Hi,

In my house the kitchen cabinets are fine but the shelves are sagging.
I can't see how the shelves were installed into the cabinets as they
are too large to fit through the doors.

All I can think is that the shelves were added before the backs of the
cabinets were screwed on.

Has anyone faced this problem before and have a suggestion on how I
can replace the shelves on these kitchen cabinets?

Thanks

Alex

On Sep 3, 12:24 pm, Steve wrote:
alex wrote on 03 Sep 2007 in group alt.home.repair:

In my house the kitchen cabinets are fine but the shelves are
sagging. I can't see how the shelves were installed into the cabinets
as they are too large to fit through the doors.

All I can think is that the shelves were added before the backs of
the cabinets were screwed on.

Has anyone faced this problem before and have a suggestion on how I
can replace the shelves on these kitchen cabinets?

The shelves are likely mounted in dados (grooves) in the side panels,
probably with both glue and staples. Further glue and staples attach
the shelves to the back and front. They're most likely made from
particle board.

You'll have a tough time getting the old shelves out without damaging
the cabinets. First, you'll have to take them off the wall -- a two-man
job at least. Then, you'll have to remove the back and try to get the
shelves to come out. If they're well-fastened, you may have to break
them to get them out. Then you have to clean out the dados, cut new
shelves to fit, and mount them with more glue and fasteners.
All-in-all, you'll wish you had just bought new cabinets.

I recommend you put supports under the existing shelves. Cut some 1x2
poplar to fit across the width of the shelf, then nail it
narrow-side-up at the front, back, and middle (if needed) of the shelf.

You can also check with a local cabinet shop about having new carcasses
made to which you can apply your existing face frames and doors.

--
Steve B.
New Life Home Improvement

Good advice indeed, but cabinet removal is easily a one man job if you
get a HelpingHand (or whatever it's called) support from Amazon.com.
It will hold the cabinets for installation, too...definitely a
remodelers tool. I've found that backings can usually be popped off
since few manufacturers bother with glue, just staples. Same way with
shelves if you're lucky. HTH

Joe

"alex" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi,

In my house the kitchen cabinets are fine but the shelves are sagging.
I can't see how the shelves were installed into the cabinets as they
are too large to fit through the doors.

All I can think is that the shelves were added before the backs of the
cabinets were screwed on.

Has anyone faced this problem before and have a suggestion on how I
can replace the shelves on these kitchen cabinets?

More likely, the shelves went in before the front frames went on. What is
the body of the cabinet made of, and how old are they? If these are typical
modern chipboard crap (printed woodgrain over particle board), the shelves
probably can't be replaced in any practical manner, since the whole thing is
basically glued together. You could try screwing cleats to the sides, and
piecing in the shelves using strips of suitable wood maybe 8" wide.

I'd only sink money and time into an attempted repair if the boxes
themselves were real wood in good condition. Otherwise, I'd cut some pieces
of dowel rod to jam-fit in there to prop up the sags, and start saving up
for new cabinets.

aem sends...

Hi,

thanks for all the info but I should have been more exact. The shelves
are free and mounted on shelf pins. You know the shelf support type
that fit into a little hole.

So I could cut the shelves and get them out but I can't see how to get
new shelves in there because of their length. That's the problem.

Do cabinet makers generally put shelves in before the back in screwed
in?

Thanks

Alex

On Sep 3, 4:27 pm, "aemeijers" wrote:
"alex" wrote in message

oups.com... Hi,

In my house the kitchen cabinets are fine but the shelves are sagging.
I can't see how the shelves were installed into the cabinets as they
are too large to fit through the doors.

All I can think is that the shelves were added before the backs of the
cabinets were screwed on.

Has anyone faced this problem before and have a suggestion on how I
can replace the shelves on these kitchen cabinets?

More likely, the shelves went in before the front frames went on. What is
the body of the cabinet made of, and how old are they? If these are typical
modern chipboard crap (printed woodgrain over particle board), the shelves
probably can't be replaced in any practical manner, since the whole thing is
basically glued together. You could try screwing cleats to the sides, and
piecing in the shelves using strips of suitable wood maybe 8" wide.

I'd only sink money and time into an attempted repair if the boxes
themselves were real wood in good condition. Otherwise, I'd cut some pieces
of dowel rod to jam-fit in there to prop up the sags, and start saving up
for new cabinets.

aem sends...

alex wrote:

Hi,

thanks for all the info but I should have been more exact. The shelves
are free and mounted on shelf pins. You know the shelf support type
that fit into a little hole.

