Cabinets can be damaged in a variety of ways, from termites to moisture exposure and simple wear and tear. But a few basic tools and a little know-how can save you the cost of replacement and help keep your kitchen cabinets looking fresh.
1. Fix a Loose Hinge
Loose hinges can cause your cabinet doors kitchen cabinet repair in Vista to droop and overlap, making them difficult to close. Using a screwdriver, loosen the screws that hold the hinges to the cabinet door or the cabinet frame and then tighten them. You may need to use shims between the hinge and the cabinet frame if the gap is wide, or you may need to replace the hinge if it’s rusty or worn.
2. Refinish Cabinet Boxes
Cabinet boxes sometimes swell and lose their finishing, but it’s usually possible to repair them. If a cabinet box has become warped or misshapen due to moisture, you can sand the damaged surface and apply new stain or paint. If the damage is extensive or the cabinet boxes are old, you might need to re-hang and re-install the doors and drawer fronts.
3. Reconfigure Cabinets
Cabinets are typically constructed of wood, so it’s easy to refinish them to restore their appearance or even change their location. Popular reconfiguration ideas include adding a stacked set of lower cabinets above another, hanging the upper cabinets flush with the ceiling, and removing cabinet doors to make room for open shelving.
4. Restore Cabinet Finish
Cabinet finishes often get dull from grease splatters, smoke and general wear and tear. You can sand the cabinet doors and drawer fronts and repaint them to bring back their luster, or you can purchase a special wood cleaner that’ll clean and polish the surfaces without harming the finish. If the finish is so badly scratched or scuffed that it’s distracting, touch-up markers and clear coats can conceal shallow scratches and nicks.
5. Restore a Stripped Screw Hole
A stripped screw hole may seem like a major repair, but it’s actually fairly easy. If you have a screw with a stripped head, remove the screw and the cabinet door knob, then fill the hole with wood glue. Dip the tip of a toothpick in the glue and push it into the hole, breaking off the end to expose the wood. Then screw the door knob back on.
6. Added Functionality
If your cabinet doors don’t close or catch on one another, you can easily remedy the problem by adding a magnetic catch to the door that keeps it closed. These inexpensive devices come with a magnet mount and a strike plate that’s mounted to the cabinet frame. Mount the strike plate so that it would almost touch the closed door near the top or bottom corner, then attach the magnet and strike plate to the cabinet frame. When you open the door, it will attract the magnet and pull it in or out of position, keeping the door from opening.