How To Fix Cabinet Door Panel: DIY Solutions For DIY Nerds

Since you are here that means your cabinet door panels are damaged. I can help you with that!

Just so you know, this was a glimpse of the entire process. For all the detailed parts, I’ll be sharing with you some secret tips that I follow to fix all my clients’ cabinets.

You can look forward to it! So, shall we start? 

Overview of the project-

The Common Issues With Cabinet Door Panels That May Require Fixing

To be honest with you, I am not going to start with the fixes. You may ask, why not? It’s because you might learn the issues and their causes first to understand the matter.

Sounds confusing? Don’t worry. You will find out along the way. For now, let’s talk about the common issues and why they require fixing;

Common Issues	Why Require Fixing
Warping	This causes the cabinet door panels to expand. So, the door no longer fits properly or closes smoothly.
Cracking	It can completely ruin the structural integrity and appearance of the cabinet doors.
Sticking	This is when the cabinet door panels get stuck and it causes difficulty to open and close the cabinet doors.
Loose Hinges	This causes the cabinet doors to sag and not close properly.
Discoloration	This affects the overall appearance of the kitchen cabinets.
Peeling Finish	This makes the doors look worn and unattractive.

Have you noticed any of these issues in your kitchen cabinets, cabinet doors, or cabinet door panels before? And you happen to ignore them thinking they are nothing?

This is what I am talking about. These issues are so common that we mostly ignore them thinking they are nothing.

But the actual problem starts when they get severe and cause serious issues to the kitchen cabinets.

The Causes Of Damaged Cabinet Door Panel

Though we are done talking about the common issues, there’s one more thing I want you to learn before we start discussing the fixes.

If you understand the importance of being aware of common issues, what do you think is the next thing you should be careful of?

It is the causes that create those issues. So, let’s explore them;

Moisture Exposure

If your kitchen cabinets are placed near water or heat sources, there’s a high chance of your cabinets getting damaged. This is especially true for the cabinet door panels.

Let me explain how. When wooden cabinets get in contact for a prolonged time, the water gets under the wood surface and gets trapped in there. It leads to warping and swelling.

Again, when they are near heat sources, the heat causes the humidity level to go up. It causes the natural moisture content in the wood to also get up. 

Temperature Changes

If the temperature around your kitchen cabinets fluctuates frequently, it causes wood movement.

By wood movement, I mean the cabinet box, and the cabinet door panels in the paneled cabinets to expand and contract.

When the temperature gets humid, the cabinet doors expand. It causes warping and swelling.

When the temperature gets dry and cold, the cabinet doors extract. It causes cracking and peeling finish.

Wear and Tear

Regular use of wooden cabinets leads to wear and tear on all of the components, including the cabinet doors, door panels, hinges, and screws.

These wear and tear get severe to the point that they end up affecting the structural integrity of the kitchen cabinets.

Aging

The more the cabinets age, the more they become prone to damage such as cracking, discoloration, and peeling finish.

It is inevitable for any wooden cabinet as it is a natural result of the aging process.

Poor Installation

Unfortunately, getting damaged due to poor installation is quite common for wooden cabinets. 

However, it also causes the other components of the cabinets to get damaged, resulting in abused cabinet doors.

Accidental Impacts

If your kitchen cabinets got scratches, or dents while moving or installing them, this is what I meant by accidental impacts.

Though these are accidents, these accidental impacts can seriously damage the cabinets.

You see? How these normal things can cause such great troubles? I highly suggest you get familiar with all of these causes.

It will help you to identify them yourself. You will be able to take preventive measures to stop them from ruining your kitchen cabinets or kitchen cabinet doors.

How To Fix Cabinet Door Panel?

You have reached the part you’ve been waiting for so long. I know I’ve already talked a lot. So, I will skip to fixing the cabinet door panel part. Enjoy!

Clean The Cabinets

Here comes the first tip. Whenever you are working on any wooden cabinet, try cleaning it before you start fixing it.

It will remove all the dust, debris, and grease and give you a clean surface to work on.

You can use a mild wood cleaner or mineral spirits to clean the kitchen cabinets. However, do not use any harsh scrub. Use a piece of soft cloth instead.

