Methods for repairing wardrobes, step-by-step instructions, recommendations

The sliding wardrobe has been one of the most popular furniture models in residential, industrial or office premises for over a decade. The functionality of the design along with aesthetic qualities are the main advantages of this product. A sliding wardrobe can serve as a place to store things. Sliding doors can serve as interior partitions, and the filling of the structure can act as a small pantry or dressing room.

In one form or another, a wardrobe is a system of sliding doors and internal organization of shelves, rods and drawers. During operation, each of these elements may become outdated, fail, and require replacement. In this case, the choice is always up to the owner - to use his own skills or contact a specialist.

beautiful wardrobe

The most common breakdowns and remedies for them

In order to structure possible cabinet defects, it is necessary to decide on its design. Repair of each category has its own specifics.

A standard wardrobe consists of:

Frame (side walls or so-called “backing” made of chipboard 10 cm wide, if the cabinet is not built-in, but free-standing, the system is mounted inside a regular cabinet with a roof and plinth);
Fillings (shelves made of chipboard, hanging rods, pantographs, hooks, baskets, retractable hangers, microlift, drawers, etc.).

Photo: option for filling a sliding wardrobe
Repair of the frame consists of either a complete replacement of parts, or a partial one. As a rule, repairs are required if the edge has moved away from the material, cracks or abrasions have appeared. Partial replacement involves the difficulty of finding material that matches what is already available.

This is why it is recommended:

Dismantle the old structure, having previously measured every detail;
purchase the required amount of chipboard and PVC edges;
use a jigsaw and a grinder to make parts;
use the hot processing method to glue parts and edges (this is not necessary on invisible parts);
use a screwdriver to assemble the structure.

Breakdowns of sliding doors are associated with the failure of the sliding system. The cause of wear may be a long period of use.

To select remedies for a defect, it is necessary to accurately determine the cause:

Replacing rollers;
Door adjustment;
Replacement of the profile if it is severely scratched or damaged;
Replacing guides, etc.

In some cases, only a thorough cleaning of the system is required.

Regarding the repair of the internal reorganization of the product, we can advise the following:

Dismantle the failed part;
Take its dimensions;
Manufacture and install new elements.

In some cases, a complete update of the contents is required (the number or nature of stored items has increased), then you should first decide on a new configuration and carefully consider the location of new shelves and drawers.

IMPORTANT! When remodeling the inside of the cabinet, you should take into account the dimensions of the retractable structures - they should not be located at the door joints, otherwise they will lose their functionality!

Types of breakdowns and ways to fix them

When a wardrobe with sliding doors breaks, there is no need to rush to call a repairman. Most often, you can find the cause and solve the problem yourself. In most cases, furniture repair is needed due to the following:

elements of the body or its filling are broken;
parts of the valve opening mechanism are deformed, worn out, torn off, or loose;
glass and mirror elements of the facade are broken or damaged.

Premium sliding wardrobes are often decorated with carved decor and various moldings. If furniture is not used carefully, they chip, scratch, or break off. After this, their restoration is necessary.

Popular styles and colors for wardrobes in the living room, examples of placement

Frame defects

During long-term use, the furniture body warps and becomes deformed. It begins to wobble and squeak when the doors move. Sliding door leaves and drawers open with difficulty or become completely jammed. The problem is a broken or loose fastener. Here you need to inspect the wardrobe box and find problematic screws, screws, bolts. Then replace or tighten them with a screwdriver or screwdriver. Additionally, it is recommended to securely fasten the frame iron corners fixed at the joints of the rear wall of the cabinet and both side walls.

