Cabinets are used in our homes such as in kitchens, bathrooms, and living rooms to keep our accessories safe and sound. These cabinets have basic designs like doors, shelves for partitions in cabinets, hinges to attach the door, etc.
Minor mistakes in attaching the cabinets, like loose hinges or improper installation, can have a detrimental impact on both the functionality and aesthetic appeal of your cabinets. If you have seen this then a question may pop up in your mind How to fix a warped cabinet door easily?
This shrinkage and expansion of cabinet doors due to humidity or heat is called warped cabinets door. This warping caused a change in the structure and shape of the cabinets from the neutral one. This bending shape of cabinets makes it problematic for you to open or close the cabinets easily.
Now there arises a question that how to save your cabinets from this and how to fix a warped cabinet door? In this article, we will show you some easy ways to fix a warped cabinet door.
Causes of warped cabinet doors
Before fixing the warped cabinet doors we have to know what is the cause of the warped cabinet door. By knowing the problem you can easily address the issue. Some common causes are as:
Moisture: Excessive moisture is one of the important causes of warped cabinet doors, Cabinets that are close to water sources such as under the sink are mostly likely to absorb moisture and expand. Avoid direct contact of cabinet door with water to avoid the problem.
Improper Installation: Improper installation of cabinets such as loose hinges, or poor alignment can affect the functionality of your cabinets.
Temperature fluctuations: Changes in temperature is also a main cause of warped cabinets door. It mostly happens to cabinets that are near to oven or heat range. The heat from this range causes uneven expansion and contraction that lead to warping.
Excessive Weight or Pressure: If heavy pressure is applied to the cabinet’s door it can also lead to the bending of the cabinet door. So avoid applying heavy pressure and weight on the cabinet door to avoid warping od cabinet door.
Ways to fix warped cabinet doors
Minor warping is the bending and uneven surface of wood due to fluctuation in humidity. Moisture and heat are the best way to regain the shape of the cabinet door by expanding the fibers. Here we will show you how to apply different methods to fix warped cabinet doors:
Method 1: Applying Moisture or Heat
The first step is to inspect the cabinet and measure the area to see how much correction is needed. The measurement can be done with the help of straightedge and level. Place the level on the door and measure the area of warped.
Now remove the door from the cabinet so that you can easily access the area. If you are using heat then set your heat gun at a moderate temperature and move the gun back and forth in a circular motion at a distance of a few inches so that the heat remains moderate and does not damage the wood.
Once the wood is pliable apply gentle pressure on the warping area as long as it straightens. Now you have to place some weight on it may be for 4-5 hours and maybe overnight depending on how long your cabinet door needs to straighten.
Now if your cabinet’s door is straightened you can fix it to your cabinet but if it is not fully settled then you have to apply the same procedure again.
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Method 2: Using Weight or pressure
The other method which can be used is applying weight and pressure. Weight and pressure help you to re-shape your warped door. Firstly access the area which is damaged and warped. Then measure the area by using the level.
Now remove the door for easy access to the warped area. Place your door on a flat surface in such a way that the convex side is upward and the concave side is facing the flat surface. Now apply the wood glue to any loose hinge and side that has occurred due to warped.
Once the glue is dried change the side of your door such that the concave side is upward. Apply gentle pressure on the warped side of the wood then place some weight on it. You can use weights like heavy books, dumbells, and bricks.
Place your door as such with weight for 24 hours and more according to need. Once it is settled carefully fix the door back to your cabinet.
Method 3: Resawing and Planing
If the initial procedures are not helpful for you and your warping is severe then resawing and planning are very beneficial techniques for you. Resawing helps you to remove the affected part and planning helps to plane the surface to make it smooth.
The resawing process is the woodworking technique used to cut the thinner slice of wood along its width. The wood is passed from the specialized machine called a bandsaw. A bandsaw has a continuously looped blade that runs vertically and cuts straight & thin slices.
The operator operates or guides the wood through the bandsaw. By resawing the wood extra part is removed and a straight surface is obtained. These can be used again in your cabinets.
Planing is the technique used to shave off the rough surface from the wood to achieve a smooth and plane surface. In planing the wood is passed from a planner which contains a cutting rotating head with sharp blades.
These blades remove a thin layer and smoothen the wood surface. Now sand the surface if requires and re-paint the door to give an aesthetic look. Once everything is finished install the door to your cabinet and enjoy the new aesthetic look.
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Safety Measures:
There are some safety measures that you should consider for better results. Some of these measures are as follows:
- Avoid excessive heat: When you are applying heat with a heat gun always keep the heat at a moderate level because excessive heat can burn your door.
- Avoid prolonged exposure to liquid: If the wooden door is exposed for a long time to liquid then it can damage the fabric so avoid it.
- Rushing the process: Rushing or hurrying always affects the best performance so always do your job by giving full or required time to it.
- Regularly inspect: Always have a check of your cabinets so that the damage does not become too severe to handle. Regular inspection helps to maintain your cabinet’s functioning and appearance good.
FAQs
How to fix a warped cabinet bottom?
If your cabinet’s bottom is warped then you can fix it by applying heat. Apply heat with a heat gun or iron on the bottom of the cabinet and press the surface flat with a heavy weight until it cools. For the extra warp, you can do it by resawing the wood, the extra part is removed and a straight surface is obtained.
How to straighten a warped wooden door?
Take the door off and soak a clean cloth or sponge with water and place it over the concave side of the warp. Then, apply a heated iron over the cloth/sponge for a few seconds. After that apply some heavy weight to the convex side of the door that will press it to straighten the door.
How to fix warped kitchen cabinets?
If your kitchen cabinets are warped slightly then you can fix them by applying heat with a heat gun or iron. You can also fix it by applying gentle pressure and some weight on the area which is warped. You have to do this i.e. the pressure and applying weight as long as it proves helpful.
How to keep a warped cabinet door closed?
Sometimes the hinges are not adjusted in your cabinet door and create problems to close it properly. You can solve this problem by adjusting the hinges. Loose one of the hinges or screws which is creating problems, You can also use a magnetic hatch inside the cabinet to keep it closed.
Conclusion
Cabinets are very crucial for the maintenance and safety of our belongings but when the cabinets are damaged or warped then the task becomes difficult to keep your belongings safe and sound. So it is essential to solve this problem.
You can solve this problem in various ways i.e. by using heat and moisture, by applying pressure and weight, and by resawing or planing. Heating and moisture make your fabric pliable which is then easily straightened to a normal shape.
In the same way, applying pressure and some weight to the bent side of your wood also helps you to fix the warped cabinet door. While doing all these procedures do not hurry because all these methods take time. These procedures will be helpful for you to solve your problem.
I hope this article will be helpful for you to solve your problem of warped cabinets door.