Remove The Cabinet Doors

Use a head screwdriver to unscrew the screws on the door hinges and remove the cabinet doors.

If you are concerned about how to fix cabinet door panel from inside, removing the cabinet doors will help you to work on it easily.

Fix The Damages

If the broken part is repairable, apply wood glue and use clamps to reattach the broken pieces. Wipe away any excess glue with a damp cloth. Allow the repair to dry completely. 

For a basic cabinet design, insert some wooden dowels or metal braces on the frame joints to reinforce the repair with additional support.

If you are also looking for how to fix a broken cabinet frame, you don’t look for it anymore. The fun fact is that both processes are the same.

Use a utility knife to remove any dust or debris from the crack. It will also help to somewhat even the crack.

Now, gently open the crack using a tweezer and apply some wood glue to the crack. You can use an injector for better application. 

I suggest letting the crack cure until the wood glue completely dries.

You will be able to fix split wood cabinet doors with these steps too.

Apply a wood filler with a putty knife. Press it firmly into the hole and make sure that the hole is filled. 

Smooth it out to match the surrounding surface. Let it have enough time to cure and dry before going to the next step.

You can also try these steps if you are concerned about how to fix cabinet side panel or how to repair screw holes in kitchen cabinets.

Make some hinge adjustments. Loosen the screws on the hinges and adjust the position of the hinges to align the door properly. Tighten the screws on the hinges.

If the misalignment is due to uneven surfaces, you can use shims to adjust the position of the hinges and align the door.

Also, check if there is any warping. Fix them if found.

Actually, you need to remove the peeling laminate from the cabinet surface carefully. Then with the help of a putty knife, gently lift and remove the peeling laminate.

Guess what next? It is simple: apply contact cement to both the cabinet surface and the back of the laminate.

Now, gently press the laminate back onto the cabinet surface and make sure that it is in the right place. With the help of a roller get rid of any air bubbles.

Wondering how to replace kitchen cabinet door panel with glass?

Actually, to replace the kitchen cabinet door panel with glass, you need to remove the existing panel and then prepare the frame, install the glass, and reattach the door. That’s it! This is how to replace cabinet door panel with glass.

Final Touches

To add the final touches to your custom cabinet doors, sand all the repaired areas to smooth out any unevenness.

Fix the paint chips on the cabinet doors and refinish them with wood stain or paint to match the original finish.

If you want to fix sticky painted cabinet doors, use a chemical stripper before you sand the cabinet doors.

Reattach The Doors

After the repairs are complete and you are also done adding the final touches, reattach the door to the cabinet frame using the hinges and screws.

Replace The Door Panel If Needed

In some cases, if the damage is serious and beyond repair, you may need to replace the panel or make one. Don’t know how to make panel cabinet doors?

You can make the panel and even style cabinet doors. Actually, for that, you need to cut the wood panel in size, assemble the frame, and attach the panels. No, you don’t need to do anything else. These are all, and here you are done.

Want to turn your old kitchen cabinets into brand-new cabinets? You can! Follow along with the mentioned steps and tips. Hopefully, you will get a great outcome.

The Tools And Materials Needed To Fix A Cabinet Door Panel

As you can see, I have made a list of all the tools and materials you will need for the entire fixing process.

If you ask why I made this list? The answer is to help you understand why you need them. It will help you to choose the tools you need yourself.

Tools & Materials	Why Needed?
Mild Wood Cleaner/ Mineral Spirits	To clean the kitchen cabinets before the repair.
Soft Cloth	To clean the cabinets.
Head Screwdriver	To unscrew the screws on the door hinges.
Wood Glue	To attach the broken parts.
Clamps	To help the broken parts bond better.
Damp Cloth	To wipe away the excess glue.
Wooden Dowels/ Metal braces	To reinforce the glued joints with additional support.
Utility Knife	To clean the crack in the cabinet door panel.
Tweezer	To open the crack.
Injector	To evenly spread the wood glue inside the crack.
Wood Filler	To fill the holes and dents.
Putty Knife	To apply the wood filler.
Shims	To adjust the position of the hinges and align the door.
Contact Cement	To set peeling laminate on the cabinet surface.
Roller	To get rid of any air bubbles in the repair.
Grit Sandpaper	To sand and smoothen the repair.
Wood Stain/ Paint	To match the original finish.

