Expert: Jamie Yocono - 2/21/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hello:

My kitchen cabinet panels are loose, is there a way to stop them from doing that?  We paid a large sum of money for these upgraded cabinets and I thought the better the cabinets the better wear and tare.

ANSWER: Sherrie,

Before I can help you, I need to have more information. I have no idea what you mean by "kitchen cabinet panels" - are you talking door panels? Side panels?

Please give me a little more information and I'll try to help.

Jamie Yocono
www.wooditis.com
Las Vegas, NV

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I mean to door panels.

Answer
Sherrie,

Your door panels are probably loose because of the dryness in the air. In winter, the humidity is low. And since wood actually "breathes", it can shrink and swell with the humidity in the air. This sometimes make doors or drawers stick in the summer, and open quite easily in the winter. There isn't much you can do about it.

I do have two suggestions, but unless the panels are so loose, they're falling out, I don't know if I'd go to the trouble of attempting these. The probably will probably go away in the summer months.

First, you could buy a tube of silicone caulk, and a small bead (line) of it on the top and bottom of the door panel, on the inside of the cabinet. The caulk will set up, yet remain flexible, and the panel won't be able to move very much, even though it's loose. You don't want to apply too much caulk, just a thin line of it on the inside, so you won't see it.

Or, you could try installing some panel retainer clips. Here's a picture of what I mean:
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=19460

These clips are installed inside, and there is a small rubber tipped screw that you adjust so it touches the rattling piece of wood (or glass) and holds it steady. You could probably use just two of these per door panel, and it would stop that rattling perfectly.

Good luck, there's not much you can do about the relative humidity in the air, but at least you can stop those panels from rattling. Either of these suggestions is quite simple.

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com
My woodworking blog: www.wooditis.blogspot.com