Replacement kitchen doors

[WhyDoesItAlways]

Has anyone any experience of just changing kitchen doors and have recommendations for companies to use?

We have a new build house which is now 5 years old. The kitchen is great quality, the only problem is that I don't actually like it so was hoping to keep the units but replace the doors, plinths, pelmets and worktops.

Our carcasses are a beech wood colour which are exposed in places so would need these covered up too.

Any help/experience would be much appreciated!

Pics attached of what we have. The god awful floor tiles have been replaced with a wood effect karndean which I want to keep but will be looking to gets rid of the matching wall tiles too!

yes

It's very easy if they are common UK sizes from a UK supplier. Ikea may be different. You need to measure the height and width of the cabinets which will usually be 300mm or 400mm or 500mm or 600mm or 800mm or 1000mm wide, and round about 700mm to 800mm or 900mm tall excluding legs (the doors are slightly narrower to give clearance for opening, and may be a little taller)

Then measure the distance from the top and bottom of the doors to the centre of the hinges

there are numerous vendors but I suspect they all come from one or two big factories.

Avoid foil-wrapped doors because the vinyl coating peels off if it gets hot or damp or steamy or scratched. As kitchens do.

Laminated flat doors "slabs" are the most durable but you can get real or fake wood or painted doors in numerous colours. You can get slabs to any size because they can be cut to order from large sheets of board.

Mail-order suppliers are much cheaper than high street showrooms. If the showrooms get their stock from one of the big factories it is likely you can get an identical product elsewhere.

You will probably need to buy new hinges. I find Blum the best, they now are obtainable with self-close springs and pneumatic buffers. they're a standard fitting.

If I have a minute I will add a link to some suppliers.

Carriage may be a fixed amount, so best value if you order in one lot and have them arrive on a pallet. They will be very heavy. Order a few spares including for any additional or altered cabinets you might want in future. For example I bought a discontinued range and can't get a matching 900mm x 400mm door to dummy over the cooker extractor (sadface)

p.s.

a new build house probably had Magnet or Howdens cabs The floor cabinets got a big bigger (top to bottom) a few years ago, can't remember, may have been somewhere are 5 years ago. But there are millions of them installed so the suppliers are pretty sure to have doors to fit the older one. Solid wood doors may be more tricky though. You can fit the longer doors and it doesn't really matter, it just hangs slightly below the cabinet but you can't see it.

You can get new plinths and pelmets. The panels that you put on the exposed sides of end cabinets can be to match the cab, or the door, or the plinth, or the worktop, according to your whim, and you can cut up matching pieces for odd gaps, shelves, around appliances, and above extractors. If you can find a well-recommended local chippy, preferably old and wrinkled, he can cut and fit better and quicker than you. mine made me an extra-deep boiler cabinet, and a microwave cabinet. Pelmet corners are quite difficult to cut and fit perfectly

We’ve just replaced our doors, using
kitchenandbedroomdoors.co.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgNWE8Y6E3QIVCrHtCh2jrgLCEAAYASAAEgLknfD_BwE
I’m very pleased with it.... but PigletJohn probably wouldn’t approve! Time will tell what happens to the doors.

Thank you, that is so useful. It's a symphony kitchen we currently have which I have measured and it seems to be the same size as replacement doors you can get in b&q and Wickes. I will check out some online retailers over the weekend as I'm sure you're right that they probably all come from the same place anyway.

Just need to find a reliable chippy too!

The company pre-drilled the hinge holes to our measurements so we fitted them ourselves - really easy to do.

Following with interest.

We are looking to do something similar, although we also need to remove and replace 2 of the base units as well as getting new doors. I’m hoping that is as simple as removing the worktops, removing the unit, and replacing the worktops.

I think you can usually get the base units out without removing the worktop. We managed it when we removed a unit to install a dishwasher. And by 'we' I mean DH so I don't have first hand experience but I think he just had to adjust or remove the feet underneath and then just lift it out. Hopefully someone with more experience will come along and advise.

I really want to replace our doors too. But looking at our kitchen there are so many extra bits to replace too, end panels, open shelving etc, I feel like it would be a real mission.

We also have a butler sink with non mixer taps and a wooden worktop. None of the rest of the worktop is wooden and it just requires so much maintenance. Drives me nuts!

I’m having this done. Moved into our new to us house (built in 2002 we’re second people to live in it) kitchen was replaced about 5 years ago and I just hate the colours! I’m doing so much other things (have new driveway done, waiting for garden, new wood flooring downstairs) just not wanting to have whole new kitchen just yet. New doors lots are a funny size, side parts, new worktops, new sink and taps and doors/worktop and sink in utility room. It’s a local company and showed me before/after photos that people have agreed to put on his website really does look like brand new kitchen.

The units are very neutral and not at all bad -(I'll have your old doors!). The carcases can have that iron on edging used to change the beech ends and new end panels and kickboards. I think I would probably do that and then keep the doors but change the worktops and tiles (you generally break tiles getting the worktop out anyway).

@PigletJohn I know this is an old thread, but I don't suppose you can recommend/link any cheap online suppliers?
Thanks.

I have had my best bargains from local timber merchants that have a sideline in surplus stocks and ends-or-ranges from major manufacturers and suppliers, and one from a remote Magnet warehouse clearing remainder stock of the exact range I wanted (I had to buy the entire stock, by pallet loads)

However, Benjamin James seems quite a good supplier, they are useful because they will make cabinets to order in a wide vaiety of good quality colours and finishes. I have not bought doors from them though. Due to the delivery charge, they are expensive for small orders.

I've bought shelves and panels made to order from Trade Kitchens EU and quality has been good.

If you have a van and can collect, you can get fantastic bargains from prosperous homeowners throwing out a perfectly good kitchen because their whim has changed. This is one I recently watched
ebay
and also
ebay again

Most people haven't got a van so bids are few, prices low, and the vendor wants to avoid the effort of taking the stuff to the tip.

If buying second-hand, buy plenty because there will be some items that are damaged or don't fit.
I have used ebay suppliers when trying to match disconyinued doors, but they are usually small traders who've had the luck to buy at a warehouse clearance.

This sort of place sells new doors, but they are mostly vinyl wrapped MDF. Vinyl peels off from heat, steam or damp, so is unsuitable for a room that contains taps, kettles, sinks, dishwasher, ovens or pets drinking bowls.
on ebay
I can't vouch for the quality of these companies, but they are examples.

Thanks pigletjohn, you're a star as always!