Kitchen Repair: what a handyman does
Kitchens wear out at the moving parts and the wet joints. A handyman can realign sagging cabinet doors, fix stripped hinge holes, tune sticking drawers, reseal the backsplash joint and install new pulls. Gas, plumbing, wiring and appliance internals go to licensed trades. Cabinet replacement and layout changes are remodel work, not handyman work.
Jobs we take on
Tap one to add it to your list.
- Realign cabinet doors with the hinge adjustment screws
- Repair stripped hinge screw holes with glued wood plugs or longer screws
- Replace worn hinges, or swap standard hinges and slides for soft-close hardware
- Clean, realign or replace sticking drawer slides and loose drawer boxes
- Install knobs and pulls using a template so every hole lines up
- Remove the old joint and reseal where the countertop meets the backsplash
- Recaulk around the sink edge and along the wall
- Patch and touch up paint on walls and trim around the cabinets
- Install open shelves or wall racks into studs
Signs it is time to call
- Cabinet doors that rub, hang crooked or leave uneven gaps
- A hinge that has pulled away from the cabinet frame
- A drawer that sticks, tilts or comes out too far
- Cracked or missing caulk at the backsplash or sink
- A countertop edge near the sink that looks swollen or lifted, which points to water getting in
What is not a handyman job
Gas lines and range hookups, plumbing supply and drains, dishwasher and disposal wiring, and new circuits or outlets go to licensed independent contractors. Water under the sink or a swollen counter means finding the leak first. Cabinet replacement, countertop installation and layout changes are remodel work and out of scope.
Plumbing, electrical and roofing go to licensed independent contractors.
What a visit looks like
- We confirm the scope from your photos before the visit
- We confirm the current rate before work starts
- We protect counters and floors while we work
- We clean up and remove the debris when we finish
Common questions
Why do my cabinet doors sag after a few years?
This Old House names three common causes: screws that work loose with use, stripped hinge holes, and doors too heavy for their hinges. Tightening screws, filling stripped holes with glued wood and adjusting the hinge screws fixes most doors. Heavy doors may need stronger or extra hinges.
What caulk goes where the counter meets the backsplash?
Buildium recommends 100 percent silicone for kitchens, and a paintable type where the caulk meets a painted wall. Cracks there let water into the wall and into pressboard counters, where it can make them swell and warp. The old caulk is removed before the new bead goes on.
Can you add soft-close to my existing cabinets?
Often yes. This Old House notes that cabinets with typical hinges and drawer slides can often take a soft-close swap. Send photos of the hinges and the inside of a drawer so we can confirm the scope first. Unusual or damaged cabinets may need a carpenter.
Can you hook up a dishwasher, range or disposal?
No. Those connections involve plumbing, gas or electrical work, which go to licensed independent contractors. We handle the cabinet, trim, caulk, paint and hardware work around them, and we can do that before or after the appliance is installed.