Care & Maintenance
Cabinet Repair & Touch-Up
Updated 3 min read
The short answer
Most cabinetry complaints are adjustments rather than damage. Doors drifting out of alignment, drawers running rough and loose handles are all ten-minute fixes with a screwdriver. Finish damage is the category where DIY most often makes things worse — particularly on shop-sprayed catalysed finishes.
What to attempt, what to hand over
| Problem | DIY? | How |
|---|---|---|
| Door out of alignment | Yes | Six-way hinge adjustment screws |
| Door not closing fully | Yes | Depth screw on the hinge; check for obstruction |
| Loose handle or knob | Yes | Tighten from inside the door |
| Drawer running rough | Yes | Clear debris from the runners; check for overload |
| Drawer front misaligned | Yes | Most fronts have adjustment on the fixing bolts |
| Small paint chip | Sometimes | Touch-up paint if you kept some; blend carefully |
| Scratch in a clear finish | Sometimes | Wax stick or touch-up pen for shallow marks |
| Damage to a sprayed catalysed finish | No | Blending requires a finisher and the right product |
| Water-swollen MDF | No | Not repairable — the component needs replacing |
| Failed edge banding | Rarely | Short runs can be re-adhered; widespread failure needs replacement |
| Sagging shelf | No | Material or span problem — needs a design fix |
Want this applied to your space?
Tell us about the space and upload photos for a free project review. An available contractor confirms scope, timing and pricing.
We review every estimate request. Any next step depends on confirming a suitable available contractor — there is no guaranteed callback or quote timeframe.
Adjusting a concealed hinge
European-style concealed hinges have three adjustment screws. Two minutes and a screwdriver fixes most alignment complaints.
- Identify the screwsTypically one at the front for side-to-side, one at the rear for depth, and one in the mounting plate for height.
- Adjust side-to-side firstThe front screw moves the door left and right. Get the gap even against the neighbouring door.
- Then depthThe rear screw pulls the door closer to or further from the carcass. Fixes a door that sits proud.
- Then heightLoosen the mounting plate screws slightly, move the door, retighten. Adjust both hinges together.
- Work in small incrementsQuarter turns. Close the door and check after each adjustment rather than making one large change.
- Do the whole runAlignment is judged by the gaps between doors, so adjust across a run rather than one door in isolation.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
My cabinet doors have gone out of alignment. Is something wrong?
Almost certainly not. Houses settle and move seasonally, and doors drift as a result. That is precisely why quality cabinetry uses six-way adjustable hinges — a couple of minutes with a screwdriver restores alignment, and it may need doing every few years.
Can a water-damaged cabinet be repaired?
Plywood that got briefly wet and dried out is often fine. MDF that has swollen is not repairable — the fibres have expanded permanently and no amount of drying reverses it. The affected component needs replacing, and the leak needs fixing first.
Should I keep leftover paint from my project?
Yes, ask for a small quantity and label it with the room and date. It is invaluable for touch-ups on site-painted work. For shop-sprayed catalysed finishes it is less useful, since matching sheen and texture by hand is difficult — but knowing the exact product and colour helps a finisher enormously.
Want this applied to your space?
Send a few details and we will look for an available contractor to review the project. Free, no obligation.
We review every estimate request. Any next step depends on confirming a suitable available contractor — there is no guaranteed callback or quote timeframe.