Replacing kitchen doors - Quality?

Newbie2saving

Hi all,

I have bought a house which had a kitchen installed a few yrs ago. I wanted to integrate applainces as previous owners had white freestanding and want a sleeker look. I can't get an exact match so I'm considering replacing the lot. I really like the shaker style (currently the kitchen is plain cream doors), but can't afford real wood, so a vinyl wrap. Are these type of doors ok? I want this decision to be the right one and struggling to know what the quality of these type of doors is! Any help would be really, really appreciated.

TIA.

shar46y

Newbie2saving wrote: »

I really like the shaker style (currently the kitchen is plain cream doors), but can't afford real wood, so a vinyl wrap. Are these type of doors ok? I want this decision to be the right one and struggling to know what the quality of these type of doors is!

How long is a piece of string? As you say, if real wood is unaffordable, then something's gotta give! I guess there's a lot of variation in quality of the wrap (I expect someone far more knowledgeable will be along in a minute), plus how much wear and tear do you think they will suffer (e.g. do you have small children or large dogs?:p).

FWIW, in our first flat we installed a bog-standard B&Q shaker-style kitchen, the doors were matt cream-coloured vinyl wrap. (Of course I would have loved a hand-painted solid wood handcrafted kitchen, but that was never going to happen in a FTB flat ).

It was still looking good almost 3 years later when we moved out and as we are very keen cooks it was heavily used every single day. And we have 2 toddlers and a cat (no dogs though)! Having said that, I was pretty OCD about keeping it clean and tidy, wiping down the doors if I saw any stains or splashes, etc.

So, how long is a piece of string? :rotfl:

Meepster

As a general rule: The cheaper the door, the poorer the quality. There are different qualities of vinyl and the vinyl could be on top of MFC or MDF (with MDF being the better). Also important is how the wrap is finished. The front of the door will usually always be finished well, but it's on the back you can have trouble. If you look on the back edges of the door and you see a thin dark line where the front vinyl and back vinyl meet, then avoid it, as the panel hasn't been fully wrapped and water/steam can easily get in.

Cost wise, the fascias make up anything between 60% and 80% of the cost of a cabinet, so it still isn't a very cheap option (unless you buy cheap doors, obviously) You also need to make sure you get EXACTLY the right size doors as they are usually pre=drilled for the hinges and even a couple of mm difference can mean the doors don't align properly...

ryder72

Foil/Vinyl wraps are a relatively inexpensive way to achieving a more expensive look. There are compromises though with all wrapped doors in respect of resistance to steam. humidity and heat.

Price is the best way to distinguish a poor foil wrap from a better quality one but also look at the 'orange peel' on the front. The flatter and smoother the surface, generally the better the door.

Newbie2saving

I know its difficult to answer, dont have any pets, one toddler am totally ocd re cleanliness. Vinyl door I've seen looks good to me, but will bear in mind the comments when i go to see it again tom. I think there maybe a seam around back edge so feeling a little nervous now. Thanks for your replies and advice.

ryder72

A foil wrap will ALWAYS have a seam. Its not possible to make one without the seam. This is what makes foil wrapped doors most likely to fail of all door types.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

I bought a painted wood kitchen from Burbidge.
The doors have had problems from the start with the paint cracking in the recessing on them.I've had nearly everyone replaced,some of them twice.
I've also had vinyl wrap doors that lasted years,with no problems.
The only advantage with wood is that they can be re-painted,something I will be doing very soon.

Steve_the_fitter

A foil rapped door can last just as long and look pretty much just as nice as any door. Another thing to consider is how wide is the gap that the freestanding appliance is sitting in. If the gap is anything over 605mm (for a 600mm appliance) it will be to big for an integrated appliance door

Newbie2saving

Just to let you know I have gone for the vinyl door. I really like it, I looked at them really closely and I like what I see. I won't be allowing the kettle to boil under the units though! I've had the kitchen fitters out to check sizes of appliance spaces and they are happy that they can easily fit them in without having to add spacing bars. Thanks again for all your input.

Steve_the_fitter

Good stuff. Makeovers can sometimes be a bit tricky to fit and get looking good but they are a great money saving way to give your kitchen a facelift and Im sure you will be really happy with the end result

Newbie2saving wrote: »

Just to let you know I have gone for the vinyl door. I really like it, I looked at them really closely and I like what I see. I won't be allowing the kettle to boil under the units though! I've had the kitchen fitters out to check sizes of appliance spaces and they are happy that they can easily fit them in without having to add spacing bars. Thanks again for all your input.