Older wood cabinets worth saving
Older cabinets were often built in place from solid lumber. We repair them carefully rather than replacing them with something weaker.
Serving Oak Park & nearby Berwyn, Chicago
Kitchen Cabinet & Drawer Repair in Oak Park, IL
Sagging doors, broken drawers and swollen sink bases in Oak Park kitchens, repaired so the cabinets you have keep working.
- Technicians covering Oak Park ZIP 60302, 60304, 60301
- Diagnosis first, then a written price for the repair
- Honest advice when replacing makes more sense
Cabinet and drawer problems we repair in Oak Park
We repair kitchen cabinets and drawers: doors that sag or will not close, slides that grind, drawer boxes coming apart and cabinet floors damaged by water. In Oak Park we usually fix the problem in one visit, with parts brought along or ordered to fit.
Drawer box coming apart
If the drawer bottom has fallen out or the corners have spread, we either repair the box or replace it with a sturdier one behind your existing front.
Drawers that stick or grind
We clean, adjust or replace the slides, and plane the box if it rubs, so the drawer opens smoothly.
Door sagging or hanging crooked
A door that droops or rubs its neighbor usually needs a hinge adjustment or a new hinge. If the screws have pulled out, we repair the wood so they hold again.
Peeling thermofoil or edge banding
Lifting vinyl film or loose edge banding can sometimes be reglued if it is caught early. Badly peeled doors are replaced.
Door won't stay closed
We replace tired self-closing hinges and check the cabinet for level so doors latch properly again.
Loose or cracked face frame
Cracked stiles and rails are glued, reinforced and filled, or replaced with matching wood when the damage is too much.
Water damage at the dishwasher
We rebuild cabinet sides and kick boards damaged by dishwasher leaks so the edges are flat and sealed again.
Where we look first
- Rebuilding the cabinet floorA new plywood floor is cut to fit, supported and sealed in the sink base.
- Repairing hinge mountsStripped holes are plugged or fitted with repair plates so hinges hold.
- Hinges and adjustmentWe set every door we touch so it lines up with its neighbors.
- Drawer box repair or replacementWe repair failing drawer boxes or replace them while keeping your fronts.
- Frames, panels and shelvesWe fix frames, side panels and shelves so the cabinet is solid again.
- Finish touch-upWe color-match touch-ups so the repair is as unnoticeable as possible.
- Testing and cleanupWe open and close every repaired door and drawer, then clean up.
Repair options
Wood fillers, glue and touch-up finishesWood glue, filler and touch-up stains or paint matched to your cabinets.
Plywood cabinet floorsPlywood holds up to moisture far better than the particleboard most sink bases started with.
Hinge repair plates and plugsMetal plates and hardwood plugs give stripped hinge spots a solid mount.
Concealed and soft-close hingesAdjustable hidden hinges, with soft-close where the cabinet allows.
Shelving and shelf supportsStiffer shelf panels and matching supports that will not bow.
Kitchens like yours in Oak Park: before and after
Problem
Fixed
DetailKitchen Cabinet & Drawer Repair in a prewar foursquare, Oak Park
This one is a prewar foursquare near Gunderson Historic District. 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. On site this meant drawer box repair or replacement, finish touch-up, plus testing and cleanup.
Before
AfterElmhurst kitchen, 1990s two-story colonial: kitchen cabinet & drawer repair
This one is a 1990s two-story colonial in Elmhurst. The kitchen as it was: honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs and white cast-iron double sink. What bothered the owners most: 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 repairing hinge mounts, drawer box repair or replacement, plus testing and cleanup.
Kitchen Cabinet & Drawer Repair in Elmhurst →
Before
AfterAn Oak Park brick bungalow from the 1920s: before and after
What changed: wood cabinets stripped and refinished in a natural light oak tone, grain still showing.
Cabinet Refinishing & Staining in Oak Park →
Before
AfterOak Park kitchen, prewar foursquare: cabinet door & drawer front replacement
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 Oak Park →
Before
AfterAn Oak Park brick bungalow from the 1920s: before and after
Soft sage-green inset-style cabinets with unlacquered brass hardware, honed white marble-look quartz counters, a white handmade-look square tile backsplash, restored oak strip floor and schoolhouse pendant lights.
Kitchen Remodeling in Oak Park →How the repair goes
- 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.
- RepairMost repairs are done the same visit; special parts may need a second trip.
- Test and clean upWe check every repaired part with you and leave the kitchen tidy.
Kitchen Cabinet & Drawer Repair questions from Oak Park homeowners
Can you repair cabinets in a condo building?
We do. We follow the building's work hours and protect common areas when we bring tools in.
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.
Do you repair just one cabinet?
We do. A few small repairs can usually be handled in one visit.
Can water-damaged sink base cabinets be repaired?
Often they can. If mold or rot has spread through the box, we will tell you and discuss replacement.
Can you find matching hinges or hardware?
We match what we can and suggest a close replacement when the original is discontinued.
Do Oak Park 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 Oak Park?
It depends on the scope. Oak Park's rule in short: Permits needed for installing new cabinets and countertops and for any extension or alteration of electrical, plumbing or HVAC systems; separate electrical and plumbing permits. We handle the permit when one is needed with Permit & Development Division (Development Services Department).
Do you work in my part of Oak Park?
Yes. Our crews work across Oak Park, including Ridgeland-Oak Park Historic District, Gunderson Historic District, Harrison Street arts district — ZIP 60302, 60304, 60301 — and nearby Berwyn, Chicago, Elmhurst.
Working in Oak Park
- Most Oak Park 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 the Ridgeland/Oak Park Historic District? Interior kitchen work is usually not reviewed. We check before anything touches the exterior.
Ridgeland-Oak Park Historic DistrictGunderson Historic DistrictHarrison Street arts district
ZIP 60302ZIP 60304ZIP 60301
Kitchen Cabinet & Drawer Repair nearby
More for Oak Park homeowners
- All kitchen services in Oak ParkRemodels, cabinets, counters, plumbing, appliances and repairs
- Kitchen Cabinet & Drawer Repair across ChicagolandEvery town we cover for this service
-
CabinetsCabinet Paint Cracking, Chipping and Peeling: Causes and FixesCabinet paint cracking at door joints is usually wood moving with seasonal humidity, not a failed finish. Cabinet paint chipping and peeling almost…3 min read
-
CabinetsKitchen Cabinet Repair: Doors, Drawers, Veneer and Water DamageMost kitchen cabinets can be repaired rather than replaced. Cabinet doors not closing properly usually need a hinge adjustment or a new hinge…3 min read
Other kitchen services in Oak Park
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.