The most common cases of failure of wardrobe filling elements:

Deflection, breakage of shelves, formation of large cracks on them. The cause of these defects is excessive mechanical stress. It occurs if the base of the storage system is too wide and not reinforced with racks. Panels that are sagging or broken in half cannot be repaired; only their replacement is possible. The new shelf needs to be divided into two compartments and placed in the middle with timber supports to reduce the load.
Chips and small cracks on shelves and drawer fronts. These small damages are restored. All defects are covered with wood putty, sanded with fine emery cloth and covered with paint to match the furniture.
Deflection, separation from the walls of clothes rails. This happens due to strong mechanical loads. First you need to strengthen the pipe in the middle, this is done using a pass-through holder. It is fixed to the inside of the cabinet lid with screws. Then a rod is threaded through the fittings ring and secured with two flanges on the sides of the furniture.

When using the product, the filling elements break: hangers, hangers, hooks. The fittings also fail: handles, latches, awnings. One of the furniture legs may give way. When repairing wardrobes, these elements are completely replaced.

To prevent the shelves from sagging, you can install timber supports in the middle, which will reduce the load

Chips and small defects on the surface of the shelf can be covered with wood putty, treated with fine sandpaper and coated with paint to match the furniture

If the clothes rail breaks, reinforce the pipe in the middle using a pass-through holder

Damage to mechanical components

If the furniture door moves with difficulty, and there are gaps between it and the body when closing the door, this means that there are problems with the sliding system. They arise due to:

dirt in the frame groove;
unreliable fastening of the guide on the box;
incorrect location of the stopper;
deformation, wear of wardrobe wheels.

Design, detailing and assembly of a sliding wardrobe with your own hands step by step

First of all, the lower frame of the sliding system is inspected for contamination. If they exist, they are removed like this:

First, dust is collected with a vacuum cleaner;
then the stuck dirt is removed with a scraper;
Lastly, the gutter is wiped with a rag soaked in soapy water.

Gaps often form between the doors and the frame of the furniture. This indicates deformation of the case or problems with the stopper. When a gap appears at the junction of the canvas and the central section of the structure, this indicates that it is overloaded. Sometimes the retainer falls out of the groove of the bottom guide, in which case it just needs to be inserted back into the profile. It is advisable to secure the stopper additionally. This is done using screws or Moment construction adhesive.

In some cases, the frame of the sliding system lags behind the frame. Here you need to remove the sash from the guide, then screw the profile with self-tapping screws to the body through new holes drilled with an electric drill. Next, the canvas should be put in its place.

Dirt accumulated in the groove of the frame can lead to problems in the operation of the sliding system

If the retainer has fallen out of the groove of the lower guide, then you just need to insert it back into the profile

If the frame of the sliding system lags behind the frame, you need to remove the sash from the guide, and then screw the profile with self-tapping screws to the body

Door deformation

A sash that creaks, rattles, or jams when moving indicates that the roller has become deformed or the rubber layer covering it has worn off. In this case, the wheel needs to be changed. Before doing this, you can try lubricating the sliding mechanism with technical oil. If this does not solve the problem, drastic measures are needed.

If the doors no longer close completely, are skewed, or deformed, the source of the problem is first determined. It may be that the furniture is overcrowded with things and some of them interfere with the door, so it is necessary to inspect the structure. If the assumption is not confirmed, the wardrobe is repaired with the replacement of rollers and guides. This is done as follows:

Lift the door, pull out the lower wheels from the guide, then move the lower part of the canvas and pull it out of the upper profile.
Turn the screw at the bottom of the facade using a hexagon.
Remove the rollers and install new ones using a hexagon.

How to properly assemble a wardrobe with your own hands, step-by-step tips

Remove the door by pulling the wheels out of the guides

Using a hexagon, turn the screw at the bottom of the facade and remove the roller

Install new components

Return the door leaf to its place

The procedure to follow if gaps appear between the canvas and the furniture body:

the buffer tape in the corner of the facade comes off;
the screw rotates clockwise, thereby removing the lower gap;
when the gap is at the top, the fastener rotates in the opposite direction.

Wardrobe doors may not close tightly due to a broken stopper or latch. If the latch falls out or moves, it is inserted back. To ensure reliable repair of wardrobe doors, it is mounted on quick-drying glue. A broken lock is completely replaced.

