Kitchen front adjustment

Kitchen doors drift over time: the gaps between them turn uneven, one door catches its neighbour and a drawer will not close all the way. Usually nothing needs replacing. Kitchen front adjustment means setting the hinges and runners so everything lines up again.

What the handyman adjusts

• concealed cup hinges in three directions: side to side, up and down, and depth;
• drawer runners and drawer fronts, including height and tilt;
• lift-up mechanisms on wall cabinets that open upwards;
• soft-close dampers, if doors slam or stop short.

While at it, the handyman tightens loose screws in the carcasses and checks the wall cabinets hang securely.

When adjustment alone will not do

If a hinge screw has torn out of the board, the hinge is moved or the hole is repaired with a glued dowel. A cracked hinge cup or a worn runner means replacing the part. If the doors have swollen from water by the sink or dishwasher, no adjustment will help, and the door needs replacing. The handyman will tell you on site which case you have.

How to prepare the job

Count how many doors and drawers are giving trouble and take photos of the kitchen and of a hinge from inside a cabinet. If you know the kitchen or hardware brand, such as Blum or Hettich, put it in the job, so the handyman can bring matching parts in case something needs replacing.

Common questions