How to Build a Replacement Cabinet Door

Replacing cabinet doors is an easy way to change the look of your room.

Cabinet doors contribute to the overall feel of a room. Replacing cabinet doors that are outdated or worn from the heat of cooking and dishwashing need not cost a fortune. A knowledgeable and equipped carpenter can build them cheaply from scratch instead of hiring a professional or purchasing pre-made doors from a hardware store.

Things You'll Need

• Phillips head screwdriver
• Circular saw
• Plunge router
• 35 mm bit
• Drill (small bit needed)
• Wood
• Tape measure

Instructions

New European Hinges

1. Remove existing door(s) from the cabinets. In newer homes the door hinges have a locking lever. These locking levers are on the back of the hinges on the part attached to your cabinet. Remember to remove the locking lever on both hinges. Unscrew the handles if there are handles.

2. Place your cabinet door face down on a cleared surface. Unscrew the screws on both hinges on the back of the cabinet door. When you remove the two screws, you will be able to pull the hinge from the circular recess drilled into the door.

3. Measure the dimensions of the existing door with a tape measure for the new cabinet door(s). Use a circular saw to cut the wood for the new doors with the correct height and width.

4. Position the recess holes in the same place as on the old door. Measure from the bottom of the old door to the center of the recess. Then measure from the side to the center. Mark a dot on the new door(s) where the center of the recess will be. Make sure to measure both recesses separately as they might not have the same dimensions. Use a drill to make the holes to place the handles.

5. Drill the recesses into the new door(s) using a plunge router with a 35 mm bit. Line the plunge router up with the dot for the recess. Push the hinges into the recess and screw it in. Connect the hinge on the door to the hinge on the cabinet and lock the lever. Screw on the handles.

Older Hinges

1. In older homes the hinges used to hold up the cabinet doors are just screwed on. Keep the door supported when you unscrew the hinges to prevent them from bending. Unscrew the handles if there are handles.

2. Place the door face down and measure the dimensions of the door and the hinge placements for the new door. Cut the wood for the new doors.

3. Drill pilot holes for the hinges. Drill another hole for the handle.

4. Hold the door up to the cabinet with the hinges in place to be sure the holes are placed correctly. Screw in the hinges and the handles.

References

• Dave Osborne: Cabinets 3: How to Make Cabinet Doors