Retainer repair

Mirror replacement

Over time, fragile decorative elements of furniture facades are scratched, cracked, broken, and their amalgam is peeled off. In this case, the wardrobe mirror changes. The procedure is as follows:

The sash is removed from the guide and laid on the floor.
Using a screwdriver or screwdriver, the insert frame is disassembled. It is made from an aluminum profile and is fastened with four screws located at the end of the blades. Also, the frame is made of iron and is held in place by roller clamps, which are located on the inside of the sash.
The dimensions of the insert are measured. This must be done precisely down to the millimeter.
The part is ordered from a furniture shop or glass factory.
When the item is delivered, they begin replacing the mirror in the closet. To do this, it is inserted back into the frame, which is screwed to the door.
Lastly, the blade is mounted on the guide.

You must work slowly and carefully with the fragile insert. If handled carelessly, it may break. It is advisable to immediately stick a special protective film on the back of the mirror.

Despite the reliability, strength and rigidity, the wardrobe often fails during operation. If the breakdown is simple, then it is easy to repair it yourself. The main thing is to do everything according to the rules.

Disassemble the insert frame, measure its dimensions and order a similar part

Install a new mirror into the frame and install the door leaf on the guide

DIY repairs or professional help?

Self-repair is justified only if:

The damage is minor or only parts need to be adjusted;
The repair warranty expired a long time ago;
The owner has the appropriate skills, tools and place to carry out the work.

In all other cases, it is better to entrust repairs to professionals. Thanks to specialized tools and free access to materials, restoration of the product will take little time. The cost of the service usually depends on the extent of the repair. At the same time, manufacturing defects and adjustments are carried out free of charge within the warranty!

Repair of sliding wardrobe guides

Over time, wardrobe parts are subject to serious wear and tear. Emerging defects can impede not only the optimal operation of the mechanism, but also distort the appearance of the doors - distortions, sagging, loose closures give the cabinet an untidy appearance.

In some cases, adjusting the rollers or redecorating the guides by tightening the screws does not help the situation, then it is necessary:

Purchase a new set of guides (top and bottom);
If the cabinet has a non-standard width, trim the elements;
Dismantle the old system (remove the doors, unscrew the old guides);
Decide on drilling locations for new components;
Drill holes, covering the old ones with putty;
Tightly screw the guides on which the doors are installed;
Adjust the height and direction of the wheels, check how securely the stoppers are fastened.

Main design elements

The wardrobe consists of several parts:

housings;
storage systems (shelves, rods with hangers, drawers or baskets);
sliding mechanisms;
components, fittings.

The outer box of the wardrobe has a regular geometric shape in the form of a square, rectangle, polygon or triangle. It is available with or without legs and is installed on floors. The case must be strong, assembled as rigidly as possible, otherwise it will move, the fasteners will weaken, and deformations will occur . The strongest cabinets are made from natural wood; products made from MDF and chipboard are not so durable.

The doors are equipped with guide rails made of metal profiles. They are screwed to the canvas with screws, screws, bolts. Wheels are attached to the top and bottom of the sashes. Most of the mechanical loads fall on the lower rollers and the frame fixed in the structure box. They most often fail and need repair.

Frame

Storage systems

Sliding mechanism

Components

Eliminating contamination of grooves in guides

Over time, dust, wool, lumps of dirt, and threads accumulate in the grooves of the lower guides along which the doors “run,” preventing the rollers from sliding smoothly.

You can fix this problem as follows:

Using a hook or screwdriver, remove the largest accumulations;
Remove residues using a vacuum cleaner.

To prevent large blockages, it is recommended to carry out preventive cleaning at least once a month.

Incorrect installation of guides

There are cases when, almost on the second day after installing the wardrobe, it is discovered that due to incorrectly installed guides, the doors do not close, or the curvature of the structure is revealed.

In this case, it is recommended to remove the system, unscrew the elements and experimentally determine the exact position at which the doors will move with maximum ease. At the same time, it is better not to make new holes close to existing ones - the material may crumble. Old holes can later be neutralized with putty to match the color of the wood.

