":
+		return BehaviorMerge
+	case "create":
+		return BehaviorCreate
+	default:
+		return BehaviorUnspecified
+	}
+}
diff --git a/pkg/resource/resource.go b/pkg/resource/resource.go
index eaf4cee30..aa3e5b5ec 100644
--- a/pkg/resource/resource.go
+++ b/pkg/resource/resource.go
@@ -25,56 +25,49 @@ import (
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
 )
 
-// Resource is a Kubernetes Resource Object paired with a behavior.
+// Resource is an "Unstructured" (json/map form) Kubernetes API resource object
+// paired with a GenerationBehavior.
 type Resource struct {
-	unstruct *unstructured.Unstructured
-	behavior string
+	unstructured.Unstructured
+	b GenerationBehavior
 }
 
-// NewResource returns a new instance of Resource.
-func NewResource(u *unstructured.Unstructured, b string) *Resource {
-	return &Resource{unstruct: u, behavior: b}
+// NewResourceWithBehavior returns a new instance of Resource.
+func NewResourceWithBehavior(obj runtime.Object, b GenerationBehavior) (*Resource, error) {
+	// Convert obj to a byte stream, then convert that to JSON (Unstructured).
+	marshaled, err := json.Marshal(obj)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	var u unstructured.Unstructured
+	err = u.UnmarshalJSON(marshaled)
+	return &Resource{Unstructured: u, b: b}, nil
 }
 
 // NewBehaviorlessResource returns a new instance of Resource.
 func NewBehaviorlessResource(u *unstructured.Unstructured) *Resource {
-	return &Resource{unstruct: u}
+	return &Resource{Unstructured: *u, b: BehaviorUnspecified}
 }
 
 // Behavior returns the behavior for the resource.
-func (r *Resource) Behavior() string {
-	return r.behavior
-}
-
-// Unstruct returns the unstructured object holding the resource.
-func (r *Resource) Unstruct() *unstructured.Unstructured {
-	return r.unstruct
-}
-
-// SetUnstruct sets a new member.
-func (r *Resource) SetUnstruct(u *unstructured.Unstructured) {
-	r.unstruct = u
+func (r *Resource) Behavior() GenerationBehavior {
+	return r.b
 }
 
 // Id returns the ResId for the resource.
 func (r *Resource) Id() ResId {
-	var empty ResId
-	if r.unstruct == nil {
-		return empty
-	}
-	gvk := r.unstruct.GroupVersionKind()
-	return NewResId(gvk, r.unstruct.GetName())
+	return NewResId(r.GroupVersionKind(), r.GetName())
 }
 
 func (r *Resource) Merge(other *Resource) {
 	r.Replace(other)
-	mergeConfigmap(r.unstruct.Object, other.unstruct.Object, r.unstruct.Object)
+	mergeConfigmap(r.Object, other.Object, r.Object)
 }
 
 func (r *Resource) Replace(other *Resource) {
-	r.unstruct.SetLabels(mergeStringMaps(other.unstruct.GetLabels(), r.unstruct.GetLabels()))
-	r.unstruct.SetAnnotations(mergeStringMaps(other.unstruct.GetAnnotations(), r.unstruct.GetAnnotations()))
-	r.unstruct.SetName(other.unstruct.GetName())
+	r.SetLabels(mergeStringMaps(other.GetLabels(), r.GetLabels()))
+	r.SetAnnotations(mergeStringMaps(other.GetAnnotations(), r.GetAnnotations()))
+	r.SetName(other.GetName())
 }
 