I recommend going to your local hardware store before you start working. Buy all the tools and materials at once. It will save you a lot of time.

The Ways To Address Issues With Cabinet Door Hinges That Affect The Panel

Do you think your cabinet door hinges are the things that are affecting your cabinet door panels? Don’t know how to fix them?

It’s completely fine. There are four ways to fix any issues with your cabinet door hinges.

Tighten Hinges

You should use a Philip head screwdriver to tighten the screws on the loose hinges. You may wonder, how can it fix cabinet door hinges?

It is because tightening the loose hinges will make the hinges stable. So, any misalignment or sagging will be fixed. 

Hinge Adjustments

Do you find it difficult to open or close your cabinet doors? The reason is the hinges. Adjust them and your cabinet doors will be fixed.

If you don’t know how to do that;

• Loosen the screws on the hinges.
• Adjust the position of the door.
• Tighten the screws you had loosen.

You can even follow these 3 steps to fix all the twisted cabinet doors.

Lubricate Hinges 

Apply a small amount of lubricant to ensure smooth movement.

Replacement

If the hinges are worn out or damaged, replace them with new hinges. 

If you face any problem with the door panel hinges in the future, you will be able to use any of these solutions.

You can also try these things to fix cabinet doors that overlap.

What Should I Do If the Cabinet Door Panel Has Scratches Or Dents?

I discussed how to fix holes in the cabinet door panel. Now, you may ask, what about deep scratches and dents? Here’s how;

• Use wood filler to fill in deep scratches or dents in the cabinet door panel.
  • Apply the wood filler with a putty knife.
  • Smooth it out to match the surrounding surface.
  • Let the filler completely dry before moving to the next step.
• Use fine-grit sandpaper to sand the repairs until they are level with the rest of the cabinet door panel.
• Apply wood stain or paint to match the rest of the paneled cabinet.

If you follow these steps properly, you will not only fix the deep scratches or dents but also the overall appearance of the cabinet door panel.

What Causes A Door To Stick?

Do you know what are things that cause a door to stick? Let’s find out;

• A misaligned door is not properly aligned with the door frame. This can cause the door to rub against the cabinet frame, ultimately causing it to stick.
• High humidity can cause the moisture to get trapped inside the wood surface. This causes the wood to swell. Swelling causes it to expand and get wider, which leads to sticking.
• The cabinet body, doors, and door panels get warped. It is due to exposure to moisture or changes in temperature. Warped cabinet doors no longer fit properly, resulting in sticking.
• When the hinges get loose or damaged, they stop providing support to the cabinet doors. This leads the doors to misalign and stick. It is common for soft-close hinges.
• Debris, dust, or grease buildup on the panel edges of the cabinet doors can cause the doors to stick.

Now, if I ask you what are the things to avoid to prevent a door from sticking, will you be able to answer it? I am sure you can. 

How Do You Fix A Sticking Cabinet Door?

If you have a cabinet door that is sticking, here’s how to fix it;

• Find out where the door is sticking. You can do this by opening and closing the door a few times.
• Unscrew the hinges to remove the door from the cabinet frame. This will make it easier to work on the door.
• Use fine-grit sandpaper to sand the areas of the door that are sticking. 
• Check if there is any swelling or warping. If yes, fix them before doing anything else.
• If misalignment is the cause of the sticking, adjust the position of the hinges and door to get proper alignment.
• Apply a small amount of lubricant to the hinges. This will reduce friction and ensure smooth movement of the door.
• After the sticking issue is fixed, reattach the door to the cabinet frame using the hinges and screws.
• Test the door to ensure that it opens and closes smoothly. Make any necessary adjustments to the hinges as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

Final Thoughts

Now you know how to fix cabinet door panel. How do you feel? Are you feeling overwhelmed because of how long it is?

Don’t be scared. The process looks so long because I tried to include all the possible solutions.

Before you start working, identify the problems with your cabinet door panels. Then, choose the method I mentioned for that problem. It shouldn’t take more than a few hours.

So, take a deep breath and start working.

All the best!
If you are interested in learning more about restoring a Cabinet, stay with- Restore Journey.