How much does cabinet repair cost in Virginia?

There is no honest single price for cabinet repair in Virginia, so this page does not quote one. Cabinet work ranges from a ten-minute hinge adjustment to rebuilding a sink base that has swollen from a leak, and no dated primary source publishes a Virginia price for it. What you can do is understand what drives a quote and ask for it in writing.

What the price depends on

The kind of repair. Adjusting or replacing hinges, drawer slides and pulls is quick work. Re-gluing a loose face frame, replacing a door or drawer front, or rebuilding a damaged cabinet box takes longer and often needs matching materials. Refinishing is priced separately: see cabinet refinishing in the furniture repair answers.

The cabinet material. Solid wood, plywood, particleboard and medium-density fiberboard behave differently when they are damaged. Particleboard and MDF that have soaked up water usually swell and crumble, and they hold screws poorly. EPA notes that resins used in the manufacture of composite wood products (i.e., hardwood plywood, particleboard and medium-density fiberboard) contain formaldehyde, so ask how a contractor will handle cutting or sanding them.^[4]

Matching the existing finish. A repair that has to blend in with a stained or glazed finish costs more than one on a painted door that can simply be repainted. A cabinet shop can often make a new door to match; a perfect colour match on old stained wood is harder.

Access and quantity. Work inside a sink base, behind appliances, or on many doors in one visit changes the labor. One visit to fix several small things is usually cheaper per item than several visits.

The age of the home. In a house built before 1978, sanding or stripping old cabinet paint can raise a lead issue. EPA says any renovation, repair or painting project in a pre-1978 home that has lead-based paint can easily create dangerous lead dust, and recommends hiring a lead-safe certified contractor.^[3] That can add cost, and it is worth asking about before the work starts.

Do-it-yourself or hire

Loose hinges, sagging doors and stripped screw holes are cheap to fix yourself; see how to fix a sagging cabinet door. Hire when the damage is structural, when you need a matched finish, or when the repair is large enough that you would rather have a warranty.

Licensing in Virginia

DPOR's guide for homeowners says that if the work you are considering is valued at $1,000 or more, a valid Virginia Contractor's License is required for the license category in which the contractor is to work.^[1] Virginia Code describes a Class C contractor as working where the total value referred to in a single contract or project is over $1,000 but less than $30,000, or where all such work they undertake within any 12-month period is less than $250,000.^[2] Check a contractor on DPOR's licence lookup before you sign, and ask for the licence number and class.

Getting a quote you can compare

DPOR advises that you solicit at least three bids for the work you need.^[1] Ask each cabinet repair business for a written quote that lists:

• exactly which doors, drawers and boxes are included
• materials, including hinges and slides, and who supplies them
• whether the finish will be matched, and how
• the schedule, and any charge for return visits
• the warranty on labor and parts

Do not pay the whole bill up front. DPOR says that on any home improvement job you can expect to make a down payment, and advises that the contract provide for a percentage of each payment or of the total job, ordinarily 10 percent, which you retain until the job is completed.^[1]

Stop and call a pro if

• Water is the cause. Swollen cabinet bases under a sink or dishwasher point to a leak. Fix the leak first or the repair will not last.
• The cabinet box is separating from the wall or floor. That is more than a cosmetic repair.
• You see mold or a musty smell behind or inside damaged cabinets.
• The house was built before 1978 and the repair involves sanding or stripping the old finish.^[3]

Getting help in Virginia

If the question is whether to keep the cabinets at all, read should I repair or replace my kitchen cabinets. Loclis lists local pros you can browse under cabinet repair, and more guides are in furniture repair answers.

When you are ready, describe the repair and local pros will quote it.