In a well-used kitchen, there can be nothing more aggravating than a sticky drawer, a Lazy Susan that doesn’t spin or a cabinet door that bounces back open when closed.
In recent years, it seems homes have become focused around kitchens and kitchens have become focused around cabinets. Space-saving devices have made cabinets more functional and new finishes have made them more attractive.
But those attractive cabinets-sometimes thousands of dollars worth of them-take a beating from normal wear and tear, as well as cooking smoke. Hinges get loose, drawer handles fall off and doors get out of alignment.
Short of a cabinet system that is antiquated and has major structural problems, most cabinet repair can be aptly handled by the do-it-yourselfer.
“There are some simple steps that help bring new life into a tired set of cabinets,” says Tony LaPelusa, executive vice president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, a trade group of contractors.
“With a little work, you should get many good years out of a set of cabinets,” says Howard Miller, a Skokie-based contractor who specializes in kitchen and bathroom remodeling.
And while you’re making cabinet repairs, it’s also an opportune time to attach childproofing devices such as cabinet locks, say the remodeling experts.
Hardware hangups
The biggest cabinet complaints often involve hardware.
“Hardware-the drawer tracks, handles and hinges-is the first thing to go on a cabinet,” says LaPelusa. “Oftentimes, the wood is in fine shape but the hardware is bad, especially with the cheaper cabinets.”
Sometimes, a cabinet hardware problem requires only a very simple repair, such as tightening a loose screw. Other times, it may require replacement of the hardware.
– Drawer tracks: This is usually the first thing to break and the trickiest part of a cabinet to repair. “In addition to drawers that don’t slide in properly, a sure sign of track problems is sawdust from uneven wear of drawers,” says Miller.
Drawer tracks, also known as guides, can be found in the corners, the sides, or top and bottoms of the drawer opening.
Some types of tracks are very simple: They’re just long wood strips that serve as guides for the drawers to follow. Others involve plastic guides to keep a drawer on track. Still others have metal guides and wheels or rollers to move drawers through.
“Each cabinet is almost unique in the type of tracks found in it,” says LaPelusa.
Sometimes, the drawer track simply unfastens from the cabinet structure and needs to be reattached. If the existing screw does not adhere tightly, use a slightly larger screw for a tight fit.
Sometimes, cleaning the track can make them function better. Mechanical tracks should be cleaned with ammonia and then lightly lubricated with household oil. Sticky wood tracks should be lightly sanded, then lubricated with wax or a silicone lubricant.
The track can also be broken or bent, and beyond repairing. In that case, remove it, measure the drawer and the opening, and look for a suitable replacement at a home improvement or kitchen and bath store.
“There are tracks that will fit only specific cabinets,” LaPelusa says. “Sometimes, you might find the exact same replacement track. Other times, you’re going to have to experiment a bit to find one that fits properly.”
For example, on older cabinets with wooden tracks, a new guide might have to be fabricated.
The cabinet’s manufacturer can be another source of track hardware.
– Hinges: “Over the years, hinges get worn from people leaning against the doors of the cabinet, or kids hanging from them,” says LaPelusa.
Hinges rarely can be repaired. Hence, replacement hinges are the best option. The key, however, is finding hinges that will accommodate the cabinets.
For example, a butt hinge, which resembles a small door hinge, is usually found on older cabinets in which the doors are flush with the frame. The more common overlay hinges are used for cabinets in which the doors overlap the frame. Partially inset hinges are used on cabinets with lipped doors.
“Your best bet is to take off one of the old hinges and use that as a guide to buying a replacement,” says LaPelusa.
Be careful in removing the existing hinges so as not to widen the screw holes. You may need to fill the existing holes with wood putty to give the new screws a tight fit. When installing the new hinges, make sure the door is lined up properly. You may be able to use the existing screw holes as a guide.
– Handles, pulls and knobs: They’re often held on by one or two screws and they become inoperable when they get loose or broken.
Most home improvement stores carry a range of replacement handles, pulls and knobs, from the very utilitarian to elaborately designed models.
“As with hinges, you can choose new handles and pulls that will better complement the cabinets,” says LaPelusa.
Again, check for replacements that have a precise fit to the existing cabinets. Otherwise, you might need to drill additional holes to make the knobs fit.
– Other hardware: You can assure that doors will stay closed by installing new latches in the openings. The most common, and inexpensive, latch is a magnetic one, which usually attaches with a couple of screws.
Another type of latch is a spring-loaded device. There are also the aforementioned childproofing latches.
If a Lazy Susan refuses to spin, check the underside of the unit to see if something is blocking its movement. If it still does not operate, remove the unit and extract the spin ring, usually found underneath. Replacement rings can be found at most home improvement stores.
Structural problems
Structural problems, such as loose drawers or warped doors, often result from high humidity. When the weather dries out, they’ll disappear.
Other maladies, however, result from wear. Drawers break apart when too many heavy items are shoved into them. Doors can crack if a chair is backed into them.
The repair of these items usually requires only a little carpenters glue and some elbow grease.
For example, drawers that are falling apart can be taken out of the cabinet and glued together again at any loose seams. Use clamps to hold together the drawer while the glue dries.
Drawer bottoms can also warp, resulting in a bulge that prevents the drawer from opening properly. Remove the drawer, take it apart and turn the drawer bottom upside down and reassemble so that the warp is inside the drawer.
Cabinet shelves also can warp or break. Often, it’s best to remove the existing shelf and replace it with a new one.
Cabinet pieces that are beyond repair often can be duplicated at a lumber yard, says Miller. “Or if you’re handy with a saw, you can cut a piece of wood to fit the missing piece,” he says. “Or you can find a handyman who can make new parts.”
You can also upgrade older cabinets by adding a few of the features found in a new cabinet system. For example, foldout spice racks can be installed in place of shelf spaces. Cutlery boards can be placed in cutout slots above drawers. And slideout shelves can be used to replace stationary shelves.
Most of these upgrades are available at large home improvement stores and are installed with a few screws.
“Be certain to measure the existing cabinets carefully so that you know these new features will fit correctly,” advises LaPelusa.
Dull finishes
In addition to the mechanical side, there are several ways of perking up the finishes of older cabinets. “Finishes really start to wear and tear as kids bang on cabinets and pets scratch against them,” says Miller.
For example, if you have solid wood cabinets, you can try to buff out any blemishes as you would on a piece of furniture.
Solid wood cabinets can also be sanded down to the natural wood and restained and sealed, says LaPelusa.
If the cabinet doors are worn but not damaged, another option is to paint them.
“It’s something you can do to brighten up your kitchen instantly without a great deal of cost and by painting the cabinets you can easily get another five to 10 years out of them,” he says. “To tell you the truth, painted white cabinets are very trendy right now. Any light colors traditionally last longer than the darker colors.”
A more expensive option is to laminate the cabinets, which is usually done by a professional lamination company. While such a job will cost at least several hundred dollars, it is cheaper than installing new cabinets.
