Panel Inserts

Add new life to old cabinets by replacing door panel inserts.

Panel Inserts A fun and creative way to revitalize outdated kitchen cabinets is by installing new panels. The panel is the centerpiece of each cabinet door. By replacing the old panel with another material, you can totally transform the look of your kitchen. One popular way is with glass, which brings a bright reflective dimension to the cabinets and also lets you see inside. Another favorite is polycarbonate. This is a lightweight shatterproof type of plastic you can find in clear or translucent sheets. Then there’s stained glass, which while more expensive, gives your cabinets a colorful radiance like no other. To start the adventure, take a look at the back of one of your kitchen cabinet doors. Some panels are merely held in by clips. These can be easily popped out. Other cabinet panels are locked in place with wood and glue in which case you’ll need to cut them out. This can be done with a sharp utility knife or better yet a router. The router provides a clean cut to the proper depth if you want. With the excess wood remove, lift out the old panel and measure the openings for the new one. You can also use the old panel as a template for cutting a new material to fit. If you’ve chosen a new glass panels, you can order the glass cut to size for easy installation. If you go with polycarbonate, cut it with a router, just give the edges a light sanding before laying it in the opening. Your new panels can be secured to the cabinet doors with wood strips, hot glue or glazing points. Glazing points are small metal triangles that are inserted by hand with a firm putty knife sinking them straight into the wood every few inches or so to hold the panel tightly in place. Be careful not to damage the new panel as you insert the points. You can also find the glazing point drivers that work like a staple gun to speed up the process. Once you replaced one panel, the rest are simply a matter of repeating the same steps. Out with the old and in with the new. Before you know it, you have a stunning kitchen makeover without the trouble and expense of buying new cabinets.