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How to Repair Cabinets
USINFO | 2013-07-31 14:11
Cabinets are the core of kitchens and bathroom, essential to both the form and function of these rooms. They provide critical storage and are the major contributors to style and beauty. They’re also among the most expensive and permanent fixtures and, because of this, perform their duties for many years.
Wear and tear is only natural. Doors sag, drawers stick, surfaces get dinged, and finishes wear. This section of HomeTips will show you how to deal with these problems and keep your cabinets operating smoothly and looking beautiful.
Small chips and nicks in wood cabinets can be filled with plastic wood filler, sold in colors to match most wood stains. If the damage is to an area that’s prominently visible, it may be difficult to do a “seamless” repair. Test blending and color matching in an unseen area before attempting a repair where visible.
When touching-up a chipped or scraped cabinet, the trick is to match the color. If you use the manufacturer’s original paint or stain colors, which you may be able to discover from a local distributor or cabinet retailer, be aware that the finish may have faded over time.
You may have to paint an entire surface, starting and ending at a cabinet edge, because spot touch-ups are more obvious on discolored cabinets, such as near cooking areas affected by heat and airborne grease and soot.
If wood cabinets are cracked or split, gluing and clamping can make the repair. Deep gouges and irreparable repairs can take a bit more effort:
1) Use a fine-toothed saw to cut away the damaged area, making smooth, straight cuts. Then cut a slightly oversized replacement piece of the same material and fasten it with glue and, if necessary, small finishing nails or countersunk screws. Sand the repair with fine sandpaper and then stain or paint to match the original.
2) If you’re dealing with a deep gouge, clean away the damaged wood then fill the area with an epoxy wood repair kit. Allow to dry, then sand and stain or paint to match. This material works amazingly well, and the repair is often as strong as the wood. Epoxy filler is waterproof so it can be used where the original wood damage was caused by wet conditions.
Wear and tear is only natural. Doors sag, drawers stick, surfaces get dinged, and finishes wear. This section of HomeTips will show you how to deal with these problems and keep your cabinets operating smoothly and looking beautiful.
Small chips and nicks in wood cabinets can be filled with plastic wood filler, sold in colors to match most wood stains. If the damage is to an area that’s prominently visible, it may be difficult to do a “seamless” repair. Test blending and color matching in an unseen area before attempting a repair where visible.
When touching-up a chipped or scraped cabinet, the trick is to match the color. If you use the manufacturer’s original paint or stain colors, which you may be able to discover from a local distributor or cabinet retailer, be aware that the finish may have faded over time.
You may have to paint an entire surface, starting and ending at a cabinet edge, because spot touch-ups are more obvious on discolored cabinets, such as near cooking areas affected by heat and airborne grease and soot.
If wood cabinets are cracked or split, gluing and clamping can make the repair. Deep gouges and irreparable repairs can take a bit more effort:
1) Use a fine-toothed saw to cut away the damaged area, making smooth, straight cuts. Then cut a slightly oversized replacement piece of the same material and fasten it with glue and, if necessary, small finishing nails or countersunk screws. Sand the repair with fine sandpaper and then stain or paint to match the original.
2) If you’re dealing with a deep gouge, clean away the damaged wood then fill the area with an epoxy wood repair kit. Allow to dry, then sand and stain or paint to match. This material works amazingly well, and the repair is often as strong as the wood. Epoxy filler is waterproof so it can be used where the original wood damage was caused by wet conditions.
