Cupboard handle tightening in Exeter
Professional cupboard handle tightening services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
5-10 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Loose cupboard handles secured properly so they stop wobbling and don't fall off. Stripped screw holes fixed, screws replaced if needed.
That Handle That Wobbles Every Time You Touch It
Going to fall off any day now? Join the club.
You've tightened it three times already. Lasts a week, then it's loose again. Problem is the screw holes in the door are stripped - the wood's worn away and there's nothing for the screw to grip.
💡 Pro tip: Tightening a loose handle from the outside doesn't work - you need to access the screw from inside the cupboard where it goes through the door. That's the bit that actually holds it.
Why Bother Fixing It?
| ✅ Properly Secured | ❌ Left Loose |
|---|---|
| Handle firmly attached | Wobbles when you touch it |
| Screws won't back out | Getting looser daily |
| Lasts for years | Will fall off eventually |
| Takes 5 minutes | You keep meaning to do it |
What's Included
🔧 The Service
- Check why handles are loose (stripped holes, short screws, or just need tightening)
- Tighten from inside properly
- Fix stripped holes if needed
- Replace screws if they're wrong length
- Check all other handles while I'm there
📦 You Get
- Handles that don't wobble
- Properly secured for the long term
- No more handles falling off
- Quick fix, big improvement
Pricing
| Number of Handles | Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 handles | 5-10 mins | £60 |
| 5-8 handles (check all) | 10-15 mins | £60 |
| Full kitchen (10-20 handles) | 15-20 mins | £60 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour). Might as well do them all while I'm there.
Perfect If...
✅ Wobbly handle - been loose for weeks
✅ Keeps coming loose - you've tightened it before
✅ Multiple loose - several need doing
✅ Preventative - tighten everything before it's a problem
Why Choose Us for Cupboard handle tightening in Exeter?
Handles secure and tight
Screws properly tightened or replaced
Stripped holes fixed if needed
Multiple handles done quickly
What to Expect
Step 1: Access & Assess
Open cupboard, access the back of the handle, check why it's loose - stripped holes or just needs tightening.
Step 2: Fix Properly
Tighten from inside. If holes are stripped, fix them (longer screws, filled holes, or thread-lock). Replace screws if needed.
Step 3: Check Others
While I'm there, check all your other handles. Catch problems before they get worse.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to tighten them yourself? Here's the right way:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Screwdriver (to match the screw type - usually Phillips)
- Possibly longer screws
- Wood glue and matchsticks (for stripped holes)
- Patience
🔍 Why handles come loose
- Normal use: Opening and closing thousands of times gradually loosens screws
- Stripped holes: The wood wears away, screws won't grip
- Too-short screws: Not enough thread in the wood
- Tightening from outside: Doesn't actually tighten the screw
🔨 The right way to tighten
- Open cupboard door
- Locate screw inside - goes through door and into back of handle
- Hold handle from outside with one hand
- Tighten screw from inside with screwdriver
- Don't overtighten - just snug
🛠️ Fixing stripped holes
- Remove handle completely
- Check screw holes - if wood is crumbly/loose, they're stripped
- Options:
- Longer screws: Grab fresh wood deeper in
- Matchstick trick: Pack holes with matchsticks + wood glue, let dry, rescrew
- Thread-lock: Adhesive on screw threads (semi-permanent)
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Tightening from the outside (the visible part) - doesn't work
- Overtightening (strips the holes even more)
- Not fixing the underlying problem (just keeps coming loose)
- Using glue without matchsticks (doesn't grip well enough)
💡 Pro trick: A tiny dab of clear nail varnish on the screw threads works as thread-lock. Let it go tacky, then screw in. Makes it much harder for vibration to loosen it.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🔧 Got other small jobs? Bundle them together - loose handles, door adjustments, catches. All done in one visit, you're only paying the £60 minimum once.
Full kitchen loose? Common after a few years. I'll go through all of them systematically - tighten what needs tightening, fix what needs fixing.
Knobs vs handles - both fixed the same way, just knobs usually have a single screw and handles have two. Same principle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do cupboard handles keep coming loose?
Usually the screw holes in the cupboard door are stripped - the wood's worn away and the screws won't grip. Or the screws themselves are too short. Sometimes people just tighten from the outside (the handle) when they need to tighten from inside where the screw goes through.
Can you fix handles that keep loosening even after tightening?
Yes - that's the stripped hole problem. Fix is either longer screws, filling the holes with matchsticks and glue then refitting, or using a thread-locking adhesive. I'll use whichever solution works for your handles.
Do I need to buy new handles if they're loose?
Almost never - loose handles just need the screws securing properly. Replacement is only needed if the handle itself is broken or you want a different style.
Can you tighten all the handles in my kitchen while you're there?
Absolutely - takes maybe 10-15 minutes to check and tighten all of them. Prevents the others going loose too. You're already paying the £60 minimum, so makes sense to do them all.
Will the handles come loose again after you tighten them?
Not if I fix them properly. Just tightening often doesn't last if the holes are stripped. I'll fix the underlying problem (new screws, filled holes, or thread-lock) so they stay tight.
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