How to Attach False Cabinet Doors

Measure the height of the hole where the false door will be placed. Cut three pieces of 3-inch wide wood to this height. Cut the third piece of wood in half. If the hole is 6 inches high, you end up with two 6-by-3-inch pieces and two 3-by-3-inch pieces of wood. The appearance and type of wood for these pieces do not matter. These pieces of wood are only used to attach the false front and are not visible. Spruce, pine, fir or any other wood used for construction works for this purpose.

Measure the width of the hole the false door is going to be attached and the width of the false cabinet door. The width of the cabinet door is always a little wider than the hole. For example, a 32-inch wide cabinet would be matched with a 31-inch hole.

Subtract the door’s width from the hole and divide the difference in width by two. For example, if you have a 32-inch wide door and 31-inch wide hole, you would be left with 1 inch-. If you divide 1 inch by two, you would get one-half inch. The final number is the amount of overlap the door needs on both sides of the hole.

Attach one of the blocks of hole height blocks of wood to the back of the false door using two wood screws. The wood screws should be horizontally centered on the block, about one-half inch from the top and bottom edge. The wood block should be vertically centered and placed the length determined earlier away from the door’s horizontal. Using the example number, you would install the block one-half inch from the right or left edge of the door. Repeat this step to install the second block on the opposite edge of the door.

Place one of the half blocks horizontally onto the block mounted on the back of the door. Vertically center the block. Place the block so about half is hanging horizontally off the edge. Screw the half block into place. Do not fully tighten the screw. You need to be able to turn the half block. Turn the half block so that it vertical, flush with the block attached to the door. Repeat this step to attack the other half block.

Insert the false door into the hole. Turn the half blocks so the edge of both blocks is over the doorframe. The half blocks hold the false door in place.