Nothing is meant to last forever and even the highest-quality kitchen cabinets are prone to wear and tear due to everyday use. Since it can be costly to do a complete makeover of the kitchen, it’s nice to have knowledge on how to fix common damages to the cabinet door so you can do it by yourself.
So how do you repair broken or damaged doors on kitchen cabinets? There are different approaches to repairing cabinet doors depending on the specific problem that you have. If you have cabinet peeling due to moisture issues, you can either apply a wood veneer or repaint the damaged area. For squeaky or loose doors, you should check the hinges and adjust and tighten the screws.
The kitchen cabinet is one of the important fixtures that you always access whenever you’re cooking or dining. It’s also commonly exposed to water damage, grease, and oil buildup due to daily activities in the kitchen. For this reason, it’s not unusual to find some signs of damage on the body, paint, hinges, and screws of your cabinet door.
Before you panic and call for a total overhaul of your kitchen, you should know that there are some cabinet door problems that you can repair on your own. Here are some usual signs of wear and tear on kitchen cabinets and how you can restore them to their good condition:
Squeaky, sagging, or misaligned doors can be a result of loose hinges and stripped screw holes. It usually happens due to the old age of the cabinet doors or from overuse because of constant opening and closing. When this happens, you should inspect the door hinge inside the cabinet and check its tension and alignment.
For loose cabinet door hinges, here are the steps that you should follow to fix them:
If you notice there are stripped screw holes on the cabinet door, take note of these steps:
Knobs and pulls are important hardware that’s mounted to the cabinet drawer front. Thanks to this kitchen hardware, you have something to grab on to easily open and close the cabinet door. However, constantly pulling on the knobs and pulls can quickly loosen the cabinet hardware.
To fix stripped or wobbly cabinet knobs and pulls, here are the easy steps that you can follow:
No matter how careful you are not to damage the surface of the cabinet door, it’s inevitable to have some peeling due to moisture, water damage, or light nicks or scratches. Fortunately, it’s relatively simple to fix issues of cabinet door peeling and scratches.
Here's how you can repair peeling surfaces on kitchen cabinet doors:
For visible scratches on the cabinet door, follow these simple steps:
You may also notice worn-out finishing on the face of the cabinet box or drawer. An easy way to repair this is by using sandpaper to remove the chipped or damaged paint on the surface. After sanding, you can apply a thin layer of primer and paint to restore the finishing on the body of the kitchen cabinet.
Meanwhile, if you have broken drawer boxes, check the pieces and joints that are holding the cabinet together. If needed, you may have to remove the entire drawer front and replace the fasteners and screws. Re-align the drawer pieces and reinforce the joints with the use of glue. Make sure that all sides and corners are securely attached before returning the drawer box to its place.
If you’re having a hard time opening sliding drawers or they frequently get stuck, there may be a lubrication issue with the sliding mechanism of the cabinet. To smoothly open your sliding cabinet, you can apply a silicone-based lubricant to its tracks and rollers. This should help your drawer to easily glide in its tracks.
In the case of broken drawer glides, you can repair this by adjusting or replacing the screws. Sometimes, jammed doors are also a result of bent glides which can be fixed by realigning them with the help of pliers.
Changes in humidity, grease and oil buildup, and deterioration of the latex pads may cause your cabinet doors to stick. To repair this problem, you should remove the existing pads and the adhesive that’s sticking to the door frame and replace them with new ones. You can also simply wash off the dirt and grease that’s accumulated on the cabinet door using oil soap mixed with water.
While it’s easy to do DIY cabinet repair, there are some issues that aren’t salvageable and may require a complete door or drawer replacement. Here are some signs that you need to get a kitchen cabinet replacement:
Like any other furniture, your kitchen cabinets also require daily maintenance to keep them in good condition. Here are some tips for taking care of your wooden cabinet doors and drawers:
Without cabinets, your kitchen feels incomplete and it’s important to ensure that they are always in peak condition by preventing damage and immediately repairing any problem. At Zothex Flooring, we have a team of experts who can help you with your kitchen cabinet door concerns.
Whether you’re redesigning your cabinets or building a new kitchen from scratch, our team at Zothex can help you choose and install the best drawers, countertops, and flooring designs that match your home and lifestyle. Contact us now to inquire about our custom cabinet designs and stocks and know more about our installation services.