Professional Joiner's Guide To Measuring And Fitting Doors Without Common Mistakes

Replacing your kitchen doors can have a transformational impact on the way your kitchen both looks and feels, making it an affordable way to breathe a new lease of life into one of the most important spaces in your home.

Here at Happy Doors, we stock a full range of replacement kitchen doors in an array of styles, so there's something to suit every kitchen, regardless of whether you love ultra-modern design or prefer more traditional interiors.

We want each and every one of our customers to have an outstanding experience with Happy Doors, so we've asked a professional joiner to put together a comprehensive guide to measuring and fitting doors, and cover some of the most common mistakes to avoid.

Expert Joiner Tips for Measuring and Fitting Kitchen Doors

Measure Twice For Optimal Accuracy

While we firmly believe that measuring for replacement kitchen cabinet doors is a straightforward process, we also recommend measuring twice to ensure that your measurements are accurate.

To ensure a perfect fit for your existing kitchen cabinets, we recommend measuring your existing doors from the back side. This will ensure that features such as bevelled edges don't inadvertently result in inaccurate measurements. Measuring from side to side will give you the width measurement, and measuring from top to bottom will give you the height measurement.

Avoid Over-Trimming

While trimming is sometimes necessary in certain circumstances, over-trimming can actually lead to a much poorer fit and even compromise the overall structural integrity of the door. This means that doors will have a much shorter lifespan and may not provide the high quality look you want to achieve.

Pro Tip: This isn't something you'll need to worry about when buying replacement kitchen doors from Happy Doors, as we'll use your measurements to ensure your new doors fit your cabinets perfectly, with no trimming required.

Consider Necessary Clearances for Swing, Handles and Hinges

One of the most common mistakes people make when ordering and attempting to install new kitchen cabinet doors is failing to allow for necessary clearances to allow the doors to open freely and with ease. So, it's really important to account for the appropriate amount of space you'll need for elements such as handles and hinges.

Pro Tip: If you want to take all the hassle out of the installation process, you also have the option of including hinge hole measurements when ordering your new Happy Doors replacement cabinet doors. We'll use these measurements to drill hinge holes into your new doors, which will both speed up and further ease the installation process.

When measuring hinge hole placements, we recommend measuring from the top of each door to the middle of the top hinge. Then you can repeat this process by measuring from the bottom of each door to the middle of the bottom hinge. Ensuring that you're measuring to the middle of the hinge means that your brand new doors will fit with your existing hinges.

Use the Correct Tools, Hinges and Screws

Sometimes doors can sustain damage when they are installed using inappropriate tools, so it's important to ensure that you're using the correct tools, hinges and screws during the installation process.

Alongside our range of replacement kitchen doors, we also stock a variety of accessories designed to deliver a professional finish and ensure that the installation process is smooth and seamless.

Our soft close 110 degree Hettich hinges and backplates are suitable for standard cabinets, whereas our soft close 165 degree Hettich hinges and backplates are ideal for corner cabinets.

Pro Tip: We also have an extra thin hinge, which is designed for integrated fridges and freezers.

Don't Rush or Neglect the Finishing Touches

Although there is the potential to make mistakes during every part of the process of replacing your kitchen cabinet doors, taking your time to methodically work through each stage will ensure that you don't make the most common errors.

Additionally, from kick boards and plinths to corner posts and end panels, the finishing touches can really bring your kitchen together and give your space the professional finish it deserves. If you need advice at any stage of the process, you can get in touch with our knowledgeable team, who will be able to give their expert support to help you realise your kitchen dreams.

Your Joiner Will Love Happy Doors Replacement Kitchen Doors

With our range of styles and commitment to high quality, both you and your joiner will be impressed with Happy Doors replacement kitchen doors. If you're interested in learning more about how we can help you to create a beautiful kitchen that you can be proud of, you can get in touch directly by calling 0345 257 2526 between 8:30am and 5pm Monday-Friday or emailing hello@happy-doors.co.uk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a joiner to install my new replacement kitchen doors?

While you absolutely can work with a joiner to install your new cabinet doors, this isn't a necessity, and many of our customers complete the installation themselves in no time at all. If you're unsure about whether you want to tackle the task yourself, we've put together an easy-to-follow installation guide, which includes a detailed video that will guide you through the whole process.

How do I choose the right replacement cabinet doors for my kitchen?

Choosing your ideal cabinet doors is often the most challenging part of the process, particularly as we have a variety of different styles to consider. Our Bella Shaker doors are one of our most popular styles, as they strike the ideal balance between contemporary and traditional design. If you're going for a more contemporary look and feel, we recommend exploring our Bella Venice, Jayline, and Valore doors.

Can I get a quote for replacement kitchen doors for my renovation project?

Yes, you can get in touch with the Happy Doors team directly to obtain a no-obligation quote, and the great news is that we'll only need a few details from you.