Of all the home improvements on the market, none other to transform a room as swiftly and cost-effectively as the replacement of old kitchen doors with new ones. Here’s what to expect at each stage of the process and how long it’s likely to take.
The Measuring And Survey Visit
The surveyor will come to your home and carry out a survey of your kitchen. The surveyor will take measurements of each of the cabinets to establish the size of each door. In addition, the surveyor will measure the position of the hinges and the gaps between the doors and the drawer fronts. The surveyor will also note any obstructions such as pipes and Plinths. The survey typically takes around an hour to two hours depending on the size of your kitchen and the number of cabinets.
Choosing Style Material And Colour
The style, material and finish of your new doors can all be decided at this stage. Common materials used are laminate, vinyl-wrapped MDF and painted MDF. Prices, durability and the level of maintenance required for each of these options can be discussed. You will also be able to see how the new doors look against your existing worktops and flooring in different lighting conditions. The style of handle you require can also be decided at this stage, as the new doors will usually require new handle holes to be drilled in the cabinets.
Placing The Order And Lead Times
The order is placed once the style has been confirmed. Replacement Kitchen Doors are generally made to measure, and as such are not typically kept in stock. There is therefore a lead time for the supply of replacement kitchen doors, which typically ranges from 2-6 weeks depending upon the finish and supplier. Items such as standard laminate doors are generally quicker than painted items and items of non standard size. We would always recommend that you compare quotes for replacement kitchen doors from several suppliers, as the prices and turnaround times for similar jobs can vary considerably between individual tradespeople (see also Which?).
Preparing Your Kitchen Beforehand
Ideally your kitchen should be cleared of all appliances, dinner services and breakable items the night before the installation date. Also it is a good idea to move any furniture that is in the immediate area of where the work will be carried out. In order to minimise any debris or mess, all floors and surfaces that are in the vicinity of the work in progress will be covered with dust sheets or boards.
Removing The Old Doors And Hardware
Removal of Old Doors – The day starts with the removal of the old doors, handles and hinges. This can be a quick operation and usually takes less than an hour for a standard kitchen. All the fittings are unscrewed and the items removed from the kitchen. The old hinges are usually thrown away unless you request them to be kept and the old handles are left with the old doors unless they can be used on the new doors.
Checking Cabinets Hinges And Runners
Whilst the new doors, drawer fronts and door handles will dominate the attention, it’s also a good opportunity to take a closer look at the carcasses, the hinges and the cabinet runners. Unless specified otherwise, the cabinet boxes will remain in exactly the same position and it’s likely that the hinge pins will require some attention and possibly the cabinet runners too. In many cases it will be necessary to effect some minor repairs to the cabinet carcass itself, such as bridging a loose peg hole in a shelf.
Fitting The New Doors
Fitting the new doors and checking that all doors, drawers and flush opens. This takes a few hours to a day depending on the size of your kitchen and how complex the layout is. We will also fit any new handles or trims to your doors and make sure that they are all aligned correctly. The holes for the handles will need to be drilled into the carcass of your cabinet and the doors will be hung on the hinges provided.
Final Checks And What Happens Next
The doors are then opened and closed to check for even space between each door and that they are closing properly. Any slight adjustments can be made on the spot to ensure the doors are sitting flush. The work area is then cleaned up of any debris and offcuts and packaging are taken away. Also, consider the kitchen insulation as old kitchen cabinets can have large gaps for draughts. Guidance on improving kitchen insulation when replacing kitchen doors can be found on the Energy Saving Trust website. As mentioned previously by RICS, how kitchen improving can affect the value of a property, this is something to consider when deciding between the cost of the new doors and the return you will get when you sell your property in the future.
After all of this has been done and your kitchen cleaned up, your kitchen will look new and it will have made a nice impression on how simple replacing your kitchen doors can be and give you an idea of what to expect for future replacement of your kitchen doors.