Fitted wardrobes replacement doors

Keeping the cabinet and changing the fronts

Start with what is wrong or what you want to change. A door that catches may need adjustment rather than replacement. A different door style will not correct a cabinet that has moved out of square. Photographs of the whole wardrobe, its hinges and any damaged edges help separate a fitting problem from a request for new fronts.

Measuring built-in wardrobes replacement doors

Each door opening should be measured rather than assuming every leaf is identical. Existing fitted furniture can have small differences between bays, especially beside a sloping ceiling or uneven wall. The new fronts need suitable gaps around their edges and clearance above the floor. Measure the cabinet and its openings as well as the old doors.

Check how each door opens against the bed, nearby drawers and room doorway. The thickness and position of the front affect that movement. Replacing one door with a wider leaf can change the access and load on the hinges. Agree the complete door arrangement before choosing handles or ordering a set based on the overall wardrobe width.

Hinges, handles and the weight of the doors

Hinge choice depends on the door construction, weight and how it sits against the cabinet. Existing hinges may suit the replacements, but their condition and fixing positions still need checking. Enlarged screw holes or thin cabinet edges may require a different solution. New fronts should not be fitted by relying on a damaged fixing simply because the old door used it.

Plain, shaker or panelled fronts can be considered alongside existing bedroom joinery. Agree the finish on both sides and the exposed edges, not just the visible face. Handle positions affect access and should suit the people using the wardrobe. A heavier front may need different hardware even when its outside dimensions match the door being removed.

Sliding doors and repairable hardware

Sliding doors use tracks, rollers and guides that must work as a compatible system. A new panel cannot automatically use every existing track. Check the maker, door weight limits and available replacement parts before deciding what can stay. Include photographs of any labels and the top and bottom fittings when asking about a sliding door problem.

If a door sticks, avoid forcing it or lifting a heavy mirrored panel without support. Loose debris, adjustment or worn hardware can cause poor movement, but the cause needs identifying. Replacing the fronts does not necessarily mean replacing the whole wardrobe interior. The sliding wardrobe page explains the wider layout where a complete new run is being considered.

Cost, fitting and agreeing the scope

The number and size of doors, material, finish and hardware affect replacement cost. Work to the cabinet can change the scope, as can switching between hinged and sliding openings. A price for fronts alone is different from a price that includes measurement, hinges, handles, fitting and disposal of the old doors. Compare the same items in each quote.

Timing depends on the agreed fronts, preparation and any parts needed for the existing system. Decide how the wardrobe contents will be protected or moved before fitting. Check what decoration is included and whether retained cabinet edges need finishing to sit alongside the new fronts. Keep the agreed door layout with the quote so there is a clear record of what will change.

See also: wardrobe doors not closing properly.

Planning the next step

Describe what needs fitting or repairing, with a photograph showing the existing joinery. Include any planned flooring or decoration, and say which parts you want to keep.

See also: Related joinery and fitting.