How to Install Kitchen Cabinet Doors

Removing old kitchen doors and hanging new ones gives your room an instant face lift. Using unusual door handles or elaborate hinges add decorator touches. Doors come pre-finished or ready for you to paint or stain. Make your own doors if you have carpentry skills. Installing kitchen cabinet doors is a simple, straightforward project, but it does require precision in measuring and in hardware placement. Expect to spend an afternoon installing new doors on one 8-foot-long section of cabinets.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Replacement doors
• Hinges
• Screws
• Tape measure
• Screwdriver
• Drill and bits

1. 
    

   Drill pilot holes for the screws that attach the hinges to the back of the doors. Hinges should be placed two inches from the top and the bottom. If the door is taller than 30 inches, put another hinge in the center. Screw the hinges onto the doors.

2. 
    

   Use a strip of masking tape to mark a straight line above the opening for the doors. Use this line to line up the doors properly. Measure carefully to make sure the line is level.

3. 
    

   Hold a door in place and mark where the hinges will be attached to the door frame. Open the hinges and drill pilot holes for the screws.

4. Hang the door by screwing the mounting screws into the pilot holes on the door frame. Repeat this process until all the doors are hung. Remove the masking tape.

5. 
    

   Follow the manufacturer's instructions to install the door handles, door knobs and door catch hardware.

Tips & Warnings

• Paint the doors before you hang them. Protect the doors from scratches and dents while you're attaching the hinges by laying them on a towel. Be careful when you're drilling pilot holes. Don't drill them all the way through. Check as you hang each door to make sure it lines up with the other doors before drilling or screwing.

References

• Installing Kitchen Doors

Resources

• Replacement Doors
• Kitchen Door Refacing
• Cabinet Hardware
• Advice on Drilling Pilot Holes