Home Page link

How to replace shelves in kitchen cabinets.

Home| Search | About
Login Password
Register Now! Lost Password?

Home Repair - - If it ain't broken, don't fix it. Otherwise look here. 

Page 1 of 2       1 2 > last >> Bookmark this page:  YahooMyWeb Yahoo!  Google Google  Windows Live Favorites Windows Live  del.icio.us del.icio.us  digg digg  Add to Netscape Netscape
Subject Author Date
How to replace shelves in kitchen cabinets. alex 09-03-2007
If you were  Registered and logged in, you could reply and use other advanced thread options
Posted by alex on September 3, 2007, 1:03 pm
Hi,

In my house the kitchen cabinets are fine but the shelves are sagging.
I can't see how the shelves were installed into the cabinets as they
are too large to fit through the doors.

All I can think is that the shelves were added before the backs of the
cabinets were screwed on.

Has anyone faced this problem before and have a suggestion on how I
can replace the shelves on these kitchen cabinets?

Thanks

Alex


Posted by Steve on September 3, 2007, 1:24 pm

> In my house the kitchen cabinets are fine but the shelves are
> sagging. I can't see how the shelves were installed into the cabinets
> as they are too large to fit through the doors.
>
> All I can think is that the shelves were added before the backs of
> the cabinets were screwed on.
>
> Has anyone faced this problem before and have a suggestion on how I
> can replace the shelves on these kitchen cabinets?

The shelves are likely mounted in dados (grooves) in the side panels,
probably with both glue and staples. Further glue and staples attach
the shelves to the back and front. They're most likely made from
particle board.

You'll have a tough time getting the old shelves out without damaging
the cabinets. First, you'll have to take them off the wall -- a two-man
job at least. Then, you'll have to remove the back and try to get the
shelves to come out. If they're well-fastened, you may have to break
them to get them out. Then you have to clean out the dados, cut new
shelves to fit, and mount them with more glue and fasteners.
All-in-all, you'll wish you had just bought new cabinets.

I recommend you put supports under the existing shelves. Cut some 1x2
poplar to fit across the width of the shelf, then nail it
narrow-side-up at the front, back, and middle (if needed) of the shelf.

You can also check with a local cabinet shop about having new carcasses
made to which you can apply your existing face frames and doors.

--
Steve B.
New Life Home Improvement

Posted by Joe on September 3, 2007, 2:56 pm
>
> > In my house the kitchen cabinets are fine but the shelves are
> > sagging. I can't see how the shelves were installed into the cabinets
> > as they are too large to fit through the doors.
>
> > All I can think is that the shelves were added before the backs of
> > the cabinets were screwed on.
>
> > Has anyone faced this problem before and have a suggestion on how I
> > can replace the shelves on these kitchen cabinets?
>
> The shelves are likely mounted in dados (grooves) in the side panels,
> probably with both glue and staples. Further glue and staples attach
> the shelves to the back and front. They're most likely made from
> particle board.
>
> You'll have a tough time getting the old shelves out without damaging
> the cabinets. First, you'll have to take them off the wall -- a two-man
> job at least. Then, you'll have to remove the back and try to get the
> shelves to come out. If they're well-fastened, you may have to break
> them to get them out. Then you have to clean out the dados, cut new
> shelves to fit, and mount them with more glue and fasteners.
> All-in-all, you'll wish you had just bought new cabinets.
>
> I recommend you put supports under the existing shelves. Cut some 1x2
> poplar to fit across the width of the shelf, then nail it
> narrow-side-up at the front, back, and middle (if needed) of the shelf.
>
> You can also check with a local cabinet shop about having new carcasses
> made to which you can apply your existing face frames and doors.
>
> --
> Steve B.
> New Life Home Improvement

Good advice indeed, but cabinet removal is easily a one man job if you
get a HelpingHand (or whatever it's called) support from Amazon.com.
It will hold the cabinets for installation, too...definitely a
remodelers tool. I've found that backings can usually be popped off
since few manufacturers bother with glue, just staples. Same way with
shelves if you're lucky. HTH

Joe


Posted by aemeijers on September 3, 2007, 4:27 pm

> Hi,
>
> In my house the kitchen cabinets are fine but the shelves are sagging.
> I can't see how the shelves were installed into the cabinets as they
> are too large to fit through the doors.
>
> All I can think is that the shelves were added before the backs of the
> cabinets were screwed on.
>
> Has anyone faced this problem before and have a suggestion on how I
> can replace the shelves on these kitchen cabinets?
>
More likely, the shelves went in before the front frames went on. What is
the body of the cabinet made of, and how old are they? If these are typical
modern chipboard crap (printed woodgrain over particle board), the shelves
probably can't be replaced in any practical manner, since the whole thing is
basically glued together. You could try screwing cleats to the sides, and
piecing in the shelves using strips of suitable wood maybe 8" wide.

I'd only sink money and time into an attempted repair if the boxes
themselves were real wood in good condition. Otherwise, I'd cut some pieces
of dowel rod to jam-fit in there to prop up the sags, and start saving up
for new cabinets.

aem sends...



Posted by alex on September 3, 2007, 6:47 pm
Hi,

thanks for all the info but I should have been more exact. The shelves
are free and mounted on shelf pins. You know the shelf support type
that fit into a little hole.

So I could cut the shelves and get them out but I can't see how to get
new shelves in there because of their length. That's the problem.

Do cabinet makers generally put shelves in before the back in screwed
in?

Thanks

Alex

>
>
> > In my house the kitchen cabinets are fine but the shelves are sagging.
> > I can't see how the shelves were installed into the cabinets as they
> > are too large to fit through the doors.
>
> > All I can think is that the shelves were added before the backs of the
> > cabinets were screwed on.
>
> > Has anyone faced this problem before and have a suggestion on how I
> > can replace the shelves on these kitchen cabinets?
>
> More likely, the shelves went in before the front frames went on. What is
> the body of the cabinet made of, and how old are they? If these are typical
> modern chipboard crap (printed woodgrain over particle board), the shelves
> probably can't be replaced in any practical manner, since the whole thing is
> basically glued together. You could try screwing cleats to the sides, and
> piecing in the shelves using strips of suitable wood maybe 8" wide.
>
> I'd only sink money and time into an attempted repair if the boxes
> themselves were real wood in good condition. Otherwise, I'd cut some pieces
> of dowel rod to jam-fit in there to prop up the sags, and start saving up
> for new cabinets.
>
> aem sends...



Page 1 of 2       1 2 > last >>
Similar ThreadsPosted
Repair Or Replace Kitchen Cabinets? February 9, 2005, 1:17 pm
Kitchen cabinets - replace or 'resurface'? July 17, 2005, 9:09 pm
Remove Corian countertop to replace kitchen cabinets January 13, 2007, 10:23 pm
Re: Home Repair - Kitchen Cabinets And Kitchen Renovations May 11, 2008, 9:28 pm
kitchen cabinets..what to get January 21, 2006, 4:38 pm
metal kitchen cabinets February 10, 2005, 6:11 am
Kitchen Cabinets - Thermofoil? February 14, 2005, 12:58 am
Scratched in oak kitchen cabinets December 7, 2005, 11:11 am
Painting kitchen cabinets June 18, 2005, 7:28 pm
Thomasville Kitchen Cabinets February 26, 2006, 7:55 pm

Contact Us | Privacy Policy

XML SitemapXML Sitemap