Replace kitchen cabinet doors

In today's economy where more homeowners are staying put and investing in their existing property, replacing existing kitchen cabinet doors is a far more affordable option than replacing an entire kitchen.

 

You can easily get the look of a new kitchen simply by replacing cabinet doors and hardware. The only drawback can be matching the wood finish or colour of the new doors to the existing cabinetry, but it's not impossible with some of the products now available.

So when does it make sense to replace cabinet doors rather than buy a new kitchen?

A new look

If your existing cabinets are in good condition and structurally sound, installing new doors allows you to change the look of your kitchen. Bear in mind that 90% of what you see when you look at cabinetry are the doors.

Perhaps your kitchen is dated and you want a more modern look. Changing the doors can achieve that for you. It can also allow you unlimited colour options rather than dealing with stripping and painting the existing doors. Thermofoil doors are available in designs that mimic the look of wood grain and actually come pretty close to the look of finished wood.

Keep in mind that this assumes you're happy with your existing cabinet layout and that they're in good structural condition. If you think you need more extensive refurbishment like new drawers, drawer fronts, a change of wood (different colour, grain prominence), etc., you may want to investigate the kitchen refacing route.

There are numerous benefits in replacing just cabinet doors:

  • Affordability - replacing doors is far less expensive than replacing the entire kitchen.
  • Immediate results - your kitchen face-lift will be finished earlier than it would if you replaced all the cabinets.
  • Less mess - tearing out old cabinets to make way for new ones is more disruptive to your kitchen than replacing doors.

Hire a professional or DIY?

The nature of replacement kitchen cabinet doors is that it's fairly do-it-yourself-friendly. Depending on how handy you are, and/or how motivated you are to save some money, replacing the cabinet doors yourself is an option worth considering.

You will find suppliers on kitchen cabinet doors on Google and will be able to select a company in your region that provides various options. Alternatively, look at making your own raised panel doors.

Take measurements

Measure up the old doors to provide exact sizes for replacement doors - also include the type and location of hinges if the company offers drilling holes as part of their service. You may need to drill holes for door handles yourself.

There are two types of cabinet doors: frameless cabinet the doors sit on top of the cabinet, whereas in a framed cabinet the doors rest inside the frame. Be sure to mention the type of doors that you have to the door supplier.

Measure from side to side and top to bottom on a framed and frameless door - and measure twice just in case!