How To Upgrade Kitchen Cabinets with Door Inserts
Introduction
Remodel your kitchen quickly and easily by cutting out old wooden door panels and installing new, striking materials, like metal, glass or fabric. Do it yourself to keep the cost low.Installing new panels in old cabinet doors can really dress up a kitchen, and new panels are a lot cheaper than new cabinets. Insert materials include glass, translucent plastic, copper, metal, fabric and wicker. Adding “feature” door inserts to just one or two of your cabinet doors can be striking and inexpensive.
Our homeowners decided to install perforated metal inserts in all their upper cabinet doors. They initially wanted to use stainless steel to match their appliances, but went with aluminum after discovering it costs one-third of the price and offers a similar look.
“Perforated metal inserts kicked our 15-year-old cabinets into the 21st century. Once I got the hang of using the pattern bit, it was a cinch to remove the center door panels and replace them.” — homeowner Steve Johnson.
Buying Metal Door Inserts
To assure accuracy, do your measuring after you remove the cabinet doors. Order mesh cabinet doors inserts 1/8-in. shorter in length and width so the inserts just fit in the opening.Some home centers carry sheets of metal, including perforated, and will cut them for you for a small fee. But you’ll find a much bigger selection online. Look for metal in the 16- to 20-gauge range. We bought directly from McNichols Co. (mcnichols.com) and did all our ordering over the phone.If stainless is out of your price range, consider aluminum or plain steel (called “mill finish”). You can spray paint your metal any color you want. No matter what finish you order, wash the metal with paint thinner to rinse off the manufacturing oils. If you choose not to paint the steel, spray it with a clear lacquer to prevent rusting.ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7p63MoqOyoJGjsbq5wKdlnKedZL2zu8memq1nmZmyor%2BMn6arZaSdsm63yK2aoZ2eYrCirsinnK1llKS8s3nIp6qeqqSofA%3D%3D