Drawer front realignment in Exeter
Professional drawer front realignment services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
10-20 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Drawer fronts realigned so they close flush and sit straight. Kitchen drawers, bedroom furniture, bathroom vanities - anything wonky sorted properly.
That One Drawer That Looks Wrong
You open your kitchen and there's that drawer. It's visibly crooked. Sits at an angle. Doesn't close flush with the others. Every time you look at it, you notice.
The fixing is simple - tighten some screws, realign, done. But you haven't got round to it. It's been wonky for 6 months.
💡 Pro tip: Wonky drawer fronts aren't just annoying to look at - they damage the cabinet. The uneven stress wears runners, enlarges screw holes, and can crack chipboard. Fix them before they get worse.
Common Drawer Front Problems
| Issue | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Sits crooked | Screws loosened unevenly | Loosen all, realign, tighten evenly |
| Won't close flush | Front shifted sideways | Adjust horizontal position |
| Catches on frame | Height wrong | Adjust vertical position |
| Rattles when closed | All screws loose | Tighten all fixings |
| Completely detached | Screw holes failed | Plug holes, redrill, reattach |
What You Get
🔧 Professional Realignment
- Drawer front removed (if needed)
- Screw holes checked (plug if worn)
- Front repositioned perfectly level
- Screws tightened properly
- Gaps even all around
📦 While I'm There
- All drawers in kitchen checked
- Any other wonky fronts realigned
- Handles tightened if loose
- Runners lubricated if stiff
✅ Straight Drawers
- Close flush with others
- Level and aligned
- No catching or rubbing
- Professional appearance
Adjustable vs Fixed Drawer Fronts
Adjustable (most modern cabinets):
- Screws go through slots, not fixed holes
- Can slide front up/down, left/right
- Easy realignment, infinite adjustment
- Common on IKEA, Howdens, DIY kitchens
Fixed (some older furniture):
- Screws through fixed holes in exact positions
- No adjustment slots
- If wonky, might need new holes
- Common on older solid wood furniture
Pricing
| Job | Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Single drawer front | 10-15 mins | £60 |
| Multiple drawers (3-6) | 15-20 mins | £60 |
| Full kitchen (8-12 drawers) | 20-30 mins | £60 |
Based on £60 minimum callout. Makes sense to do all wonky drawers in one visit - I'm already there with tools out.
Typical Scenarios
✅ Flat-pack kitchens - IKEA, B&Q, screws work loose over time
✅ Heavy drawer contents - pots, pans, weight pulls front down
✅ Kids yanking drawers - years of abuse, everything loosens
✅ Poor initial fitting - never aligned properly in first place
Why Choose Us for Drawer front realignment in Exeter?
Drawer closes flush
Sits straight and level
No more catching or rubbing
Professional appearance restored
What to Expect
Step 1: Assessment
Check which drawers are wonky, how badly, whether screw holes are still good or need repair.
Step 2: Realignment
Loosen screws, position drawer front perfectly level and flush, tighten screws evenly.
Step 3: Final Check
Close drawer, check gaps even all around, ensure smooth operation, tighten handles if needed.
🔧 DIY Tips
Realigning drawer fronts yourself is straightforward if you're methodical:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Pozidriv or Phillips screwdriver (or drill with bit)
- Spirit level (small one)
- Tape measure
- Pencil
- Someone to help (holds front while you screw)
🔨 How to realign
- Empty drawer - lighter = easier to work on
- Open drawer fully - access back of front panel
- Loosen screws - don't remove, just loose enough to move
- Position front - get it level and flush
- Check gaps - measure gap above/below/sides, make even
- Hold firmly - don't let it shift
- Tighten screws - go round twice, gradually tightening
- Test - close drawer, check it looks right
- Adjust if needed - loosen slightly, tweak, retighten
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Tightening screws unevenly (pulls front crooked)
- Not using spirit level (looks level to eye but isn't)
- Over-tightening chipboard (cracks the board)
- Letting front shift while tightening
- Not measuring gaps (eyeballing doesn't work)
💡 Pro trick: If screw holes are worn and won't hold, don't drill new holes yet. Pack holes with matchsticks and wood glue, let dry, then rescrew into same holes. Often works perfectly.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🏠 Cheap flat-pack furniture? Thin chipboard doesn't hold screws well long-term. Fronts work loose, screw holes enlarge, eventually won't hold at all. I can plug holes and make them hold again, but really cheap stuff might need replacing eventually.
Multiple issues: If drawer fronts are wonky AND handles are loose AND drawers are sticking, I'll sort it all in one visit. Makes sense to do everything while I'm there.
Prevention: Tighten drawer front screws annually (like checking smoke alarms). Takes 5 minutes per drawer, prevents them getting really loose. Do it when clocks change, easy to remember.
While I'm there: Got other furniture issues? Wardrobe doors misaligned, cabinet doors wonky, anything else crooked? I'll check and fix for same callout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has my drawer front gone wonky?
The screws holding the front to the drawer box have loosened over time. Every time you open/close the drawer, tiny movements gradually shift the front. Eventually it sits crooked or doesn't close flush. Very common in flat-pack furniture.
Can all drawer fronts be realigned?
Most can. Some drawer fronts are adjustable (slots for screws), others are fixed-position. Adjustable ones are easy. Fixed ones might need new holes drilling if they've gone really wonky. I'll assess what you've got.
Will it just go wonky again?
Possibly - that's why it went wonky in the first place. I tighten everything properly and use thread-lock if needed. Should stay aligned for years. But if the cabinet is cheap chipboard and screw holes are worn, it might need plugging.
How many drawers can you do in one visit?
As many as you've got. Most kitchens have 4-8 drawers. Once I'm there with tools out, realigning multiples is quick. I'll do them all for the same callout - much better value than doing one at a time.
My drawer front has actually come off - can you fix that too?
Yes - that's the same issue, just worse. Screw holes have failed completely. I'll plug the holes, redrill, reattach the front properly aligned. Might need slightly longer screws or different positions.
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