Home & Garden Improvements

The hinges on kitchen units have a tendency to come loose over time, as the doors are constantly opened and closed and after a while this may cause unsightly misalignments as well as interfere with their proper functioning.  Fortunately it is a simple matter to put things right and all you need is a screwdriver or rather two screwdrivers, because the screws in the hinge mechanisms used on cupboard doors are often slightly different.

The first step is to open the door fully and inspect the hinges.  There are two parts to the typical hinge; the section attached to the door itself and the section on the carcass.  The part on the door is attached by one large screw, which fixes it to the mounting plate on the carcass.  This screw not only keeps it in place, but also enables you to make fine adjustments to the alignment of the door.  Tightening and loosening it, you will see that the door moves slightly up or down, respectively and this also affects the way in which it moves inwards and outwards.

There is also a small screw, which is usually of the Philips variety, for which you will need the appropriate screwdriver.  When you make adjustments to this screw it will affect the lining up of the cupboard door.  You will have to experiment a little with both screws to make adjustments and ensure the door lines up and opens and closes properly.  Turning either screw just a fraction will often be enough to resolve the problem.