So I could cut the shelves and get them out but I can't see how to get
new shelves in there because of their length. That's the problem.

Do cabinet makers generally put shelves in before the back in screwed
in?

Thanks

Alex


Can you:
1) remove the pins.

2) rotate the shelves (front down, back up) so that they are vertical.

3) put the right end (say) into the right rear corner, and pull the left
end out.

?

or, if that doesn't work, and these are not double cabinets:

1) remove all the pins

2) drop all but the upper most shelf to the bottom,

3) take the top shelf and raise the left (say) end to the corner of
the opening. Keep the right end at the bottom.
Does it clear the corner?

alex wrote:
Hi,

thanks for all the info but I should have been more exact. The shelves
are free and mounted on shelf pins. You know the shelf support type
that fit into a little hole.

So I could cut the shelves and get them out but I can't see how to get
new shelves in there because of their length. That's the problem.

Do cabinet makers generally put shelves in before the back in screwed
in?

Thanks

The shelves almost have to have been put in place after the cabinets
were put together and in place. You should be able to turn the shelves
up and then swing the ends, one toward rear corner and the other toward
a front corner. I have the same kind in my kitchen cabs, but not very
long.

"alex" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi,

thanks for all the info but I should have been more exact. The shelves
are free and mounted on shelf pins. You know the shelf support type
that fit into a little hole.

So I could cut the shelves and get them out but I can't see how to get
new shelves in there because of their length. That's the problem.

Do cabinet makers generally put shelves in before the back in screwed
in?

In that case, you CAN get them out through the front. Empty them out, pull
all the pins, and maybe one of the doors. Rotate the shelf to a vertical
position, blocking the doors. Push one end to the back. You should now have
enough clearance at the other end to bring it out through the door opening,
unless the shelf is deeper than the door is tall. Fabricate new shelfs of
stiffer wood, like plywood with a hardwood front trim, and replace. Getting
in back in will take 3 hands, to juggle shelf and place the pins back under
it.

aem sends...

alex wrote:
Hi,

thanks for all the info but I should have been more exact. The
shelves are free and mounted on shelf pins. You know the shelf
support type that fit into a little hole.

So I could cut the shelves and get them out but I can't see how to
get new shelves in there because of their length. That's the
problem.

Tip them.

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

I replaced my sagging particleboard shelves with real wood. I had to
remove by doors in order to get the shelves out.

On Mon, 03 Sep 2007 15:47:49 -0700, alex wrote:

Hi,

thanks for all the info but I should have been more exact. The shelves
are free and mounted on shelf pins. You know the shelf support type
that fit into a little hole.

So I could cut the shelves and get them out but I can't see how to get
new shelves in there because of their length. That's the problem.

Do cabinet makers generally put shelves in before the back in screwed
in?

Thanks

I'm assuming you are smart enough to have thought of the suggestions
offered, and therefore they won't work. (but I could be wrong.)

You cuold probably think of this one too, but consider just flipping
each shelf over. If it was sagging before, it will sag up now and
eventually get back to neutral. I've done this with my linen closet.

I flipped the shelf. Then I nailed a piece of one by two or smaller
in the middle of the back so after it got back to neutral it wouldn't
go any lower. So far so good.

(I used my stud finder to find the stud to nail that thing, and then I
couldn't find my stud finder for 6 months, so be careful. )

Alex

On Sep 3, 4:27 pm, "aemeijers" wrote:
"alex" wrote in message

oups.com... Hi,

In my house the kitchen cabinets are fine but the shelves are sagging.
I can't see how the shelves were installed into the cabinets as they
are too large to fit through the doors.

All I can think is that the shelves were added before the backs of the
cabinets were screwed on.

Has anyone faced this problem before and have a suggestion on how I
can replace the shelves on these kitchen cabinets?

More likely, the shelves went in before the front frames went on. What is
the body of the cabinet made of, and how old are they? If these are typical
modern chipboard crap (printed woodgrain over particle board), the shelves
probably can't be replaced in any practical manner, since the whole thing is
basically glued together. You could try screwing cleats to the sides, and
piecing in the shelves using strips of suitable wood maybe 8" wide.

