Take the First Step to a New Kitchen with Door Replacement
Is your kitchen looking tired and dated, but you don't have the budget for a full-scale renovation? Replacing just the cabinet doors can make a dramatic update without breaking the bank. Read on to learn all about the feasibility and process of replacing kitchen cabinet doors as an affordable way to give your space a fresh new look.
You'll learn how even kitchen cabinet door replacement can totally transform the heart of your home.
Determine if Door Replacement is Right for Your Kitchen
Before taking on a replacement door project, it's important to carefully evaluate if your current cabinets provide a sound foundation. As long as the boxes and face frames are structurally intact, new doors can likely be added. Here's what to examine:
- Ensure cabinets and shelves are level, with no sagging. Adjust or repair as needed.
- Test doors and drawers for smooth opening and closing. Adjust hinges or slides if sticky.
- Inspect cabinet face frames to ensure they are secure, even, and plumb.
If the underlying cabinetry is damaged, it's best to consider full cabinet replacement instead. If all looks good, proceed to setting your replacement door budget.
Set Your Budget
One of the biggest perks of replacing doors is cost savings over full cabinets. As a benchmark, a full kitchen cabinet replacement costs $15,000 to $30,000 while replacing doors averages around $2,500 to $4,000. For the same impact, door replacement provides amazing bang-for-buck!
There are also options like refacing cabinets, which involves replacing doors, drawer fronts, and hardware while keeping cabinet boxes. This runs around $5,000 to $8,000 on average. Compare options against your goals - replacing doors or refacing often does the trick for a fresh feel without replacing sturdy boxes.
Evaluate Your Skill Level
While a full cabinet installation requires advanced carpentry skills, replacing doors is very DIY-friendly, even for amateurs. As long as you can operate basic tools and have patience for careful measurements, door replacement is very achievable. However, if you're unsure, seek a professional opinion or contractor quote.
Select the Best Replacement Cabinet Doors
Once you decide to replace doors, choosing the perfect style and material for your kitchen is key. Keep these factors in mind when researching options:
Door Styles
Consider the overall look you want before picking a door style. Doors like basic slab, versatile recessed panel, intricate inset, and bold glass panel set very different aesthetics. Remember hardware plays a role too - knobs, pulls, handles. Mix and match to suit your taste!
Materials
Cabinet door materials range widely in aesthetics, durability and pricing. Paint-grade wood doors allow endless color options with a smooth finish. Laminates offer extensive patterns and scratch-resistance at a lower cost. Thermofoil doors provide a seamless, integrated look. And glass inserts create an open, airy statement.
Measurements
Accurately measuring your existing cabinet openings is crucial for ordering replacement doors guaranteed to fit. Have pencil, paper, ruler, and tape measure ready! Note height, width, and depth of each opening and don't forget overlay - the amount your doors sit over the box face.
Prepare for Installation
Once your new doors arrive, you'll want to get your kitchen ready for smooth installation. Follow these preparatory steps:
Tools Needed
Gather must-have tools like drill, screwdriver, level, pry bar, safety glasses, etc. Rent specialty tools if needed. Prepare your hardware too - new hinges, pulls, and handles.
Modifications
To install doors properly, cabinets must be plumb, stable and hung correctly on walls. Adjust framing or shim cabinet boxes so all surfaces are straight and secure.
Paint or Stain Doors
It's often best to prep doors with final paint or stain off-site first. Then once installed against kitchen backsplash, only minor touch-ups should be needed. Just be extremely careful moving them!
Install New Replacement Doors
Okay, the moment has arrived! Follow these steps closely when hanging your pretty new doors:
Remove Existing Doors
Take doors off carefully to not damage hinges or frame. Label each door to ensure you can return it to the same opening later.
Hang New Doors
Using a drill, fasten new hinges in precise same location as old ones. Mount doors, allowing slight clearance on sides and top. Test open and close - adjustments can be made.
Finishing Touches
Once hanging correctly, finish by adding new hardware! See your beautiful transformation take shape firsthand. Marvel at your handiness and bask in the glow of a fresh new kitchen!
With some strategic demolition, careful measurements and elbow grease, you've given your dear kitchen a whole new lease on life! Doesn't it feel incredible to save major bucks simply by replacing doors and drawer fronts?
We hope reading about the process from start to finish gives you confidence to undertake this immensely gratifying DIY project. And remember - your journey needn't end here. New countertops or a statement backsplash may be calling next!