Fitting replacement kitchen doors is usually a much simpler project than replacing an entire kitchen.
But simple does not mean impossible to get wrong.
Most problems with replacement kitchen doors are avoidable.
They tend to happen because something was assumed rather than checked — the door size, hinge position, colour, condition of the existing cabinets or exactly which parts of the kitchen need replacing.
Here are some of the most common problems and what you can do to avoid them.
1. Ordering the Wrong Door Size
This is probably the easiest mistake to make and one of the most important to avoid.
Kitchen cabinet sizes and kitchen door sizes are not necessarily the same.
For example, a cabinet described as 600mm wide will often use a door slightly narrower than 600mm to provide the correct clearance between doors.
The safest approach when replacing existing doors is usually to measure the doors you already have, rather than trying to calculate the required size from the cabinet.
Measure each door individually and record the height and width in millimetres.
Do not assume that two doors which look identical are necessarily exactly the same size.
How to avoid it
Measure every existing door and drawer front carefully before ordering. Our kitchen door measuring guide can help you work methodically around the kitchen.
2. Getting the Hinge-Hole Positions Wrong
The new door can be exactly the right size and still be difficult to fit if the hinge holes are in the wrong position.
Hinge positions are not universal.
Different kitchen manufacturers, cabinet designs and previous installations can use different positions.
If you are ordering doors with hinge holes drilled, you need to provide the correct measurements from your existing doors.
How to avoid it
Measure the hinge positions from the existing door rather than assuming they are standard.
Check the measurements again before placing the order.
If you prefer, doors can also be supplied without hinge holes for you or your fitter to drill during installation.
3. Assuming All Shaker Doors Look the Same
“Shaker” describes a broad style of kitchen door rather than one exact design.
The width of the frame, depth of the centre panel, edge detail and construction can all vary considerably between ranges.
A traditional wide-frame Shaker can look very different from a slim-frame or micro-Shaker door even when both are described as Shaker.
The same applies to slab, handleless and traditional door styles.
How to avoid it
Look at the actual door range rather than choosing based purely on the style name.
Consider details such as frame width, profile and finish, particularly if you are trying to achieve a specific look.
If you are unsure, ordering a sample before committing to the full kitchen can make the decision much easier.
4. Choosing a Colour From a Screen Alone
Colours displayed on a phone, tablet or computer are useful for narrowing down your choices, but they should not be treated as an exact representation of the finished product.
Screen settings vary.
Your own kitchen lighting also makes a difference. A colour can look different under natural daylight, warm artificial lighting and cooler LED lighting.
It will also be affected by the colours around it, including worktops, flooring and walls.
How to avoid it
Order a physical colour swatch and view it in your own kitchen.
Hold it against the worktop, flooring and other finishes and look at it at different times of the day.
It is much better to discover that a colour is not quite right from a swatch than after an entire kitchen of doors has arrived.
5. New Doors Do Not Match the Existing Panels and Plinths
Changing the doors does not automatically change every visible part of the kitchen.
Depending on the design, you may still see existing:
- End panels
- Plinths
- Fillers
- Cornices
- Pelmets
- Open shelving or other decorative panels
If these are a noticeably different colour or finish from the new doors, the result may look less complete than expected.
This is particularly important if you are changing from one colour to something completely different.
How to avoid it
Before ordering, stand back and look at the whole kitchen rather than just the doors.
Identify every visible surface that currently matches your existing doors and decide whether it should also be replaced.
You do not necessarily have to replace everything, but it is better to make that decision before the order is placed.
6. Discovering Problems With the Cabinets Too Late
New doors rely on the existing cabinets being in reasonable condition.
Water-damaged cabinets, loose hinge fixings, badly misaligned units or damaged cabinet edges can all create problems when the new doors are fitted.
A new door will improve the appearance of a sound cabinet.
It will not repair a cabinet that is already failing.
How to avoid it
Inspect the cabinets before ordering.
Pay particular attention to areas around the sink and appliances, cabinet bases and hinge fixing points.
Check that the units are securely fixed and reasonably square.
If several cabinets are badly damaged, it may be worth asking whether replacement doors are still the right solution before spending the money.
7. Assuming New Doors Will Be Perfectly Aligned Without Adjustment
Fitting the doors is not always the final step.
Kitchen hinges normally allow adjustment so that the doors can be aligned after installation.
Even correctly sized doors may initially have uneven gaps, sit slightly high or low, or need adjusting so neighbouring doors line up properly.
That does not necessarily mean the doors are the wrong size.
How to avoid it
Once the doors are fitted, take some time to adjust the hinges.
Work around the kitchen gradually and aim for consistent gaps between neighbouring doors and drawer fronts.
If existing hinges are badly worn or difficult to adjust, it may be worth replacing them at the same time.
8. Forgetting Parts of the Kitchen When Ordering
It is surprisingly easy to concentrate on the main cupboard doors and overlook something else.
Commonly forgotten items can include:
- Drawer fronts
- Small doors above appliances
- Integrated appliance doors
- End panels
- Plinths
- Fillers
- Cornices and pelmets
- Handles
Discovering one missing item after everything else has arrived is frustrating and can also mean another delivery.
How to avoid it
Work methodically around the kitchen.
A simple approach is to start at one end and number every door, drawer front and additional panel.
Record the size and quantity of each item rather than relying on memory.
Then check the list against the kitchen once more before ordering.
9. Fitting or Altering a Door Before Checking It
When a delivery arrives, there is a natural temptation to start fitting immediately.
Check everything first.
Confirm that you have received the correct quantities and inspect the products for any obvious damage, defects or incorrect items.
If something appears wrong, fitting, drilling, cutting or altering the product can make resolving the issue more difficult.
How to avoid it
Before installation:
- Check the number of packages received.
- Check the products against your order.
- Inspect them for visible damage or defects.
- Report any damage, defects, shortages or incorrect items to Click Doors within 5 working days of delivery.
- Do not fit, drill, cut or alter an item that you believe may be incorrect or defective before contacting us.
Keep the packaging until you have completed these checks.
You can find further delivery information in our Shipping Policy.
10. Expecting New Doors to Solve a Problem With the Kitchen Itself
Replacement doors are primarily a way of changing the appearance of an existing kitchen.
They can transform a dated kitchen when the cabinets and layout underneath are still good.
But they cannot create additional storage, move an appliance, repair badly damaged cabinets or correct a kitchen layout that no longer works for you.
How to avoid it
Before choosing the doors, ask yourself what you actually dislike about the existing kitchen.
If the answer is mainly the colour, style or condition of the doors, replacement doors could be an excellent solution.
If the real problem is the layout or condition of the cabinets, deal with that first.
Our guide to when replacing your kitchen doors is not the right choice goes into this in more detail.
The Best Way to Avoid Problems: Check Before You Order
Most replacement kitchen door problems are much easier to prevent than to correct afterwards.
Before placing your order:
- Inspect the condition of the existing cabinets
- Measure every door and drawer front
- Check hinge positions if required
- Identify any matching panels or accessories you want to replace
- Order colour swatches
- Consider a sample door if you want to see the style and construction
- Check your complete order before submitting it
Replacement doors are a relatively straightforward way to update a kitchen when the preparation is done properly.
A little extra checking at the beginning can save a lot of frustration later.
Explore the different styles, colours and finishes available for your kitchen.