I'd only sink money and time into an attempted repair if the boxes
themselves were real wood in good condition. Otherwise, I'd cut some pieces
of dowel rod to jam-fit in there to prop up the sags, and start saving up
for new cabinets.

aem sends...

replying to mm, JR wrote:
My shelves are not sagging but the their smooth finish and front edges are
deteriorated, can I use a laminate or a veneer over it just to make it look
better and smooth.

--
for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...ts-246903-.htm

On Sunday, February 19, 2017 at 2:14:08 PM UTC-5, JR wrote:
replying to mm, JR wrote:
My shelves are not sagging but the their smooth finish and front edges are
deteriorated, can I use a laminate or a veneer over it just to make it look
better and smooth.


What are they made of? What are they covered with? What do you mean the
front edges have "deteriorated"?

If they are rounded or chipped, i.e. the face is no longer square with the
top, you'll have trouble using any kind of laminate or veneer because it won't
have a solid backing.

You could build them up and re-square the edge or use a trim router and round
them off beyond the chips and wear. Then you could skim coat, paint and line
the shelves to protect them.

Knowing what they are made of and what is wrong with them would help.

On Sun, 19 Feb 2017 12:25:00 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

On Sunday, February 19, 2017 at 2:14:08 PM UTC-5, JR wrote:
replying to mm, JR wrote:
My shelves are not sagging but the their smooth finish and front edges are
deteriorated, can I use a laminate or a veneer over it just to make it look
better and smooth.


What are they made of? What are they covered with? What do you mean the
front edges have "deteriorated"?

If they are rounded or chipped, i.e. the face is no longer square with the
top, you'll have trouble using any kind of laminate or veneer because it won't
have a solid backing.

You could build them up and re-square the edge or use a trim router and round
them off beyond the chips and wear. Then you could skim coat, paint and line
the shelves to protect them.

Knowing what they are made of and what is wrong with them would help.
Going by experience they are most likely melamine coated termite
spit. Most likely adjustable/removeable too - in which case it is
relatively simple to replace them.
Solid lumber capped baltic ply makes the best replacement shelves.

On Sunday, February 19, 2017 at 3:33:56 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Sun, 19 Feb 2017 12:25:00 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

On Sunday, February 19, 2017 at 2:14:08 PM UTC-5, JR wrote:
replying to mm, JR wrote:
My shelves are not sagging but the their smooth finish and front edges are
deteriorated, can I use a laminate or a veneer over it just to make it look
better and smooth.


What are they made of? What are they covered with? What do you mean the
front edges have "deteriorated"?

If they are rounded or chipped, i.e. the face is no longer square with the
top, you'll have trouble using any kind of laminate or veneer because it won't
have a solid backing.

You could build them up and re-square the edge or use a trim router and round
them off beyond the chips and wear. Then you could skim coat, paint and line
the shelves to protect them.

Knowing what they are made of and what is wrong with them would help.

Going by experience they are most likely melamine coated termite
spit.

Could be, mine aren't.

Most likely adjustable/removeable too - in which case it is
relatively simple to replace them.

Could be, mine aren't.

Solid lumber capped baltic ply makes the best replacement shelves.

Could be, although a pain to install in stick built cabinets like mine.

Most likely an answer from JR would be the most revealing.

On Sunday, February 19, 2017 at 3:33:56 PM UTC-5, wrote:
On Sun, 19 Feb 2017 12:25:00 -0800 (PST), DerbyDad03
wrote:

On Sunday, February 19, 2017 at 2:14:08 PM UTC-5, JR wrote:
replying to mm, JR wrote:
My shelves are not sagging but the their smooth finish and front edges are
deteriorated, can I use a laminate or a veneer over it just to make it look
better and smooth.


What are they made of? What are they covered with? What do you mean the
front edges have "deteriorated"?

If they are rounded or chipped, i.e. the face is no longer square with the
top, you'll have trouble using any kind of laminate or veneer because it won't
have a solid backing.

You could build them up and re-square the edge or use a trim router and round
them off beyond the chips and wear. Then you could skim coat, paint and line
the shelves to protect them.

Knowing what they are made of and what is wrong with them would help.
Going by experience they are most likely melamine coated termite
spit. Most likely adjustable/removeable too - in which case it is
relatively simple to replace them.


Agree. If they are the basic removable, cheap cabinet shelf,
the easiest thing would probably be to go to a local cabinet
supplier and buy replacement ones. I guess buying some
veneer strips that's available at HD and gluing it on to just the
edges could be an option too, if that's all that's wrong
with them.