 // TODO: Add BinaryData once we sync to new k8s.io/api
diff --git a/pkg/transformers/labelsandannotations.go b/pkg/transformers/labelsandannotations.go
index 7d976aa33..8f3f7c249 100644
--- a/pkg/transformers/labelsandannotations.go
+++ b/pkg/transformers/labelsandannotations.go
@@ -57,8 +57,7 @@ func NewMapTransformer(pc []PathConfig, m map[string]string) (Transformer, error
 // fields specified in mapTransformer.
 func (o *mapTransformer) Transform(m resmap.ResMap) error {
 	for id := range m {
-		obj := m[id].Unstruct()
-		objMap := obj.UnstructuredContent()
+		objMap := m[id].UnstructuredContent()
 		for _, path := range o.pathConfigs {
 			if !selectByGVK(id.Gvk(), path.GroupVersionKind) {
 				continue
diff --git a/pkg/transformers/namehash.go b/pkg/transformers/namehash.go
index 861c53ea0..52e72f51a 100644
--- a/pkg/transformers/namehash.go
+++ b/pkg/transformers/namehash.go
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/kubernetes-sigs/kustomize/pkg/hash"
 	"github.com/kubernetes-sigs/kustomize/pkg/resmap"
+	"github.com/kubernetes-sigs/kustomize/pkg/resource"
 	"k8s.io/api/core/v1"
-	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1/unstructured"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime/schema"
 )
 
@@ -40,20 +40,20 @@ func NewNameHashTransformer() Transformer {
 
 // Transform appends hash to configmaps and secrets.
 func (o *nameHashTransformer) Transform(m resmap.ResMap) error {
-	for id, obj := range m {
+	for id, res := range m {
 		switch {
 		case selectByGVK(id.Gvk(), &schema.GroupVersionKind{Version: "v1", Kind: "ConfigMap"}):
-			appendHashForConfigMap(obj.Unstruct())
+			appendHashForConfigMap(res)
 
 		case selectByGVK(id.Gvk(), &schema.GroupVersionKind{Version: "v1", Kind: "Secret"}):
-			appendHashForSecret(obj.Unstruct())
+			appendHashForSecret(res)
 		}
 	}
 	return nil
 }
 
-func appendHashForConfigMap(obj *unstructured.Unstructured) error {
-	cm, err := unstructuredToConfigmap(obj)
+func appendHashForConfigMap(res *resource.Resource) error {
+	cm, err := unstructuredToConfigmap(res)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -61,14 +61,14 @@ func appendHashForConfigMap(obj *unstructured.Unstructured) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	nameWithHash := fmt.Sprintf("%s-%s", obj.GetName(), h)
-	obj.SetName(nameWithHash)
+	nameWithHash := fmt.Sprintf("%s-%s", res.GetName(), h)
+	res.SetName(nameWithHash)
 	return nil
 }
 
 // TODO: Remove this function after we support hash unstructured objects
-func unstructuredToConfigmap(in *unstructured.Unstructured) (*v1.ConfigMap, error) {
-	marshaled, err := json.Marshal(in)
+func unstructuredToConfigmap(res *resource.Resource) (*v1.ConfigMap, error) {
+	marshaled, err := json.Marshal(res)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -77,8 +77,8 @@ func unstructuredToConfigmap(in *unstructured.Unstructured) (*v1.ConfigMap, erro
 	return &out, err
 }
 
-func appendHashForSecret(obj *unstructured.Unstructured) error {
-	secret, err := unstructuredToSecret(obj)
+func appendHashForSecret(res *resource.Resource) error {
+	secret, err := unstructuredToSecret(res)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -86,14 +86,14 @@ func appendHashForSecret(obj *unstructured.Unstructured) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	nameWithHash := fmt.Sprintf("%s-%s", obj.GetName(), h)
-	obj.SetName(nameWithHash)
+	nameWithHash := fmt.Sprintf("%s-%s", res.GetName(), h)
+	res.SetName(nameWithHash)
 	return nil
 }
 
