Cabinet problems
Most cabinet complaints are hardware or finish problems, not structural ones, which means they are cheap to fix and are not a reason to replace a kitchen. The exception is water damage to the boxes - a swollen sink base or soft toe kick means the substrate has failed and that cabinet needs replacing.
Doors that will not sit straight. Nearly always hinge adjustment. Modern European-style hinges adjust in three directions with a screwdriver. This is a fifteen-minute fix, not a symptom of failure.
Drawers that stick or drop. Usually a glide problem - debris in the track, a bent glide, or an overloaded drawer. Glides are replaceable. Match the type and length before buying.
Peeling or bubbling on a smooth white door. That is thermofoil delaminating from its MDF core, typically near a heat source. It cannot be repainted or reliably repaired. Replace the affected doors, and add heat shielding beside the oven.
Hairline cracks at painted door joints. Common on painted solid-wood doors as the wood moves seasonally. It is cosmetic, not structural. Swelling at the base of a sink cabinet is different and serious: particleboard that has absorbed water does not recover. Fix the leak, then replace that box. Do not let anyone use it as the argument for replacing your entire kitchen - check the condition of every other box first.
Choosing cabinets a fix
The judgement calls that decide the bill, before anyone quotes you.
- Try the hinge screws first A huge share of "my cabinets are shot" complaints are a three-screw adjustment.
- Water damage is box damage Swollen particleboard cannot be dried out and restored. That cabinet is done.
- Fix the leak before the cabinet Replacing a sink base under an active leak just buys you the same problem again.
- Do not accept a whole-kitchen diagnosis from one bad cabinet Ask the contractor to inspect and report on every box individually.
- Know what thermofoil cannot do It cannot be repainted or patched. Peeling means door replacement.
- Match glides exactly Side-mount, undermount, length and weight rating all have to match or the drawer will not run right.
All cabinets problems
Damaged Cabinet Doors
Outdated Cabinet Style
Insufficient Cabinet Storage
Worn Cabinet Finish
Broken Cabinet Hardware
Sagging Cabinet Shelves
Mismatched Cabinet Heights
Cabinet Water Damage
Hard to Clean Cabinets
Resale Dated Cabinets
Where these figures come from
Sources last checked
- KCMA - A161.1 Quality Cabinet Certification · retrieved 2026-07-25
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