From time to time, your cabinets may require adjustment to ensure proper alignment and function. If a door or drawer won’t close, or they seem to be “crooked”, adjusting the doors and drawers will fix both. It’s easy for any homeowner to do. Keep a Phillips head and slotted screwdriver available to make these simple adjustments.
Gather Your Tools
The following tools may be needed to adjust your cabinet hinges and drawers:
- Philips-head screwdriver
- Hammer
- Replacement screws
- Levels
- A second set of hands – having someone to help is highly recommend
Identify Your Cabinet Type: Inset vs. Overlay Cabinetry
First, know your cabinet type. Do you have overlay or inset cabinetry?
Overlay cabinetry has doors that “lay over” the top of the cabinet’s face frame.
Inset cabinetry has doors that are “set into” the cabinet’s face frame.
+ Overlay Cabinet Adjustment Instructions
How to Adjust the Overlay Cabinet Drawer Headers
- Adjust the undermount glides. There is a cam at the back of the drawer that can be rotated back and forth (Diagram 1). This will move the back of the drawer up or down, thereby adjusting how flat the drawer front will sit with the face of the cabinet.
- Adjust the screws that hold the drawer front to the drawer box (Diagram 2). These screw holes are oversized to allow vertical and horizontal adjustment. You do not need to remove the drawers to adjust the tracks.
- Two adjustments can be made using the orange/gray colored mechanism under the drawer box (Diagram 3).
- A) Rotating the small light gray wheel moves the drawer header left and right in the drawer opening.
- B) Pushing and pulling the gray tab moves the drawer header up and down in the drawer opening.
How to Adjust Overlay Cabinet Doors
Use the two cam screws on each hinge (Diagram 3). The screws are protected so you will be unable to turn them too far.
- The screw on the outside of the face frame (Screw A) moves that corner of the door left and right bringing the doors straight with each other.
- The screw on the inside of the face frame (Screw B) brings that corner of the door forward and back to keep the door flat to the face of the cabinet.
How to Adjust Cabinet Doors with Optional Soft Close
Cabinetry built before March 7, 2016, may have optional soft close (the door closes itself after you set it in motion). Cabinetry built on and after March 7, 2016, is standard with soft close. Set the tension by sliding the grey lever (Switch C) up and down (Diagram 4). The door will have to cycle through one closing for the new setting to activate.
If you have further questions or concerns, please contact the Fieldstone Cabinetry dealer where you purchased your cabinetry.
+ Inset Cabinet Adjustment Instructions – Cabinets Built After Feb. 2014
How to Adjust Inset Cabinet Drawers
- Adjust the undermount glides. There is a cam at the back of the drawer that can be rotated back and forth (Diagram 1). This will move the back of the drawer up or down, thereby adjusting how flat the drawer front will sit with the face of the cabinet.
- Adjust the screws that hold the drawer front to the drawer box (Diagram 2). These screw holes are oversized to allow vertical and horizontal adjustment. You do not need to remove the drawers to adjust the tracks.
- Two adjustments can be made using the orange/gray colored mechanism under the drawer box (Diagram 3).
- A) Rotating the small light gray wheel moves the drawer header left and right in the drawer opening.
- B) Pushing and pulling the gray tab moves the drawer header up and down in the drawer opening.
How to Adjust Cabinet Doors with Finial Hinges
Square the doors to the door opening using a Phillips screwdriver to adjust the hinges. Diagram 4 shows the four screws you can use to adjust finial hinges.
How to Adjust Cabinet Doors with Concealed Hinges
To adjust concealed hinges, see Diagram 5.
- By turning Screw A you will move the door left and right in the door opening.
- By turning Screw B you will move the door up and down in the door opening.
- By turning Screw C, you will move the door back and forth in the door opening (away from cabinet contents and towards cabinet contents).
- Be aware, the moves will be small.
If you have further questions or concerns, please contact the Fieldstone Cabinetry dealer where you purchased your cabinetry.
+ Inset Cabinet Adjustment Instructions – Cabinets Built Before Feb. 2014
Inset Cabinet Drawer Adjustments (Built Before Feb. 2014)
- Adjust the undermount glides. There is a cam at the back of the drawer that can be rotated back and forth (Diagram 1). This will move the back of the drawer up or down, thereby adjusting how flat the drawer front will sit with the face of the cabinet.
- Adjust the screws that hold the drawer front to the drawer box (Diagram 2). These screw holes are oversized to allow vertical and horizontal adjustment. You do not need to remove the drawers to adjust the tracks.
- A vertical-only adjustment can be made using the sliding tab under the drawer box (Diagram 3). The lever is very sensitive and makes very minute adjustments.
Adjusting Inset Cabinet Doors with Finial Hinges
Square the doors to the door opening using a Phillips screwdriver to adjust the hinges. Diagram 4 shows the four screws you can use to adjust finial hinges.
Ajusting Inset Cabinet Doors with Concealed Hinges
To adjust concealed hinges, see Diagram 5.
- Turn Screw A (the screw closest to the door) to move the door left and right in the door opening.
- Turn Screw B (the screw furthest back in the cabinet) to move the door forwards and back.
- Turn Screw C to move the door up and down.
- Be aware, the moves will be small.
Adjusting Inset Cabinet Doors with Concealed Hinges
If the cabinet doors are equipped with non-integrated “soft close” (the door closes itself after you set it in motion), you will have to remove the soft close mechanism (it has a gray plunger) before you can adjust hinges. Remove it by sliding it toward you. Replace it after adjusting the hinges.
If you have further questions or concerns, please contact the Fieldstone Cabinetry dealer where you purchased your cabinetry.