TareaCARPENTRY · LOS ANGELES
Cabinet door adjustment in Los Angeles
Cabinet doors that hang crooked, won't latch, or bang against their neighbors are a common complaint in Los Angeles homes, whether it's original built-ins in a pre-war bungalow, mid-century kitchen cabinetry, or freshly installed units in a new-build apartment. The fix is usually straightforward, but getting doors sitting flush and closing smoothly takes the right tools and a bit of patience.
This job in Los Angeles runs $135 to $200, based on an $83 hourly rate and jobs typically taking 1 to 2 hours. The time on-site depends on how many doors need adjusting and whether the hinges themselves need replacing rather than just realigning.
Common causes
- Hinges have loosened over time from everyday opening and closing, letting the door droop.
- Older homes with wood-frame cabinets can shift slightly as the house settles, throwing off alignment.
- Humidity swings between coastal marine layer mornings and dry Santa Ana wind days cause wood and MDF doors to expand and contract.
- Cheaper hinges on new-build apartment cabinets sometimes lose calibration faster than heavier-duty hardware.
- A door was hung slightly off during a kitchen remodel or IKEA-style cabinet installation and was never fully dialed in.
What a pro does
- Inspects the hinges, cabinet frame, and door to identify whether the issue is hinge wear, frame movement, or door warping.
- Tightens or replaces loose screws and adjusts the hinge cup and mounting plate to correct depth, height, and angle.
- Realigns the door so it sits flush with neighboring doors and the cabinet face, checking gaps on all sides.
- Tests the door swing and latch multiple times, fine-tuning until it closes smoothly without rubbing or bouncing.
- Checks nearby doors on the same run of cabinets so spacing looks even across the whole unit.
Do it yourself, or call a pro?
If you're comfortable with a screwdriver, many cabinet doors can be adjusted yourself since most modern hinges have visible adjustment screws for height, depth, and side-to-side position. It's not a dangerous job, but older hinges, stripped screw holes, or cabinets with structural warping can be harder to get right without stripping the wood further or making the door worse. If a quick screw tightening doesn't solve it, calling a pro avoids trial-and-error damage to the cabinet face.
Questions
How many cabinet doors does this price cover?
The $135-$200 range is based on 1-2 hours of work, which typically covers several doors in one kitchen or bathroom. A pro can give you a better sense once they see how many doors need attention and their condition.
Will the pro bring replacement hinges if mine are broken?
Most pros carry common hinge sizes, but older or specialty cabinets sometimes need a specific part. It's worth mentioning the cabinet age or brand when booking so they can plan ahead.
Can this fix doors that don't close at all?
In most cases yes, since misalignment is the usual reason a door won't latch. If the cabinet frame itself is warped or damaged, that may need a separate repair beyond a standard adjustment.
Prices are estimates for Los Angeles and depend on what the job turns out to involve. Tarea sets the labor price before you hire, so you know it up front.