Since 1997, HomeTips has guided millions of homeowners with original, expert advice for DIY home improvement and repair. Founder Don Vandervort, a nationally recognized authority, has written more than 30 books and countless magazine articles, been a host on HGTV, and served as MSN's home improvement expert. MORE
Repairs to a cabinet itself depends on whether the damage is structural—say, at a hinge location—or cosmetic, such as on a door face or a visible part of the cabinet box.
Structural repairs are easiest if the wood has cracked or even split away. If it’s a clean break, a little wood glue can make the repair area stronger than the original piece. If the wood is gouged or damaged beyond repair, you can try one of two fixes: 1) Cut a new piece of the same size and wood species, and fasten it with dowels, screws, glue, or whatever means is most effective. This replacement piece is called a “dutchman.” A piece that’s slightly oversized can be sanded down to match the original, and, if the cabinet is stained or painted, you may be able to blend it all together and make the repair nearly invisible.
2) Use an epoxy wood repair kit to fill the damaged area, and then sand and stain or paint to match. This material works amazingly well, and the repair is often as strong as the wood. An added benefit is that the epoxy filler is also waterproof so it can be used where the original wood damage was caused by wet conditions.
If the damage is to an area that’s prominently visible, it may be difficult to do a “seamless” repair. Small nicks and chips can be filled with plastic wood filler. This is sold in colors to match most wood stains, and it’s available in putty consistency or in wax-like sticks. Experiment blending and color matching in an unseen area before attempting a repair on a cabinet face.
Painted Cabinet Touch-Ups
Touch-ups for a chipped or scraped cabinet are most effective if you use the manufacturer’s original paint or stain colors, although your cabinets may have faded over time.If you know the brand, contact a local distributor or cabinet retailer, who usually stock touch-up paints, even for cabinets and colors that are no longer produced.
Spot painting touch-ups are more difficult on cabinets that have become discolored, such as around cooking areas affected by heat and airborne grease and soot. Often the best remedy is to repaint the entire area. Start and end at a cabinet edge, and the slight color change from the original shade will be less noticeable.
