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Is it worth replacing kitchen doors?
Doors are what you see, so new ones change the look of a room more than any other single item. If the cabinets behind them are dry, square and solidly fixed, refacing can feel like a new kitchen at a fraction of the disruption. It works best when the units are of a standard size, because replacement doors are made to standard widths.
Read more: Kitchen door replacement service
- Carcasses dry, square and firmly fixed
- Standard unit widths
- Hinges and drawer runners in good order
- A layout you are happy to keep
Kitchen refacing vs replacement
Refacing keeps the existing boxes, worktops and appliances, and replaces doors, drawer fronts, end panels, plinths and handles. Replacement takes everything back to the walls. Refacing is quicker and quieter. Replacement lets you fix the layout, move the sink, add an island, change the worktop and bring in modern drawers.
A middle route is new doors with new worktops, which our worktop guide covers. It gives a big visual change while keeping the carcasses and the plumbing where they are.
New kitchen doors cost: what affects it
The number of doors and drawers, the door style, painted or foil finishes, and whether end panels and plinths are replaced all change the price. Odd sized or older units may need made to measure doors, which cost more. Fitting is mostly adjustment: aligning every door so the gaps run straight.
Kitchen fitting
- Strip out, plastering and making good
- First and second fix electrics and plumbing
- Units fitted level, worktops templated and scribed
Signs it is time for a full replacement
Swollen board under the sink, carcasses pulling away from the wall, drawers that drop and a layout that forces you to walk round the table to reach the fridge are all signs that doors alone will not satisfy you for long. In that case our kitchen cost guide gives realistic full project ranges.
Getting the most from a door refresh
New handles, a fresh plinth, matching end panels and a new tap can make refaced units look like a complete new kitchen. Under cabinet lighting is easy to add at the same time. Paint the walls and ceiling once the doors are on so the colours work together. Small extras like these cost little next to the doors themselves but change how finished the room feels.
Want a professional to handle it?
Send us the room details and we will come back with a written quote, or call us for a chat first.
Common questions
- Is it worth replacing kitchen doors only?
- Yes, if the units are sound and you like the layout. If the carcasses are failing, new doors just hide the problem.
- Can new doors fit my old units?
- Standard size units usually take replacement doors easily. Older or unusual sizes may need made to measure doors.
- Should I change the worktops at the same time?
- It is a popular middle route, giving a large visual change without moving any plumbing.
- When is a full new kitchen the better choice?
- When the units are swollen or loose, the drawers fail, or the layout does not work for how you live.
The service behind this guide
Covering Hertfordshire and Essex.