 // TODO: Remove this function after we support hash unstructured objects
-func unstructuredToSecret(in *unstructured.Unstructured) (*v1.Secret, error) {
-	marshaled, err := json.Marshal(in)
+func unstructuredToSecret(res *resource.Resource) (*v1.Secret, error) {
+	marshaled, err := json.Marshal(res)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/transformers/namereference.go b/pkg/transformers/namereference.go
index 68d23230f..eb49611d1 100644
--- a/pkg/transformers/namereference.go
+++ b/pkg/transformers/namereference.go
@@ -49,11 +49,9 @@ func NewNameReferenceTransformer(pc []referencePathConfig) (Transformer, error)
 // The old name is in the key in the map and the new name is in the object
 // associated with the key. e.g. if <k, v> is one of the key-value pair in the map,
 // then the old name is k.Name and the new name is v.GetName()
-func (o *nameReferenceTransformer) Transform(
-	m resmap.ResMap) error {
+func (o *nameReferenceTransformer) Transform(m resmap.ResMap) error {
 	for id := range m {
-		obj := m[id].Unstruct()
-		objMap := obj.UnstructuredContent()
+		objMap := m[id].UnstructuredContent()
 		for _, referencePathConfig := range o.pathConfigs {
 			for _, path := range referencePathConfig.pathConfigs {
 				if !selectByGVK(id.Gvk(), path.GroupVersionKind) {
@@ -71,21 +69,19 @@ func (o *nameReferenceTransformer) Transform(
 }
 
 func (o *nameReferenceTransformer) updateNameReference(
-	GVK schema.GroupVersionKind,
-	m resmap.ResMap,
-) func(in interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
+	GVK schema.GroupVersionKind, m resmap.ResMap) func(in interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
 	return func(in interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
 		s, ok := in.(string)
 		if !ok {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%#v is expectd to be %T", in, s)
 		}
 
-		for id, obj := range m {
+		for id, res := range m {
 			if !selectByGVK(id.Gvk(), &GVK) {
 				continue
 			}
 			if id.Name() == s {
-				return obj.Unstruct().GetName(), nil
+				return res.GetName(), nil
 			}
 		}
 		return in, nil
diff --git a/pkg/transformers/namespace.go b/pkg/transformers/namespace.go
index 3d118ce38..cc161ccf6 100644
--- a/pkg/transformers/namespace.go
+++ b/pkg/transformers/namespace.go
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ func NewNamespaceTransformer(ns string) Transformer {
 
 // Transform adds the namespace.
 func (o *namespaceTransformer) Transform(m resmap.ResMap) error {
-	for _, obj := range m {
-		obj.Unstruct().SetNamespace(o.namespace)
+	for _, res := range m {
+		res.SetNamespace(o.namespace)
 	}
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/transformers/overlay.go b/pkg/transformers/overlay.go
index 23ca61486..ae3c765e8 100644
--- a/pkg/transformers/overlay.go
+++ b/pkg/transformers/overlay.go
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/kubernetes-sigs/kustomize/pkg/resmap"
 	"github.com/kubernetes-sigs/kustomize/pkg/resource"
-	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1/unstructured"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/strategicpatch"
 	"k8s.io/client-go/kubernetes/scheme"
@@ -63,15 +62,15 @@ func (o *overlayTransformer) Transform(baseResourceMap resmap.ResMap) error {
 		}
 		merged := map[string]interface{}{}
 		versionedObj, err := scheme.Scheme.New(id.Gvk())
-		baseName := base.Unstruct().GetName()
+		baseName := base.GetName()
 		switch {
 		case runtime.IsNotRegisteredError(err):
 			// Use JSON merge patch to handle types w/o schema
-			baseBytes, err := json.Marshal(base.Unstruct())
+			baseBytes, err := json.Marshal(base)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
-			patchBytes, err := json.Marshal(overlay.Unstruct())
+			patchBytes, err := json.Marshal(overlay)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
@@ -95,15 +94,15 @@ func (o *overlayTransformer) Transform(baseResourceMap resmap.ResMap) error {
 				return err
 			}
 			merged, err = strategicpatch.StrategicMergeMapPatchUsingLookupPatchMeta(
-				base.Unstruct().Object,
-				overlay.Unstruct().Object,
+				base.Object,
+				overlay.Object,
 				lookupPatchMeta)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
 		}
-		base.Unstruct().SetName(baseName)
-		baseResourceMap[id].Unstruct().Object = merged
+		base.SetName(baseName)
+		baseResourceMap[id].Object = merged
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -112,7 +111,6 @@ func (o *overlayTransformer) Transform(baseResourceMap resmap.ResMap) error {
 // It errors out if there is conflict between patches.
 func (o *overlayTransformer) mergePatches() (resmap.ResMap, error) {
 	rc := resmap.ResMap{}
-	patches := resourcesToObjects(o.overlay)
 	for ix, patch := range o.overlay {
 		id := patch.Id()
 		existing, found := rc[id]
@@ -135,31 +133,22 @@ func (o *overlayTransformer) mergePatches() (resmap.ResMap, error) {
 			}
 		}
 
