Kitchen cabinet built in Tukwila can take quite a beating. Over time, though, hinges go loose, laminates peel off, and bits and pieces of your cupboard fall apart. It doesn’t help that the damp Northwest Pacific climate adds the risk of water damage to the mix.
A damaged cabinet is not only inconvenient; it also leaves its contents vulnerable to pests and the elements. So what’s there to do about damaged kitchen cabinets? Here’s everything about kitchen cabinet repair Tukwila homeowners should understand.
Can Damaged Kitchen Cabinets Be Repaired?
It is possible to repair any damage to your kitchen cabinet to a certain extent. You can fix minor issues, such as loose fittings, yourself, and professionals can handle more complex problems. Sometimes, however, the damage is severe enough that the cabinet’s structure and function are completely compromised. In such cases, replacement may be necessary and far more practical than repairs.
How Much Does Cabinet Repair Typically Cost?
For kitchen cabinet repair Tukwila contractors typically charge from $200 to $490. These rates factor in the cost of the materials, the hourly labor rates, and, on rare occasions, the services of a licensed professional. The final repair price depends on the extent of the damage. Meanwhile, replacement is definitely more costly. It usually costs the same as your original cabinet, plus a markup accounting for inflation and installation.
Kitchen Cabinet Repair Tukwila Residents Can DIY
As you can tell, professional kitchen cabinet repair can be quite expensive. Thankfully, you can DIY repairs for minor damage, provided you have the necessary tools. Here are the specific kitchen cabinet repair Tukwila homeowners can do on their own.
- Door realignment. Your kitchen cabinet door hinges can loosen or shift over time, causing the doors to appear misaligned and behave erratically. The resulting gap can cause the door to sag, rub against the frame, or not close evenly. This can be easily resolved by tightening the adjustment screws or replacing the hinges.
- Bad latch adjustment or repair. Issues with the latch plate can make it difficult for the door to stay shut or keep open. To fix this, start by loosening the screws on the latch or the corresponding strike plate inside the door. Reposition the component to ensure a precise fit when the door is closed, then tighten the screws. If the latch is severely damaged, it may be better to replace it instead.
- Quiet banging doors. Many kitchen cabinets can make a loud bang when closed. This problem goes away once you install adhesive cabinet door bumpers on the frame where the door strikes, or on the inside of the door.
- Drawer slide replacement. The drawer can sometimes get stuck, wiggle, or slide off its tracks when pulled out. This may be due to damage and wear in the slides or runners. Remove the drawer from the cabinet, note the slides’ make and model, and purchase a matching replacement.
- Drawer lubrication. Squeaky drawers are not only annoying; they’re also a sign that the runners are worn or rusted, or that something is stuck in the slides. The fix here is to remove the drawer from the cabinet, check the slides for foreign objects and remove them, and lubricate the runners and the drawer itself to quiet the squeaking.
- Drawer box repair. The drawer may begin to deteriorate due to age or frequent use. Regluing will often fix this, but if the bottom is dropping, you may have to reinforce it by screwing small blocks of wood at the bottom end.
- Loose knob repair. Over time, the knob’s mounting screw can wear or loosen, causing the knob to fall off. You can usually repair this by simply tightening the screw from the inside part of the door or drawer. If it does not tighten, the hole is stripped and is no longer tight enough to hold the screw. Fix this by inserting a small wooden dowel with wood glue into the hole, letting it dry, then screw the knob back in the exact location.
- Hole filling. Screws and nails may be taken out during modifications that render them unnecessary, leaving unsightly holes in your cabinet. You can fill these with putty that matches your cabinet’s color, then sand it once it has set. Larger holes will require an appropriately sized wooden dowel glued into the hole, cut flush, sanded, and stained to match the rest of the furniture.
- Scratch touch-ups. Scratches and nicks happen to your cabinet all the time. You can simply conceal them with a wood crayon or stain marker that matches the color of your cabinet.
When to Call a Cabinet Repair Specialist
Now, kitchen cabinets can suffer more than just a few twisted hinges. It may display issues that are too complex for you to handle, requiring a cabinet repair professional. Such scenarios include the following:
Water Damage
Moisture may inadvertently accumulate in your cabinet’s wood frame, thanks in part to Tukwila’s normally humid climate. It can remain undetected for an extended period, causing irreversible damage to the furniture. Repairing water damage may require a professional to replace and repair multiple components of your cabinet. If the water damage has reached the drywall and the subfloor, you might want to get a kitchen remodeling professional involved.
Mold Growth
Mold growth is a product of moisture buildup in your cabinet. They can further introduce moisture to various parts of your furniture, and even invade the adjacent drywall and floor. Completely eradicating mold colonies is a meticulous task that require extensive experience in mold removal and water damage repair.
Complex Mechanical Issues
If there are any issues with your cabinet’s structural integrity or specialized hardware, you need urgent professional intervention. Failing mounting points and damage to complex hardware call for specialized knowledge and may be unsafe to fix on your own.
Does Homeowners’ Insurance Cover Kitchen Cabinets?
Whether your homeowners insurance covers kitchen cabinet repair depends on the cabinet’s construction and the cause of the damage. If the damage is caused by a covered peril such as earthquakes and fires, you may file a claim for the repair. If your cabinet is fixed, some insurance providers may consider it a part of your dwelling and its repair may fall under your policy’s dwelling coverage. In any case, it pays to call your insurance agent to clarify.
Conclusion
Kitchen cabinet repair in Tukwila doesn’t have to be complicated. There are proven fixes for scratches and minor mechanical issues that require minimal time and resources. If all else fails, or if the issue is too complex for you to handle, it pays to give your local cabinet repair company a call.