Repair of wardrobe doors

Professional repair of wardrobe doors.

A sliding wardrobe is a universal solution for arranging both work and living space. It allows you to properly organize your storage system and significantly saves space in the room. The advantage of this type of furniture is the design of its doors, which do not swing open, but slide to the side. Despite the quality of the furniture elements, it is the doors that are subject to the greatest wear and tear.

All types of wardrobe door repairs

offers . We will return the cabinet to its functional characteristics and save your budget for the purchase of new furniture.

Doors don't close tightly

The main reason that the doors do not fit tightly to the frame is that the stopper is not clearly fixed on the lower guides. The stopper is located in a groove near the edge of the guide, where the roller wheel slips, thanks to which the door is fixed. Light tapping with the tool will help you adjust the stopper to the right place. You can use a screwdriver to tighten loose screws. The main thing is to make sure that the door does not start to roll back. The appearance of a creaking sound while the door is moving is a signal that the rollers have begun to become dirty. Necessary:

Clean the guides from dust and dirt;
Lubricate the moving parts of the roller with special oil (apply a small amount to the roller axis);
Roll the door several times to distribute the oil evenly.

Types of breakdowns and repairs of sliding wardrobes

Mirror replacement

Cabinets can be equipped with mirrors that are glued to the outer surface, or the doors themselves can be made of mirror sheets. A mirror is a fragile material and can crack or even break if hit. It is also easy to scratch. In such cases, the only repair option is to replace the mirror. To replace a coupe mirror, you first need to remove the door. To do this, you need to disconnect the stoppers.

There are several types of stoppers:

One view is opened by turning the locking flag along the vertical axis.
Another view can be opened using a screwdriver by bending the stopper down.
The third type is stoppers, which themselves pop out of the groove when the doors are lifted.
There may also be a design that does not have stoppers. In this version, the rollers are inserted into the groove using springs. If you have such a case, it is better to remove the door with two people. One person lifts and the other presses the spring and releases the rollers from the grooves.

The door must be carefully lifted up and then pulled down towards you. Next, we lower it and remove the top, after which the door needs to be put down.

After this, you can begin replacing the glass. Place the door leaf on a flat surface. If the glass is glued, then you need to carefully separate the broken mirror with a knife.

Next, we clean the surface of the door leaf, apply a special self-adhesive film and glue a new mirror.

For better mounting of the mirror, it is good to combine thick double-sided tape with colorless sanitary silicone. Silicone sealant takes longer to dry, but is more flexible and your mirror will not come off during sudden shocks.

After you have laid the mirror and until the tape has completely stuck, you can level it (it moves a little, by 1-2 mm). Then the mirror must be pressed down and left for several hours. After this, the door is put back in place in the reverse order.

Video: how to glue a mirror to a cabinet door (using chipboard as an example)

Roller repair

The most common breakdown in a wardrobe is the repair of rollers. If your closet doors are difficult to open, then it's time to pay attention to the rollers. It happens that it is enough to clean the rollers and the cabinet can continue to be used. But it may also be that the rollers need to be replaced.

To do this, you need to determine which rollers - upper or lower - have failed. Next we remove the door, as described earlier. Now, using a screwdriver, we can replace the damaged roller with a new one of the same type.

If the roller fails

Replacing the roller, if during operation it has changed its shape or worn out, causing the door to sag and slide, is quite easy to do.

To do this you need:

Purchase a set of new videos;
Remove the sliding doors from the guides (each roller has a special latch);
Unscrew the old rollers and thoroughly clean the mounting area;
Using screws, install a new set and return the doors to their place.

It is necessary to “run in” the doors in order to, if necessary, adjust the height of each wheel.

When is it necessary to replace the rollers and guides of a wardrobe door?

