Hinges are mechanical devices that connect two separate components. When you open your doors, cabinets, or kitchen cupboards, you will notice a rectangular, metal thing on their side. That is a hinge. It allows the angular movement of these pieces of furniture. Therefore, if the hinge is damaged or broken, it will affect the furniture's flexibility and might be troublesome. But don't be bothered because broken hinges are usually an easy fix that even people without mechanical knowledge can accomplish. We'll discuss the steps on how to fix and replace a broken hinge in the following.
Why do Cabinet Hinges Break?
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Before we dive into the steps on how to fix a broken hinge, let us first discuss what makes them break in the first place. We can't prevent the frequent usage of cabinets because it's where we store essentials that we use daily. This increases the chances of cabinet doors breaking away. Below are the factors that might be causing your cabinet doors to sag or shut poorly.
1. Loose Screws
The first thing that might be causing your cabinet doors to droop is loose screws. Frequent opening and closing of cabinet doors or worn-out screw holes can result in this.
So before you decide to replace your hinges fully, consider checking the screws first. They may just need a little tightening.
2. The Cabinet Door is too Heavy
One more reason your doors might be sagging is that your hinges cannot carry their full weight. In this case, you might want to add extra hinges to help support the weight of your cabinet door.
3. Stripped Screw Holes
Stripped screw holes simply mean that the holes are too big or loose to hold the screws. This will leave your cabinet doors unsecured and prone to falling apart.
How to Fix And Replace A Broken Hinge - Step By Step
There are different methods in fixing broken cabinet hinges. The first thing you should consider is determining what's wrong with your hinge to select the way that best suits your dilemma. Below are the most common broken cabinet hinge cases and how to fix them.
1. Loose Cabinet Hinge
This one needs a reasonably easy fix. The primary thing you should do is check the screws for loose holes and tighten them. To do this, get a screwdriver (not the drink!) and simply tighten the screws. Keep adjusting them until the cabinet door opens and closes properly. If one hinge doesn't do the job, the problem might be the heavy cabinet door. Consider attaching additional hinges to support the door's weight.
2. Cabinet Hinge that Won't Close
The reason why your cabinet door isn't closing properly might be its loosened hinge. To fix this, look for the part of the hinge that is attached to the cabinet. Grab yourself a screwdriver and tighten the screws in the left section of the hinge by turning them clockwise.
While adjusting, try opening and closing the cabinet door to check if the screws are tight enough. Tighten them until the cabinet doors open and close securely.
3. Cabinet Door Gaps
If your cabinet doors have a wide gap between them, you can fix it by simply adjusting their hinge. To begin with, search for the widest gap in the cabinet door. Once you find it, look at the hinge where it is connected. There, you will find two screws horizontally aligned. Turn these screws counter clockwise until the gap from the cabinet door is entirely removed.
Steps on How to Replace a Broken Cabinet Hinge
Fixing and replacing a broken cabinet hinge are two different methods. Replacing requires a little more effort, but don't be bothered because we will provide you with a step-by-step guide, which will encourage you to accomplish this task all by yourself.
1. Unscrewing
To start with, you should remove all the screws that attach the hinge to the cabinet door. If your cabinet door has two or more hinges, consider beginning on the bottom hinge until you reach the top hinge.
2. Remove the Cabinet Door
Once you've finished unscrewing the hinges, you can now remove the cabinet door. Observe proper caution while doing so. The final thing on your mind is to damage your cabinet door.
3. Put Markings
You can use a pen, pencil, or tape measure to mark where you will attach the new hinges. Marking will allow the new hinges to hold the door in position. Refrain from putting marks on areas where old hinges have been previously attached, for these areas might already have loose or wide holes.
4. Take Your Old Hinge to the Store
Now that you're done disassembling the cabinet door, it's now time to buy hinge replacements. To ensure that you won't get the wrong type, consider taking your old or broken hinge to the store. Keep in mind to check the hinge measurements if it matches the markings on your cabinet door.
5. Drill Holes
Use a boring hinge drill to create the holes. There are various drill sizes, so choose the one that matches the size of your hinge screws. Remember that the hole size will affect how the hinge will carry the cabinet door, so ensure to use the correct drill size. The hole shouldn't be too small or large, nor too deep or too shallow.
6. Attach the new hinge
After drilling the holes, you can now attach the new hinges. Put the hinges in place and tighten the screws. Try placing the cabinet door in the cabinet to check if it fits right.
7. Attach the cabinet door back
Once you've successfully installed the new hinges, the final step is attaching the cabinet door back. Conduct a final checking of the screws and hinge receivers. If it's all good, place the cabinet door in position and attach the hinges on the cabinet. In contrast to the first step, consider starting the reattaching on the top hinge until you reach the bottom hinge. Make sure to tighten all screws. Test if the cabinet doors were installed correctly by opening and closing it a few times.
Takeaway
In conclusion, we genuinely hope this was able to help you fix your cabinet hinge. Not everyone has someone to do these fixes, and calling for a professional might be unnecessary in cases as simple as a broken cabinet hinge. This is why this article is here to help. Repairing a cabinet hinge does not require complex skills and can be accomplished if you execute the steps above exactly how they should be done.
We hope you enjoyed this article on how to fix and replace a broken hinge. You're probably right now looking to inspect all the cabinet hinges in your home! Before you head off, why not explore our blog section and find out how to paint over existing tiles and how do you organize crafts in a small space.