Enhancing Your Kitchen Cabinets: It's All in the Doors
By Rob SaboRefacingCabinet.com Columnist
Doors are the most visible part of kitchen cabinetry, and they also receive the most abuse over time. One of the simplest ways to bring a new look to your kitchen is to replace existing cabinet doors with new models.
Four Easy Steps to Replacing Kitchen Cabinet Doors
- Hire someone or do-it-yourself? Is this a job you can handle or a task best left for a kitchen cabinet contractor? If you can manage the intricacies of a screwdriver and a tape measure, you probably can handle the install yourself. A 12-volt cordless drill with a Phillips screw head tip makes installation infinitely easier, however, by eliminating most of the effort of driving screws. But if you'd like a professional install, kitchen cabinet contractors are ready to help.
- Decide on a look and style for your new doors. Do you have a two-tone design between the cabinet doors and the cabinet boxes? You don't have to exactly match existing color tones. Doors of a different color than the boxes can enhance the look of the door and the boxes and provide a pleasant aesthetic to your kitchen. Kitchen cabinet replacement doors also come in a wide variety of styles. Try for a look that complements both the existing boxes and the rest of your kitchen.
- Measure, and then measure again. Once you're ready to order replacement cabinet doors, you need to know what size to order. The easiest way is to measure your old cabinet doors. You also can measure the opening in the cabinet box and add an inch to the height and width for a half-inch overlay on each side. If two doors butt each other, measure the width, divide in half and add 3/8ths inch on each side (i.e., two 10-3/8-inch doors) so you have room to adjust the center gap. As you remove the doors, number each door and opening so you don't get confused about what goes where.
- Ordering 101. Important: List width first, such as 20 inches wide by 28 inches tall. If you order cabinet doors online, many websites ask for the layout of the holes in your existing doors, which makes installation much easier. Some sites even have demonstration videos with step-by-step instructions on measuring and installing new cabinet doors.
Once you have your new doors, match existing hinge brackets to holes in your new cabinet doors. Make sure all screw holes are pre-drilled, and if any are missing or are in the wrong place, simply drill a new pilot hole with a 1/8-inch or smaller bit. The hinge flange should cover any misplaced holes.
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