Kitchen cabinets serve both aesthetic and functional purposes. From beautifying the overall look of the kitchen to providing storage space, there are a lot of reasons why cabinets are important. Given their role, it is vital to look after kitchen cabinets on a regular basis, making sure that they are well maintained. Among the various components, kitchen cabinet doors and hinges are the most significant elements to clean and care for.
The need for fixing kitchen cabinet doors can arise from a variety of reasons. As a homeowner, renovations are a constant part of maintaining the look of your home. On the other hand, wear and tear can provide you the opportunity to replace or upgrade the look of your kitchen cabinet doors. Whatever the reason may be, you’ll need basic knowledge about how to fix these doors. In this article, we go over the basic steps for doing just that.
Reasons for Replacing Kitchen Cabinet Doors
It is commonly said that a kitchen serves as the heart of the house. Since it is such a vital part, it requires beautification from time to time. Renovations and upgrades therefore, become one of the main reasons why kitchen cabinet doors need to be fixed or replaced. While living in the house, you may also realize that the material that you selected for the kitchen cabinet door is not suitable for any reason whatsoever. This is another factor why you may need to change them.
The third reason why homeowners choose to fix or replace their cabinet door hinges or the entire façade is due to damage. Rust, friction and accidental damage can cause the door to loosen or even fall off. Eventually, the door will need replacement. You can do this yourself if you have a certain level of woodworking experience. However, it is important to note that if you are a novice, it is best to contact a professional in this regard.
Getting the Hardware Ready
Before you can begin fixing your kitchen cabinet doors, it is necessary to have all the parts ready. Doors and hinges are the basic and essential components that you’ll need to buy. Once you’ve made a decision about the material and style of these new parts, you can begin shopping either physically or online. Hinge Outlet offers a wide variety of options for hinges that you can use on the kitchen cabinet doors. From concealed to conventional cabinet hinges, you can find a wide variety on the HingeOutlet.com
Stealth cabinets are a new trend that is taking over modern construction. Dark colored kitchen cabinet doors with concealed hinges allow for a seamless look while providing a unique touch to the place holistically. If you are going for this style in the kitchen, these Concealed Cabinet Hinges available in a variety of finishes can provide the ideal solution for your needs. Made out of aluminum, these hinges are robust and durable for application on wood as well as other materials.
Fixing Kitchen Cabinet Doors
Now that you are ready to fix the cabinet doors in your kitchen, it is time to initiate the process. Start by collecting the necessary tools. You’ll need a screwdriver, hammer, glue, screws and a drill machine. If you are a person who regularly takes care of these tasks at home, these tools will be readily available. Otherwise, you’ll need to acquire them either from the local hardware store or from a friend. You can save the hassle altogether by paying a professional to handle the job for you.
Step 1: Remove the Current Door
To do this, you’ll need to simply open the door and unscrew the hinges already installed. Although this sounds relatively simple, the task can be hindered by rust, damage or other elements that can jam the screws or the hinge altogether. Hinges are usually attached with screws and you can use a screwdriver to dismount them easily. Make sure to hold the door as you unscrew the hinges or it can fall, causing injury and damage.
Step 2: Measure the New Door and Hinges
It is extremely convenient if the new hinges can align with the previous ones. The problem with replacing screws is that the old holes can be too big to accommodate the new nails. If this is the case, you will need to plug the holes with wooden bits or a wood filler. Our Wood Filler Kit works great for this.
Alternatively, you can make new holes while making sure that they can be concealed by the hinges that you are installing. Take effective measurements or else you can run into numerous issues. 2 Important measurements detailed below are the overlay and inset.
- Apply a piece of tape to the frame of the cabinet on the hinged side of the door so that it even with the edge of the door.
- Open the cabinet door and measure from the edge of the tape (inside edge) to the edge of the opening of the cabinet. This is the overlay.
b) How do you measure the cabinet hinge inset?
- With the door closed, part of the thickness of the door fits inside the opening of the cabinet and is called the inset.
- Inset is measured on the edge of the door. Possible inset dimensions include 3/8″, 1/2″, 5/8″ and 3/4″. Earlier cabinets used 1/2″, 5/8″ and 3/4″"
Step 3: Add Overlays
Cabinet openings are usually larger than the doors that you intend to install on them. This gap is called an overlay. These spaces can be plugged and it is essential to do so that you can get a flush finish. On standard doors, the overlay is approximately ½ an inch. Whenever you buy a new door, make sure that you get the height and width adjusted accordingly. When installing double doors, make sure that you divide the dimensions accordingly.
Step 4: Install the Door and Hinges
Now comes the point where you’ll get the satisfaction for the work that you are doing. With the measurements and placement accounted for, install the cabinet hinges first and then the doors accordingly. Make sure that you try the fitment and flushing before tightening the screws in place. Account for minor adjustments and ensure that you are getting the functionality and look that you desire. In case you are feeling experimental like you need the door to open at an additional width, try using these Full Inset, Full Wrap Cabinet Hinges with Minaret Top available at Hinge Outlet.
Wrapping Up
Now you’re all set. All that is left is to enjoy the fruits of your labor while admiring the handiwork that you’ve done. New kitchen cabinet doors and hinges lend a fresher and rejuvenated look to the space. Although the process is relatively simple, make sure that you have the relevant experience or else you are likely to run into numerous issues. The appropriate solution in this regard is to get in touch with a professional installer to handle the task.
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