Tools and Materials

Tools

Materials

Note

Items may be Special Order in some stores. Product costs, availability, and item numbers may vary online or by market. Paint colors may vary slightly from those shown. Availability varies by market for lumber species and sizes.

Instructions

Have your kitchen or bathroom cabinets seen better days? If they're a dull, dark color or look worn from excessive use, it's time for a refresh. But completely replacing cabinetry is an expensive option. By installing new doors and drawer fronts yourself, it's a relatively easy DIY project that can be done in a weekend -- potentially saving you thousands of dollars in labor and materials.

When building replacement cabinet doors for existing cabinets, built-ins or a bathroom vanity, the same process can be used. These steps for DIY cabinet doors and drawer fronts will guide you through both components. When this is done, a fresh coat of paint will bring it all together.

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Measure for Replacements

Remove the drawer face carefully by prying against the drawer sides.

If replacing the drawer fronts, remove the existing drawer pulls and pry the drawer face away from the drawer box. Take small steps – the faces are typically nailed in place, so gentle prying will help the nails slide out of the material and minimize drawer damage. Remove any nails with pliers or a pry bar.

Good to Know

Work carefully to remove the drawer faces without damaging the drawer box. An inexpensive chisel or stiff-blade putty knife works well for prying the pieces apart.

Evaluate the hardware and decide what you will replace, including any damaged or broken hinges.

Good to Know

When changing hinges, replace them with new hinges that work in the same manner. Subtle hardware differences will affect the operation of the doors and their position on the cabinet frame. If you have European-style hinges, you may need to adjust the width of the door trim stiles to drill the hinge holes.

Make Drawer Fronts and Doors

If you have European-style hinges, measure the distance from the edge of the door to 1/8 inch beyond the hole. The large hole is typically 35 millimeters wide, or roughly 1-3/8 inches. If the hole is 1/8 inch from the edge of the door, you will need the stiles to be 1-5/8 inches wide. Match the width of the drawer stiles to the new door stiles for a consistent look.

Good to Know

There are two trim elements to the doors. The vertical elements are called stiles, and the horizontal parts are called rails.

Install the Drawer and Door Fronts

Insert a drawer box in its opening. If you plan to reuse the existing hardware, position the new drawer face on the front of the drawer box, and use the holes in the box to mark the position of the drawer hardware holes on the inside face of the drawer front. Then drill the drawer front and secure the faces to the boxes temporarily using the drawer pull hardware. Remove the drawer from the cabinet and drive flathead screws through the drawer box front into the new drawer face. Slide the new drawer back in position.

A coat of paint and replacement doors bring new life to existing cabinets.

How to Replace Cabinet Doors in One Weekend

Tools and Materials

Tools

Materials

Instructions

Measure for Replacements

Make Drawer Fronts and Doors

Install the Drawer and Door Fronts

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