Drawer handle replacement in Exeter
Professional drawer handle replacement services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
30-45 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Drawer handles replaced with new hardware. Whether matching existing style or completely updating the look, I'll fit them level and aligned so your furniture looks fresh and works properly.
New Handles, New Look
Broken handle. Missing knob. That one drawer you've been opening with your fingernails because the pull snapped off months ago.
Or maybe the handles work fine but they're dated, tatty, or just not your style anymore.
💡 Easiest furniture upgrade: New handles make a shocking difference to how furniture looks. Like new shoes on an old outfit.
The Fitting Challenge
Seems simple - unscrew old, screw on new. Except:
| The Problem | What Happens | The Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Different hole spacing | New handles don't match old holes | Fill old holes, drill new ones accurately |
| Wrong alignment | Handles end up wonky | Measure and mark carefully before drilling |
| One-hole vs two-hole | Knobs vs pulls have different fixing | Plan which style works, adjust accordingly |
| Visible old holes | Can see where old handles were | Fill properly, match finish, make invisible |
What You Get
🔧 Professional Fitting
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Remove | Take old handles off, assess holes |
| Prepare | Fill old holes if needed, mark new positions |
| Fit | Drill accurately, fit new handles level and aligned |
📦 The Result
- Handles fitted perfectly level
- Aligned across all drawers
- Old holes invisible (if applicable)
- Furniture looks refreshed
Handle Types
Knobs (one screw)
- Single fixing point through drawer front
- Simple to fit
- Good for smaller drawers
Pulls (two screws)
- Bar or handle with two fixing points
- Need accurate spacing
- Better for larger/heavier drawers
Cup pulls (vintage style)
- Drop-down handles
- Often larger footprint covers old holes well
- Popular for kitchen updates
Pricing Guide
| What's Involved | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Simple replacement (holes match) | 30 mins | £60 |
| Fill old holes and redrill (different spacing) | 45-60 mins | £60-£85 |
| Full chest of drawers (6+ handles) | 1-1.5 hrs | £60-£110 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Handles/hardware extra if I'm supplying them.
This Service Is Perfect If...
✅ Broken handles - snapped, loose, or missing
✅ Updating furniture - change the style completely
✅ Restoration - matching period handles to older furniture
✅ Consistent look - all handles matching and aligned
Why Choose Us for Drawer handle replacement in Exeter?
Handles fitted level and aligned
Holes matched or filled and redrilled
All drawers match perfectly
Furniture looks updated or restored
What to Expect
Step 1: Remove & Assess
Take off the old handles. Check if new ones will use the same screw holes or if I need to fill and redrill. If multiple handles, work out alignment across all drawers.
Step 2: Preparation
If holes don't match, fill the old ones properly (wood filler that can take a screw if needed). Mark new hole positions carefully - alignment matters more than you'd think.
Step 3: Fit New Handles
Drill new holes if needed. Fit handles from the front, screw in from inside the drawer. Check every handle is level and aligned with the others. Adjust if needed.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to replace handles yourself? Here's how to get them straight:
🔧 Tools you'll need
- Screwdriver or drill/driver
- Drill bits for pilot holes
- Tape measure and ruler
- Pencil
- Wood filler (if old holes don't match)
- Spirit level or straight edge
📐 Getting handles aligned
- Decide on handle position (centered, or offset if that's the style)
- Measure from edges to mark center point (or handle position)
- For pulls with two holes, use cardboard template to mark both holes
- Drill pilot holes from front through to back
- Fit handle and screw in from inside drawer
- Check it's level before fully tightening
- Use same measurements for all other drawers
⚠️ Common mistakes
- Not using measurements (eyeballing it, then they're all slightly different)
- Drilling from inside out (splinters the front)
- Over-tightening (cracks cheap drawer fronts)
- Not using pilot holes (wood splits)
💡 Pro trick: Make a template from cardboard or thin wood with the exact hole spacing for your new handles. Use it to mark every drawer - guarantees they're all identical. Mark which edge is "top" so you don't flip it accidentally.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🎨 Updating old furniture? New handles (and maybe a lick of paint) can completely transform dated pieces. Victorian pine chest with modern cup pulls looks amazing. 1980s melamine with sleek bar pulls becomes contemporary.
Matching styles: If you're only replacing broken handles and want to match existing, bring me one of the good ones (or a photo). I'll try to source similar, but exact matches can be tricky for older styles.
Kitchen vs bedroom: Kitchen drawer handles get more abuse - worth using quality hardware that'll last. Bedroom furniture can get away with cheaper decorative options.
Old furniture holes: Solid wood furniture from the 70s/80s might have worn screw holes from decades of use. Easy to fill and redrill for a fresh start.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you match my existing handles?
If you've still got the broken piece, I can try to source a match. But honestly, if one's broken others are probably tired too - often makes more sense to replace all the handles with new ones that match each other. Instantly updates the furniture.
Do I need to buy the handles first?
Either way works. If you've bought specific handles, I'll fit them. If you want advice on what would suit your furniture, I can recommend options and pick them up. Bring me a broken handle or photo and I'll work from that.
What if the new handles don't match the old screw holes?
Common issue - new handles rarely line up with old holes. I'll fill the old holes properly, drill new ones in the right place, and make sure everything's aligned. You won't see the old holes when it's done.
How many handles can you do in a visit?
Depends on the furniture and whether holes need filling/redrilling. For a standard chest of drawers (4-6 drawers), usually about 45 mins to an hour if I'm just fitting to existing holes, bit longer if redrilling is needed.
Will it improve my furniture?
Massively, if it's tired old handles. New hardware is one of the easiest ways to update furniture - makes a bigger visual difference than you'd expect. Like putting new shoes on.
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