Have you noticed your door is hanging slightly askew? We can help! Our simple new build guides for homeowners provide step-by-step instructions on making all the necessary adjustments to make your home perfect.

 

Though they might not be the first thing you think about when it comes to making your new home look perfect, the appearance of interior doors - as well as cupboard doors and drawers - can significantly impact the ambience of your home. In a newly built home, doors might shift slightly as the plaster dries out completely.

As the moisture escapes the walls of your new home, the gap between internal doors and door frames can contract and expand. This is completely normal and nothing to worry about, and it’s also easily fixed.

Watch our video tutorial on how to adjust internal doors in a new build or read our step-by-step guide below.

 

 

How to straighten internal doors

Step 1

Find the point on the door that has moved the most - either by increasing or decreasing the gap from the door frame. Remove the screw from the central square of the nearest hinge. Keep the screw safe.

Step 2

Look at the hinge plate, and the central square. You should be able to spot a circular mark on one of the square’s corners, with a number between -1 and +2. The number indicates the amount of adjustments you can make: -1 shortens the gap by 1mm and +2 increases the space between the door and the frame.

Step 3

Remove the plate and, holding on to the door, manually make slight adjustments until the plate goes back into place. Make sure the circle mark is in line with the adjustment you need to fix the gap.

Step 4

Once you’ve got the holes in the door aligned, carefully screw the square plate back into place.

Step 5

Repeat the above door adjustment process with the other hinge. Take your time testing the adjustments, as it might take a few goes before you find the right combination.

How to adjust cupboard doors

In a new home, it’s not only the internal doors between rooms that can slightly shift as the building settles. The same process can affect cupboard doors - for example in a new build kitchen or bathroom.

It’s not uncommon for these cupboard doors to slightly shift out of proper alignment after a lot of use. However, it’s extremely simple to tweak and get them hanging straight in just a few steps.

How to straighten cupboard doors

Start by locating the plate that attaches the door to the main body of the cupboard. Loosen both the screws, but don’t remove them completely - support the door with your other hand as you do this.

You can then adjust the door manually until it’s straight and in the position you want. Then just tighten the screws back into place to hold the cupboard door.

How to adjust the depth of cupboard doors

You may need to tweak the depth of a cupboard door to get it to close flush. To do this, start by taking the cap off the hinge’s horizontal bar.

Underneath the cap you’ll see two screws - loosen the one that’s furthest away from you. Carefully adjust the depth of the door manually, before re-tightening the screw to hold it in place.

If you need to change the door hinge’s sliding motion, you’ll unscrew the screw that’s closest to you instead. If you do this, make sure to also adjust the buffer for soft closing accordingly - use the screw at the end of the soft close buffer until it’s in the right position.

How to straighten kitchen drawers

Much like other doors in your newly built home, kitchen drawers can slightly shift and move over time - particularly with heavy use. The good news is that it’s incredibly easy to fix them and get them back into position.

At the side of the drawer, remove the cap that covers the screws underneath. You can then rotate the wheel until the drawer is in its proper position. For horizontal adjustments, use the screw next to the wheel.

Once you’re done, clip the cap back on and smoothly close your custom-fitted drawer.