How to Fix Sagging Cupboards

Kitchen cabinets and cupboards are a major investment, and maintaining them is a priority to most homeowners. So what do you do when the dishes are sliding onto the floor and the doors and drawers won't stay closed? Knowing a little about how cabinets are installed can help. There are only a limited number of things that can cause sagging cupboards, with some creative solutions to a few of the most common causes. The word "cabinet" will be used throughout this article as referring to kitchen cupboards or cabinets.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Drill and screws
• Level
• Bottle jack
• Scrap lumber
• Hammer and finish nails
• Flashlight
• Cedar shims

Troubleshooting Upper Cabinets

1. Start with cabinet face. Has it pulled away from the bulkhead (cabinet side panel)? This is an easy fix. Apply wood glue in the seam between the face and bulkhead. Tap face into place. Add a nail if needed. Check door hinge screws. If they turn freely, longer screws can be substituted. Tighten to prevent a repeat problem. Try adding a screw if there is space for one. Still have a problem? Your cabinet may be pulling away from the wall. Lift up. Does cabinet move upward? If so, empty contents and remove doors and any removable shelves before proceeding.

2. Lift into correct position before attempting to reattach . Find mounting screws. They probably are in studs. Start at top of cabinet. Measure 16 inches to either side of an existing screw and drive a 2-inch drywall screw through cabinet into wall. If this holds, repeat in at least one other place. Check for stability. Tighten all existing screws and replace stripped screws with longer ones. Add one or two screws at the bottom, rehang doors and restock shelves.

3. Cabinet too heavy? Use a bottle jack. Place jack on the lower counter top under the problem cabinet. It probably won't reach to lift upper cabinet. Stack scrap wood for base, place jack and lift cabinet while making repairs.

Troubleshooting Lower Cabinet

4. For lower cabinets, the same steps apply. Check face, then doors, then move on to main cabinet. It may help to unload the cabinet to get a good view of what's going on. Remove drawers, doors and contents. Look at the toe kick (front bottom board), front edge of countertop and the floor. Look for signs of weakness in these areas.

5. To repair a rotten toe kick, measure and cut a piece the same length and width as existing toe kick. Lift up on front edge of cabinet by hand or with jack and slide new toe kick, on edge, into place, tapping it with a hammer as necessary. Once it is against the original, add a screw or two to keep it from tipping and drop cabinet down gradually.

6. For a counter-top face lift, raise low spot a little above level, being careful of tile or laminate. Get inside the cabinet with a flashlight and look up. Cabinets are open boxes with wooden cleats running from side to side in front and back at the top. With the counter top supported, push a cedar shim (wedge) between this cleat and counter top. Tap it tightly into place. Add one or two additional shims to keep it in place.

7. If you have a broken floor board or panel, it may be time to call professional help. Soft floors are an indication of serious problems like settling or water damage. Should you find any dampness or black rot, you have or have had water issues. Take care of moisture to avoid bigger problems.