When you hear or read about kitchen doors, what they are most likely talking about are the doors that are on cabinets, cupboards, and kitchen pantries.  In terms of importance, kitchen cabinet doors are pretty important.  While the structural integrity of your cabinets is a key factor, the kitchen door is what is going to be seen, not the insides.  If you find yourself looking at your kitchen and thinking that it is time for a makeover or renovation, here is some information to help you make an informed choice.
One of the best ways to give your kitchen a new look without spending a king’s ransom is by doing what is called cabinet refacing.  What this means is you replace the kitchen cupboard doors with new ones, but you leave the rest of the cabinets intact.  Be aware that this method is really only viable if your cabinets are still in good shape inside.  If they are falling apart or have been eaten by termites too much, you will probably have to rip them out and replace them completely.
You can find your new replacement kitchen doors at any reputable cabinet maker or large home supply store such as the Home Depot or Lowes.  There are some companies that specialize in kitchen unit doors.  Choose one that has a large inventory of styles, colors, and types of wood to choose from.  Keep in mind that you are free to change the style to anything you want.  There is certainly no obligation to keep the same look as your old cabinets had.  Many people want to lighten up their kitchen by choosing new kitchen doors in a lighter wood color like oak or birch.  The cabinet manufacturer should provide you with kitchen door handles to match the cabinets as well.
Many people these days are choosing materials other than wood for their replacement kitchen cabinet doors.  Examples of these are glass kitchen cabinet doors, and those made of synthetic materials such as RTF’s, which is short for rigid thermofoils.  The good thing about kitchen doors made out of this material is that they can pretty much be molded into any shape you want.  In addition, RTF doors aren’t so susceptible to damage from termites or humidity like wood.  The are a good choice if you are looking for cheap kitchen doors and those made of solid wood scare you.  For more information about the kinds of doors and materials available, take a look at this website.

Tags: Kitchen Cabinets by Jeffrey
No Comments »

Many people take a look at their decades-old kitchen and know it is time to do some replacing.  You might think that you will need to rip out and replace the existing cabinets completely, but there is another option available as well.  One of the best options doesn’t require ripping cupboards off the walls and tossing them into the landfill.  You just get replacement kitchen doors and switch them with the old ones that are already there.  Although there is a bit more complexity to completing this task than you might think, it is definitely a cheaper option.  Let’s explore the work involved so you can see if this option is right for you.

Replacement Kitchen Cabinet Doors:  Is This Option Right For You?

If you are wondering whether this option is going to work for you, here is a little guide.  First, you need to take a good look at the interior of your cabinets.  Open the doors, put your head right up close, and take a good look.  Do you see any signs of structural damage?   Can you see any signs of termite damage?  Push on the cabinets a bit so you can tell if they are still strong.  In many cases, whether you will need to replace your entire cupboards or just replace kitchen doors will depend on the quality of the cabinets themselves.  Good quality cabinets are made of solid hardwood, and some of these can last many decades, or even centuries, depending on the type of wood and the conditions.  On the other hand, cheap kitchen cabinets are often made of particle boards pressed together with solid wood on the outside only.  These poor quality units usually don’t have very long lives.

Replacing Kitchen Doors

If you have discovered that replacement kitchen cupboard doors is a viable option, here is an idea of the work involved in this process.  There are cabinet manufacturers that specialize in replacement kitchen unit doors, and they will be able to provide you with whatever you need.  You should keep in mind that you can change the look and color of your cabinets completely if you want, regardless of how they looked before.  A large cabinet manufacturer will have many different types of wood and styles on hand to choose from.  In addition to kitchen door replacements, you will need to cover the other visible parts of the cabinets with a layer of material as well.  The cabinet supplier will provide you with this material, which comes in three basic options:
•    Rigid Thermofoils – otherwise known as RTF’s, which are basically fake wood that can be molded into any shape or style you want.
•    Plastic laminates – these can be made to look just like wood, but can’t be molded like RTF’s
•    Wood veneer – this is real wood, usually of the same type that your replacement kitchen doors and drawers are made of, so they match.

Tags: Kitchen Cabinets by Jeffrey
No Comments »

When referring to kitchen unit doors, this usually means kitchen cabinet doors.  Nearly all cabinets have doors, and sometimes these doors need replacing.  There are some things to consider when you are looking for replacement kitchen unit doors.  Let’s look at the reasons why people buy new kitchen doors.

The biggest reason why people buy new kitchen unit doors is because they are resurfacing or refinishing kitchen cabinets.  When your kitchen cabinets look worn out, you have two choices:  You can either rip out all of the cabinets, or you can leave the cabinets in place and simply replace the doors.  If the interior structure of your cabinets is still fine, it definitely makes a lot of sense to just replace the unit doors.  The cost savings are huge, and the amount of work required to replace just the doors as opposed to the entire unit pales in comparison.

Where to Buy Kitchen Unit Doors

There are a number of companies that specifically specialize in producing kitchen doors.  Many of these companies also sell the whole cabinets as well.  Since most kitchen cabinet units come in pretty standard colors, they are quite easy to match.  Most people either have one of the following types of cabinets:  wooden, PVC, or stainless steel.

Wooden Kitchen Unit Doors

When replacing wooden kitchen doors, you can choose both the design of the door and the type/color of the wood.  Keep in mind that it is fine to change the style of your door, as long as you keep it the same size as your old one, to make sure it will fit on.  You will have a choice of oak, maple, soft maple, cherry, or paintable wood.  If you choose a paintable wood, it will come in a light color that will allow you to paint it to an exact match of your existing cabinets or kitchen cupboards.

When ordering PVC kitchen unit doors, you have many choices of colors and designs as well.  Some PVC doors have a glass window in them as well.  If you are looking for stainless steel kitchen unit doors, you can get ones that will replace the ones you have on your cabinets.  Stainless steel cabinets shouldn’t need replacing very often at all, so if you want a polished look, replacing the doors will work great.  One thing you should know is that some cabinet producers don’t actually sell stainless steel cabinet doors anymore.  What they sell is called brushed aluminum, which looks almost identical, and is available for a fraction of the price.  Make sure you know what you are getting if you want stainless steel doors!

Tags: Kitchen Cabinets by Jeffrey
No Comments »