QA

Question: How To Hang Kitchen Cabinet Doors

Should I put hinges on cabinet door or frame first?

Installing cabinet doors with exposed hinges is relatively simple. First, attach the hinges to the door while laying flat, then align it with the frame. Ensure it’s plumb and level, drill pilot holes, and drive in the screws to attach the hinges.

Where do you put hinges on a cabinet door?

The cabinet door hinges should be placed at least 1 1/2 inches to two inches from the top of the edge of the cabinet. Alignment with the edge of the cabinet will greatly depend on the type of hinge. They could be set flush with the edge of the cabinet face or in 1/4 inch from the edge.

Does it matter which hinge goes on door?

It doesn’t matter, as long as they are all done in the proper direction, regardless of right or left handedness. Since they come with hinge pins in them, I would install them with the pin up, so they will match.

Can you put new hinges on old cabinets?

Unless you’re going to replace the hinges with the exact same type, you will need to cover the old holes and drill new ones. This job is best accomplished when you’re refinishing the cabinet. If the new hinges are close enough in style to the originals, you’ll want to use epoxy wood filler.

How do you install cabinet hinges?

Here is a step-by-step guide of how to install traditional cabinet hinges: Mark the Door and Place the Hinges. Adjust the Spacing Between the Hinges. Tape the Hinges in Place. Drive Screws on the Cabinet-Side of the Hinge. Glue the Door to the Hinge. Drive Screws on the Door-Side of the Hinge.

How do I know my hinge placement?

Measure 5 inches from the top of the door. Lay the top hinge against the side of the door with the top edge on your mark. Make another mark on the door through the center screw hole of the hinge and trace the outline of the hinge. If you are only using two hinges, you are finished with your hinge measurement.

How many hinges are needed for a cabinet door?

The number of hinges you need depends on the height and weight of the door. Use two hinges for doors less than 40 inches high and less than 11 pounds. Use three hinges for doors 40 to 60 inches high and 13 to 20 pounds. Use four hinges for doors 60 to 80 inches high and 29 to 33 pounds.

How do I choose a door hinge?

As a rule, use one hinge per every 30 inches of door: Doors up to 60 inches need two hinges. Doors over 60 inches, but not over 90 inches, need three hinges. Doors over 90 inches, but not over 120 inches, need four hinges.

Do you have to chisel door hinges?

When you install a door hinge, you need to make notches for it on the edge of the door and on the jamb, or the door won’t close properly. These notches, or mortises, should be just deep enough to allow the surface of the hinge to sit flush with the wood.

Do you put hinges on door first?

It’s always easier to attach the top hinge first. The screw heads need to sit nice and squarely into the hinge, since this will allow the door to open and close much more smoothly. Once you have fitted most of the screws, have a try at opening and closing your door.

How do you determine the swing of a cabinet door?

The correct, no-fail way to determine door handing: With the door swinging toward you, what side is the door knob on or leading edge? That determines the swing of all doors. Knob or leading edge on left is left, and vise versa.

What is cabinet door overlay?

Cabinet overlay means the correlation of your cabinet doors to the cabinet face frames. This overlay affects how much of the cabinet frame shows and can change the appearance of your space from traditional to a contemporary-style kitchen.

What does overlay mean on cabinet hinges?

When referring to an overlay door, it means the entire door lays on top of the cabinet frame. Overlays can come in a variety of sizes but in common applications we most often see a 1/2″ overlay or 1/4″ overlay. Although, where European Hinges are used there is a broader range of overlay sizes.

What screws to use to attach cabinets?

Use a #8 x 1-5/8″ screw to secure cabinets together. After you install all of your cabinets, it may be necessary to adjust the drawer fronts so they are level and have the proper reveals.

Can you hang a cabinet on one stud?

One stud should be fine, using a high and a low screw, plus fastening the cabinet to the adjacent ones.

Can you paint cabinets while they are still hanging?

Since you saw where the roller couldn’t reach when priming the cabinets, do the brushwork in these areas first when painting. Then follow with the roller. Treat the cabinets with care for the next few weeks—even though they’re dry, the paint can still be marred by scratches in the paint within this time frame.

Is it better to brush or spray cabinets?

This method is not always the most durable option (spraying cabinet doors usually provides a more durable, even-looking finish), but is recommended for smaller cabinet projects, as it’s the most cost-effective option. In fact, brush and roll finish projects will typically save you about 25% off the cost of spraying.

Do you paint both sides of kitchen cabinet doors?

Don’t just jump right in: You should start by painting the back of the doors instead of the front. Because if you flip the door too soon and the paint smudges, it will at least face the inside of the cabinet.