-		conflict, err := cd.hasConflict(existing.Unstruct(), patch.Unstruct())
+		conflict, err := cd.hasConflict(existing, patch)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
 		if conflict {
-			conflictingPatch, err := cd.findConflict(ix, patches)
+			conflictingPatch, err := cd.findConflict(ix, o.overlay)
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("there is conflict between %#v and %#v", conflictingPatch.Object, patch.Unstruct().Object)
-		} else {
-			merged, err := cd.mergePatches(existing.Unstruct(), patch.Unstruct())
-			if err != nil {
-				return nil, err
-			}
-			existing.SetUnstruct(merged)
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("there is conflict between %#v and %#v", conflictingPatch.Object, patch.Object)
 		}
+		merged, err := cd.mergePatches(existing, patch)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+		rc[id] = merged
 	}
 	return rc, nil
 }
-
-func resourcesToObjects(rs []*resource.Resource) []*unstructured.Unstructured {
-	objectList := make([]*unstructured.Unstructured, len(rs))
-	for i := range rs {
-		objectList[i] = rs[i].Unstruct()
-	}
-	return objectList
-}
diff --git a/pkg/transformers/overlayconflictdetector.go b/pkg/transformers/overlayconflictdetector.go
index 6a0d30587..4c9dca7e2 100644
--- a/pkg/transformers/overlayconflictdetector.go
+++ b/pkg/transformers/overlayconflictdetector.go
@@ -19,18 +19,18 @@ package transformers
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
 
-	jsonpatch "github.com/evanphx/json-patch"
+	"github.com/evanphx/json-patch"
 
-	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1/unstructured"
+	"github.com/kubernetes-sigs/kustomize/pkg/resource"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/runtime"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/mergepatch"
 	"k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/util/strategicpatch"
 )
 
 type conflictDetector interface {
-	hasConflict(patch1, patch2 *unstructured.Unstructured) (bool, error)
-	findConflict(conflictingPatchIdx int, patches []*unstructured.Unstructured) (*unstructured.Unstructured, error)
-	mergePatches(patch1, patch2 *unstructured.Unstructured) (*unstructured.Unstructured, error)
+	hasConflict(patch1, patch2 *resource.Resource) (bool, error)
+	findConflict(conflictingPatchIdx int, patches []*resource.Resource) (*resource.Resource, error)
+	mergePatches(patch1, patch2 *resource.Resource) (*resource.Resource, error)
 }
 
 type jsonMergePatch struct{}
@@ -41,11 +41,11 @@ func newJMPConflictDetector() conflictDetector {
 	return &jsonMergePatch{}
 }
 
-func (jmp *jsonMergePatch) hasConflict(patch1, patch2 *unstructured.Unstructured) (bool, error) {
+func (jmp *jsonMergePatch) hasConflict(patch1, patch2 *resource.Resource) (bool, error) {
 	return mergepatch.HasConflicts(patch1.Object, patch2.Object)
 }
 
-func (jmp *jsonMergePatch) findConflict(conflictingPatchIdx int, patches []*unstructured.Unstructured) (*unstructured.Unstructured, error) {
+func (jmp *jsonMergePatch) findConflict(conflictingPatchIdx int, patches []*resource.Resource) (*resource.Resource, error) {
 	for i, patch := range patches {
 		if i == conflictingPatchIdx {
 			continue
@@ -65,8 +65,8 @@ func (jmp *jsonMergePatch) findConflict(conflictingPatchIdx int, patches []*unst
 	return nil, nil
 }
 
