Soft close hinge retrofit in Exeter
Professional soft close hinge retrofit services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-85
Typical Duration
30 mins-1 hr
Location
Exeter, Devon
Soft-close hinges fitted to your existing kitchen cupboards. Doors close gently instead of slamming - much nicer to live with, especially early morning or late at night.
Stop The Door Slamming
You know that sound of kitchen cupboard doors SLAM SLAM SLAM while someone's making breakfast? Drives you mad, doesn't it?
Soft-close hinges fix that completely. The door closes the last few centimetres gently and quietly. No more slamming, no more noise, no more vibration rattling everything inside the cupboard.
Once you've got them, you wonder how you lived without them.
💡 Pro tip: Start with the cupboards you use most - around the kettle and by the fridge. You'll notice the difference immediately and can add more later if you want.
Standard Hinges vs Soft-Close
| ✅ Soft-Close Fitted | ❌ Standard Hinges |
|---|---|
| Doors close gently and quietly | SLAM every single time |
| Less wear on cabinet boxes | Constant vibration damages joints |
| Nothing falls over inside | Jars and bottles get knocked about |
| Feels premium quality | Feels cheap |
What You Get
🔧 The Retrofit
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Check | I identify your hinge type and measurements |
| Match | Soft-close hinges selected to fit exactly |
| Swap | Old hinges out, new soft-close ones fitted |
| Adjust | Each door adjusted to close perfectly |
| Test | Every door tested to ensure smooth operation |
📦 You're Left With
- Doors that close gently every time
- No more slamming noise
- Kitchen feels more premium
- Old hinges (in case you ever need them for some reason)
Pricing Guide
| Situation | Estimated Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| 3-5 doors (a few cupboards) | 30-45 mins | £60 |
| 6-10 doors (half a kitchen) | 1 hr | £60 |
| 12-15 doors (full kitchen) | 1.5 hrs | £85 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Hinges usually £3-5 each extra.
Perfect For Your Situation If...
✅ Hate the slamming - kitchen noise doing your head in
✅ Just renovated - soft-close finishes it off properly
✅ Elderly in house - gentler doors are easier to use
✅ Selling soon - buyers notice these little quality touches
Why Choose Us for Soft close hinge retrofit in Exeter?
Doors close gently instead of slamming
Works with your existing cabinet doors
No damage to cupboards
Lasts for years once fitted
What to Expect
Step 1: Hinge Check
I open a door and check what type of hinge you've got. Most modern kitchens use standard fittings that soft-close hinges drop straight into.
Step 2: Swap The Hinges
Old hinge out, new soft-close one in. Screws go in the same holes, door stays in the same position.
Step 3: Adjustment
Soft-close hinges are adjustable - I'll make sure each door closes perfectly straight and the damping feels right.
Step 4: Test Everything
Go through every door to make sure it closes gently all the way. Adjust if anything's not quite right.
🔧 DIY Tips
Fancy doing it yourself? It's not too difficult if you're handy:
🔧 What you'll need
- Soft-close hinges (measure your existing ones first!)
- Pozi or cross-head screwdriver
- Something to support the door (helper or wedge)
- Patience for the adjustment
📐 Measuring your hinges
- Open the door fully
- Look at the hinge - there should be measurements marked (35mm, 40mm etc)
- Note if they're overlay, inset, or half-overlay (how the door sits)
- Buy matching soft-close hinges (Blum or Hettich are good brands)
🔧 Fitting process
- Support the door (get someone to hold it or wedge it)
- Unscrew old hinge from door and cabinet
- Screw new soft-close hinge in same holes
- Adjust the three screws to get door straight
- Test the close - should slow down in last few cm
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Buying wrong hinge type (measure carefully!)
- Not supporting door properly (gets damaged)
- Over-tightening adjustment screws
- Not testing before doing all the doors
💡 Pro trick: Start with one door and make sure it works perfectly before doing the rest. Once you know the right hinge and how to adjust them, the others are quick.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🔧 Wonky doors? Soft-close hinges actually adjust more easily than standard ones - if your doors are a bit wonky, I can fix that at the same time. Three adjustment points on each hinge.
Full kitchen? Makes sense to do them all at once, but if budget's tight, start with the most-used cupboards. You can always add more later.
Older kitchens? As long as the cabinet boxes are solid, soft-close hinges will work. Older hinge types might need a different approach but it's usually doable.
Drawers too? Different mechanism for drawers (runners not hinges) but yes, I can add soft-close to drawers as well. Usually done at the same time if you want the full quiet kitchen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you add soft-close to my existing kitchen cupboards?
Usually yes - most modern cabinets use standard European hinges that can be swapped for soft-close versions. I'll need to check your hinge type first, but it's normally straightforward. Won't damage anything.
How many doors can you do in an hour?
About 6-8 doors typically, depends on access and hinge type. Kitchen run of cupboards usually takes about an hour. I bring several types of hinges so I can match whatever you've got.
Will soft-close hinges work with heavy doors?
Yes - the mechanism's designed to handle standard kitchen doors. If you've got really heavy solid wood doors, might need two hinges per door instead of one for proper operation, but soft-close will still work fine.
What if my hinges are really old?
If they're the old-style non-adjustable hinges, we might need to change the whole hinge. That's still doable, might just take a bit longer. Modern soft-close hinges are actually easier to adjust than the old ones.
Do they need maintaining?
No - once fitted they just work. The damping mechanism is sealed so there's nothing to adjust or service. Should last the life of the kitchen really.
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