How to Replace Kitchen Cupboard Doors

The simplest way to replace a cupboard door is to acquire an exact duplicate of the original from the company that made the original cabinet. Once this is done, then you can begin the task of taking down the existing door and replacing that door with a new one. Cupboard doors can be made to fit the opening of your cabinet, but that is a whole other topic separate from the one at hand, which is how to put in the new door so that it operates smoothly.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver Replacement door Electric drill Drill bits

Instructions

How to Replace Kitchen Cupboard Doors

1. Take down the existing door by first removing the screws from the hinges. Almost always there will be two hinges, so you can start by removing the screws for the bottom hinge first. After that is done, remove the top hinge. It is best to have someone hold the door for you, while you unscrew the last of the metal fasteners. That way the door does not fall when the last screw comes free.

2. Set the door on a table or workbench and remove all hardware from the old cabinet door. this will include a pair of hinges, a knob or handle and a magnetic or mechanical latch. If the hardware is excessively worn. replace those pieces as well. Or if you desire a change in style, you can purchase new hardware for all the cupboard doors, but beware that this could become expensive and time consuming.

3. Make sure the new door fits the opening.

4. Install the old hardware on the new door. This will include the hinges, the handle and one piece from the catch system if your cupboard door has such a locking mechanism. (Note: some cupboard doors have specially designed hinges that hold the door in the closed position until pulled open. In this case no catches are necessary.) You will probably want to move each screw a little bit, so that the new screws find fresh wood when they are drilled into the cupboard.

5. Mark the location on the cupboard, where the hinge screws will go. To do this you will need an assistant to hold the door in place. You can mark all six hole locations beforehand (there should be three for each hinge). Pre-drill one hole at a time.

6. Put the new door in place by installing the hinges. Begin with the very top screw on the top hinge. Once this screw is installed then drill and install the top screw for the bottom hinge. Alternate between top and bottom hinge until all screws are set and the door swings freely.

7. Check to make sure the latching system is working correctly.

Tips & Warnings

• Have someone help you when you are taking the old door down and putting the new door up.

• Be certain your cupboard door lines up with evenly with the edge of the cupboard opening. Re-align the hinges on the new door slightly, so that, they don't land in exactly the same place, when the cupboard door is reattached to the actual cabinet.