How do you fix a sagging cabinet door?

Most sagging cabinet doors can be fixed in a few minutes by tightening the hinge screws or turning the small adjustment screws on the hinge. If the screws won't grip, the holes are stripped and need to be filled first.

Open the door and look at the hinges. Many newer cabinets use hidden, cup-style hinges with built-in adjustment screws. Older cabinets often have simple hinges on the outside that don't adjust.

First, tighten. Use a hand screwdriver instead of a drill so you don't strip the holes. Snug the screws that hold the hinge to the cabinet box and to the door.

Next, adjust. On hidden hinges, one screw usually moves the door side to side and another moves it in and out. Some hinges have a third screw for up and down. Turn a quarter turn at a time, then close the door and check the gap.

If a screw just spins, fix the stripped hole. Pack it with wooden toothpicks or a golf tee dipped in wood glue. Let it dry, trim it flush, and drive the screw back in. A slightly longer screw can also work, as long as it won't poke through the front of the door.

If a hinge is bent or cracked, replace it with the same style and size. Bring the old one to the store so you can match it.

Cabinet doors often shift in humid summers. Fortress tightens cabinet hinges and hardware on its Winter Inside List visit and adjusts sticking cabinets each summer.