When new doors are the right answer
Door replacement suits a kitchen where the boxes are dry, square and firmly fixed, but the fronts look dated, have faded unevenly or have started to peel at the edges. It is one of the parts of a wider kitchen makeover, and on its own it is often the quickest way to change the style.
If you are still deciding between this and a full refit, our guide to new kitchen doors versus a new kitchen compares the two.
Measuring is the part that matters
Older kitchens were not all built to today's standard sizes, so we measure each door and drawer front individually rather than assuming. We note the hinge type and position, the drawer box fixings and any end panels, plinths or cornice that should match the new finish.
Getting this right at the start is what stops a new door sitting proud of its neighbour or catching on the next one when it opens.
Fitting, hinges and alignment
Old doors come off and hinges are checked. Worn or mismatched hinges are swapped so every door closes the same way. New doors are drilled where needed, hung, then adjusted until the gaps run in straight, even lines along the whole run.
Drawer fronts are fixed to the existing boxes and lined up with the doors either side, and handles are set out from a template so they sit at the same height across the kitchen.
Finishing touches that make it look complete
New doors next to old end panels or a tired plinth can give the game away, so we usually recommend changing those at the same time. If the worktops are worn, worktop replacement fits naturally into the same visit.
Where the doors are good timber and you only want a new colour, painting the cupboards may be the better option, and we will say so.
Supplying the doors
We can supply doors through our trade suppliers, or fit doors you have ordered yourself. Either way the survey and written quote work the same, and the measurements we take are the ones the doors are ordered to.
Kitchen door questions
- Can I replace kitchen doors?
- Yes, as long as the cabinets behind them are sound. We check the boxes at the survey before anything is ordered.
- Can you replace kitchen doors only, without new units?
- Yes. Doors and drawer fronts are replaced on the existing carcasses, with hinges and handles updated so everything lines up. End panels and plinths can be changed too if you want them to match.
- How much do cabinet doors cost to replace?
- That depends on how many doors and drawer fronts there are, the style and finish you choose, and whether hinges, end panels and handles are changed too. We count and measure everything at the survey and itemise it on your written quote.
- Will new doors fit an older kitchen?
- Usually, because each one is measured individually. If a carcass is damaged or an odd size, we tell you before ordering.