-func (jmp *jsonMergePatch) mergePatches(patch1, patch2 *unstructured.Unstructured) (*unstructured.Unstructured, error) {
-	var merged unstructured.Unstructured
+func (jmp *jsonMergePatch) mergePatches(patch1, patch2 *resource.Resource) (*resource.Resource, error) {
+	var merged resource.Resource
 	var mergedMap map[string]interface{}
 	baseBytes, err := json.Marshal(patch1.Object)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -96,11 +96,11 @@ func newSMPConflictDetector(versionedObj runtime.Object) (conflictDetector, erro
 	return &strategicMergePatch{lookupPatchMeta: lookupPatchMeta}, err
 }
 
-func (smp *strategicMergePatch) hasConflict(patch1, patch2 *unstructured.Unstructured) (bool, error) {
+func (smp *strategicMergePatch) hasConflict(patch1, patch2 *resource.Resource) (bool, error) {
 	return strategicpatch.MergingMapsHaveConflicts(patch1.Object, patch2.Object, smp.lookupPatchMeta)
 }
 
-func (smp *strategicMergePatch) findConflict(conflictingPatchIdx int, patches []*unstructured.Unstructured) (*unstructured.Unstructured, error) {
+func (smp *strategicMergePatch) findConflict(conflictingPatchIdx int, patches []*resource.Resource) (*resource.Resource, error) {
 	for i, patch := range patches {
 		if i == conflictingPatchIdx {
 			continue
@@ -121,8 +121,8 @@ func (smp *strategicMergePatch) findConflict(conflictingPatchIdx int, patches []
 	return nil, nil
 }
 
-func (smp *strategicMergePatch) mergePatches(patch1, patch2 *unstructured.Unstructured) (*unstructured.Unstructured, error) {
-	merged := unstructured.Unstructured{}
+func (smp *strategicMergePatch) mergePatches(patch1, patch2 *resource.Resource) (*resource.Resource, error) {
+	merged := resource.Resource{}
 	mergeJsonMap, err := strategicpatch.MergeStrategicMergeMapPatchUsingLookupPatchMeta(
 		smp.lookupPatchMeta, patch1.Object, patch2.Object)
 	merged.SetUnstructuredContent(mergeJsonMap)
diff --git a/pkg/transformers/prefixname.go b/pkg/transformers/prefixname.go
index 1bc9070bb..81e1608c9 100644
--- a/pkg/transformers/prefixname.go
+++ b/pkg/transformers/prefixname.go
@@ -58,8 +58,7 @@ func NewNamePrefixTransformer(pc []PathConfig, np string) (Transformer, error) {
 // Transform prepends the name prefix.
 func (o *namePrefixTransformer) Transform(m resmap.ResMap) error {
 	for id := range m {
-		obj := m[id].Unstruct()
-		objMap := obj.UnstructuredContent()
+		objMap := m[id].UnstructuredContent()
 		for _, path := range o.pathConfigs {
 			if !selectByGVK(id.Gvk(), path.GroupVersionKind) {
 				continue
diff --git a/pkg/transformers/refvars.go b/pkg/transformers/refvars.go
index b572178d0..1be055e95 100644
--- a/pkg/transformers/refvars.go
+++ b/pkg/transformers/refvars.go
@@ -45,8 +45,7 @@ func NewRefVarTransformer(vars map[string]string) (Transformer, error) {
 // 3.  Add remaining service environment vars
 func (rv *refvarTransformer) Transform(resources resmap.ResMap) error {
 	for GVKn := range resources {
-		obj := resources[GVKn].Unstruct()
-		objMap := obj.UnstructuredContent()
+		objMap := resources[GVKn].UnstructuredContent()
 		for _, pc := range rv.pathConfigs {
 			if !selectByGVK(GVKn.Gvk(), pc.GroupVersionKind) {
 				continue