#Cabinet Doors, Latches and Hinges

Learn the basic types of doors, hinges, latches and catches available for kitchen cabinets

When choosing cabinetry for your kitchen or bathroom renovation, pay special attention to your door options. Cabinet doors are the most visible part of cabinetry and a key element to the overall personality of the space. There are four basic door types:

Slab doors. These doors are made of flat pieces of plywood or medium-density fiberboard (MDF) with a veneer flanking each side.

Plank doors. Plank doors are flush and comprised of solid wood and may involve decorative patterns routed into their face.

Frame-and-panel doors. Frame-and-panel doors are manufactured with a frame around a central panel, which may be squared, arched or rounded at its upper edge. The central panel may be either recessed or raised. A recessed door has the central panel inset into the door. A raised panel offers an elevated central panel.

Frame-only doors. These have a rabbeted edge, which secures a glass pane. The pane may be a single light or subdivided with muntins, creating a pattern of separate lights.

Most cabinet doors are either sliding or hinged. Sliding doors permit access to only a portion of the cabinet's opening while hinged doors provide full access. Door hinges support doors and allow them to swing open while latches and catches are designed to keep doors closed. Catches are two-piece assemblies concealed inside the cabinet using magnetic devises or mechanics. A latch is a variation of a catch. They can be push-operated or magnetic. They're surface mounted, which adds another layer of style.

The type of cabinet front (framed or frameless) and door style determine the type of hinge you'll need. "Pick hinges consistent with your door's overlay or inset," says Erica Neel, builder and owner of Structures Inc. in Birmingham, Ala. Inset doors require surface, butt or wraparound hinges. Rabetted doors are usually hung with lipped or semi-inset hinges. Overlay doors coordinate best with concealed hinges.

In general, visible hinges should maintain the look of knobs and pulls. The number of hinges installed per door is determined by the weight of the selected door. Most standard cabinet doors require two hinges. Appropriate hinges are generally included in stock cabinetry pricing.

Door Materials and Construction