Home Improvement and DIY
Find the cause before tightening, patching or adjusting a hinge.
A cabinet door that drops at one corner may need a small repair, not a new hinge. Open it and support its weight before checking screws, alignment and surrounding material.
A proud screw head may simply be loose; a screw that spins or comes out easily points to a stripped hole. Check for a crooked door, cracked hinge or damaged cabinet material too.
Use a screwdriver that fits the screw, plus a flashlight and level or straightedge to inspect the door. Support it with a block, folded towel or helper while you work.
Keep the driver straight and turn the screw in small increments until the hinge sits firmly. Stop if the plate still moves or the screw will not advance; extra force can strip the hole.
For a slightly enlarged hole in solid wood, glue in snug toothpicks or a thin wood sliver, let it cure, trim it flush and make a pilot hole before reinstalling the screw.
A worn hole in sound solid wood may need a fitted hardwood dowel, glue and a new pilot hole. Particleboard, MDF or damaged material needs a repair suited to its condition.
Adjust only after confirming the hinge and mounting plate are secure. Make small side-to-side, depth or height changes, then close the door and check its gaps before adjusting again.
A bent or cracked hinge, broken plate, split panel or swollen, crumbling cabinet material needs more than tightening. Repair or replace the damaged part or substrate before using the door.
Choose screws with the right diameter and length for the hinge and panel, and drill suitable pilot holes when needed. A longer screw can break through a thin panel or hit something behind it.
Tighten a backed-out screw if its hole is sound; restore a stripped wood hole, adjust secure but crooked hardware, and repair damaged parts. Support the door before starting any fix.
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