Older wood cabinets worth saving
Solid wood cabinets in older Evanston homes are usually worth repairing. We reglue joints, rebuild worn runners and fit modern slides where it makes sense.
Serving Evanston & nearby Skokie, Glenview
Kitchen Cabinet & Drawer Repair in Evanston, IL
Sagging doors, broken drawers and swollen sink bases in Evanston kitchens, repaired so the cabinets you have keep working.
- Repairs across Evanston ZIP 60201, 60202, 60208
- We find the cause, not just the symptom
- Parts and labor quoted before work starts
Cabinet and drawer problems we repair in Evanston
Most broken cabinets in Evanston kitchens do not need replacing. A stripped hinge, a drawer that drops off its slide or a sink base swollen from a slow leak can be repaired, and we do those repairs with parts that match what you have.
Loose or cracked face frame
Face frames can separate from the box or crack at a joint. We reglue, clamp and fasten them so the frame is tight again.
Drawers that stick or grind
A grinding drawer usually means the rollers or ball bearings are worn out. Replacement slides make it glide again.
Broken shelf pins and clips
Missing or broken shelf supports leave shelves wobbling or tilted. We replace them with the right size for your cabinets.
Door sagging or hanging crooked
Crooked doors are often fixed with a few turns of the hinge screws. When the hinge itself is bent or worn, we replace it with a matching one.
Swollen sink base floor
A slow leak under the sink turns a particleboard cabinet floor soft and puffy. We cut out the damaged bottom and install a new plywood floor.
Peeling thermofoil or edge banding
We reattach small areas of loose banding and tell you honestly when a thermofoil door is past repair.
Stripped hinge screw holes
Hinges that keep pulling loose need a stronger mount, not longer screws. We rebuild the spot and rehang the door.
What we check and fix
- DiagnosisEvery repair starts with finding the cause, whether it is a part, a leak or a shifted cabinet.
- Checking for active leaksWater damage repairs wait until the leak is stopped; we check the area with you first.
- Removing damaged partsWe take out only what is damaged and keep the sound parts.
- Rebuilding the cabinet floorWe install a moisture-resistant bottom in water-damaged cabinets.
- Repairing hinge mountsWe rebuild worn hinge locations so doors stay adjusted.
- Drawer slidesWe fit new slides sized to the drawer depth and weight.
- Drawer box repair or replacementWe repair failing drawer boxes or replace them while keeping your fronts.
Parts we replace
Wood fillers, glue and touch-up finishesRepair materials and finish markers blended to the color you have.
Shelving and shelf supportsThicker shelves and metal pins in the right size for your cabinets.
Mat for the sink baseA waterproof liner on the new floor helps catch drips in the future.
Hinge repair plates and plugsMetal plates and hardwood plugs give stripped hinge spots a solid mount.
Full-extension slidesSmooth slides rated for pots and dishes, with soft-close options.
Kitchens like yours in Evanston: before and after
Problem
Fixed
DetailAn Evanston 1920s bungalow: before and after
A 1920s bungalow in Evanston, a typical kitchen for Evanston. The kitchen as it was: dark stained 1970s oak cabinets with heavy frames and white porcelain sink. The main complaint was a door hanging crooked and a soft cabinet floor. The result: the same sink base with a new plywood floor, new soft-close hinges, door aligned. Work included checking for active leaks, rebuilding the cabinet floor, plus drawer slides.
Before
AfterA Skokie 1980s two-story: before and after
The site: a 1980s two-story in Skokie. Before: honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs and white cast-iron double sink. The main complaint was a door hanging crooked and a soft cabinet floor. The result: the same sink base with a new plywood floor, new soft-close hinges, door aligned. The job covered removing damaged parts, rebuilding the cabinet floor, plus drawer slides.
Kitchen Cabinet & Drawer Repair in Skokie →
Before
AfterKitchen Cabinet & Drawer Repair in a two-story colonial from the 1990s, Northbrook
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s near Techny. The kitchen as it was: golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above and solid-surface integrated sink. The reason for the call: broken cabinets they wanted fixed, not replaced. The result: the same sink base with a new plywood floor, new soft-close hinges, door aligned. The job covered diagnosis, rebuilding the cabinet floor, plus repairing hinge mounts.
Kitchen Cabinet & Drawer Repair in Northbrook →
Before
AfterEvanston kitchen, brick bungalow from the 1920s: cabinet refinishing & staining
Finished: wood cabinets stripped and refinished in a natural light oak tone, grain still showing.
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining in Evanston →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a 1920s bungalow in Evanston
What changed: new flat slab doors with a thin edge and drawer fronts in creamy white uppers and navy lowers with brushed nickel bar pulls.
Cabinet Door & Drawer Front Replacement in Evanston →The repair visit
- Tell us what's brokenA short description and a couple of photos help us plan the visit.
- Visit and diagnosisWe inspect the cabinet and explain what failed and how we will fix it.
- RepairWe fix what we can right away and return if a part has to be ordered.
- Test and clean upDoors and drawers are tested, adjusted and the area is cleaned.
Kitchen Cabinet & Drawer Repair questions from Evanston homeowners
Can you repair cabinets in a condo building?
Yes. Most repairs are quiet and quick, which suits building rules on hours and noise.
Can a cracked cabinet door be repaired?
If the break is clean, yes. Shattered or warped doors are better replaced with a matching new one.
Can damaged kitchen cabinets be repaired?
Usually, yes. Hinges, slides, drawer boxes, frames and water-damaged floors can all be fixed without replacing the cabinet.
What affects the cost of cabinet repair?
Labor time and parts drive the price. After we look, you get a written estimate with each repair listed.
Is it cheaper to refinish or replace cabinets?
Refinishing or painting sound cabinets is usually far less expensive than replacement. Repairs first, finish second.
Do Evanston condo associations need to approve cabinet repair?
Associations usually set rules for work hours, elevators, deliveries and insurance, and many require approval for plumbing, electrical or structural changes. We provide the certificate of insurance and follow the building's rules.
Do I need a permit for cabinet repair in Evanston?
It depends on the scope. Evanston's rule in short: Residential permit applications go through the Citizen Portal; City worksheets signed by the contractors are required for any electrical, plumbing or HVAC work. We handle the permit when one is needed with Community Development Department, Building & Development Services (Building & Inspection Services).
Do you work in my part of Evanston?
Yes. Our crews work across Evanston — ZIP 60201, 60202, 60208 — and nearby Skokie, Glenview, Park Ridge.
Working in Evanston
- Most Evanston homes are prewar. We work around plaster walls, radiators and out-of-square rooms every week.
- Condo or townhome? We follow association rules on work hours and elevators and bring the insurance certificate your board asks for.
- Live in a historic district? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
ZIP 60201ZIP 60202ZIP 60208
Kitchen Cabinet & Drawer Repair nearby
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Other kitchen services in Evanston
Kitchen Cabinet ModificationCabinets resized for new appliances, panels and fillers.
Cabinet Refinishing & StainingRe-stained wood cabinets with the grain still showing.
Cabinet Door & Drawer Front ReplacementReplacement doors and drawer fronts in any style.
Kitchen RemodelingFull kitchen remodels, from layout to last cabinet pull.
Kitchen Cabinet PaintingFactory-smooth painted cabinets without replacing them.