Kitchen door and drawer repairs

The short answer

Sagging doors, broken soft-close hinges and collapsed drawer runners are standard parts and a half-day joinery visit. Where the carcasses are sound, replacing hardware, doors or worktops costs a fraction of a new kitchen and presents almost as well — which matters before a sale or a re-let.

What the work involves

Adjusting or replacing hinges, fitting new runners, easing and realigning doors, refixing loose handles and panels, and resealing worktop joints against water.

Rules and responsibilities in Scotland

No certification applies. Any change to gas, water or electrical connections to appliances must be done by the appropriate competent trade.

What commonly goes wrong

Ignoring a swollen worktop joint at the sink, which spreads until the whole run needs replacing.

What it usually costs

Indicative ranges only, to help you judge a quote. They are not an estimate for your property — only the business doing the work can give you that.

• Hinges and runners are inexpensive standard parts.
• Replacement doors on sound carcasses cost far less than a new kitchen.
• A worktop replacement is a separate, larger job.

What to do, in order

1. 1List every door and drawer that is wrong.
2. 2Photograph the hinge and runner types.
3. 3Book one visit for the whole kitchen.
4. 4Reseal the worktop joints while the joiner is there.
5. 5Keep spare hinges for future adjustment.

Local detail for the Lothians

• Rental kitchens across Edinburgh see heavy turnover wear; hardware refresh between tenancies is far cheaper than replacement.
• Out-of-square tenement walls mean end panels often need scribing rather than a straight cut.
• A tidy, working kitchen photographs better than an expensive half-finished one.

When you need a professional

Appliance disconnection and reconnection — particularly gas — must be done by the correct registered trade.

Common questions

Is it worth replacing just the kitchen doors?

If the carcasses are sound and the layout works, yes — it is a fraction of the cost of a new kitchen.

Can a swollen worktop be repaired?

Rarely. Once laminate has swollen the section normally needs replacing, and the joint resealing properly.

Related pages

• Doors that stick or will not close

  Easing, planing and re-hanging internal doors that have dropped or swollen.

• Silicone and sealant renewal

  Replacing failed bath, shower and worktop seals before the water gets into the structure.

• Shelving, storage and flat-pack assembly

  Fitting shelving and wardrobes securely into stone, lath-and-plaster or plasterboard walls.