There are a number of typical breakdowns that lead to the need to repair the wardrobe door and replace rollers and guides :

· The canvas gutters are clogged with debris and dust;

· The locking mechanism is not positioned correctly;

· The track is not firmly fixed on the frame;

· The stopper constantly falls out of the groove;

· The guides are deformed;

· The rollers are completely worn out.

When the tracks are overgrown with dust and debris, they do not allow the wheel to move smoothly, which is why the door movement is disrupted and the rollers wear out. In addition, the problem can be caused by storing a large number of things on the cabinet doors, which leads to deformation of the metal guides. Loose screws that secure the side edges cause misalignment of the doors, the movement of the door is accompanied by vibration and, as a result, damaged fittings.

If you notice any malfunctions in the operation of the door mechanism, then immediately use the service of replacing rollers and guides from.

What is included in the list of services for repairing wardrobe doors with replacement of rollers and guides

Carpenters and joiners with experience and the proper level of qualifications are ready to provide the full range of necessary services to return comfortable operation to cabinet doors. We work with both lower and upper sliding systems. We provide services at your home so that you don’t waste your time transporting furniture to the workshop and back. All services are completed in just an hour!

Replacing sliding wardrobe rollers and repairing guides is a complex and attention-demanding process that includes (repair and replacement):

· Vertical and horizontal profiles;

· Lower and upper guides;

· Lower and upper rollers;

· Screws for assembly and adjustment;

· Seals;

· Plugs.

We provide a long-term guarantee for all types of services provided.

Replacement of mirrors and glass in doors

If the most fragile part of the door is too damaged or broken during operation, or there is a desire to replace an out-of-fashion pattern, its replacement is carried out in the following way:

The doors are removed and untwisted;
The dimensions of the element being replaced are taken, and the hole markings are also measured;
You can order a mirror, colored glass or with photo printing at a factory or glass workshop. If the equipment necessary for drilling holes is not available, this service can be ordered for an additional fee;
Often it is necessary to replace the rubber gasket in the profile and partition strips. It is designed to ensure that the glass element fits tightly into the product and does not dangle when the door moves;
The finished glass or mirror is mounted into the door with screws, and it is carefully checked that it is securely fastened.

Reconstruction of filling and frame

If the wardrobe was installed ten years ago, and the apartment has undergone many changes during this time, the furniture product may not fit into the updated interior due to the shade of the wood or non-functional content.
The filling of most modern cabinets is made of white chipboard due to its low cost. However, it is still better to choose an edge made of PVC rather than paper. It is much stronger and more reliable in operation.

It is necessary to carefully consider all the distances - between sections, the height of mezzanines and shelves, the depth of the cabinet.

ATTENTION! When marking the cabinet, you need to remember that the thickness of the chipboard can be 16 or 18 mm! These values are very important!

Replacement of all chipboard parts is carried out as follows:

Old elements are being dismantled;
They are measured. Or a plan of new elements for the cabinet is drawn up;
The chipboard is cut and the parts are glued with an edge on the visible side;
With the help of a screwdriver, confirmations and screws, all elements are assembled into a single structure.

Drawer repair

Most often, replacing drawers is due to the fact that the guide system fails. To do this, you need to remove the drawer, unscrew the guides and replace them with new ones. This is done very simply, all you need is a screwdriver and a new system purchased in advance.

ADVICE! Roller guides quickly fail due to the fragility of the mechanism. It is better to choose ball guides as a replacement. In hardware stores you can now also find guides with a shock-absorbing effect, which ensures smooth closing.

To strengthen the box and change its appearance, you can also:

Replace the bottom of the drawer with either a more durable chipboard base or upgrade the fiberboard;
In place of the old handle, screw a more modern version.

How to repair a wardrobe if the doors are hard to open

The doors move reluctantly when something interferes with them. Most often it is dust and dirt that gets stuck in the grooves. So first check the guides. If necessary, use a thin object to remove any debris and then vacuum. Never lubricate the guides with oil to reduce friction. This will not solve the problem, but will worsen it: dust will only stick to the oil more strongly. If the profile is clean, then the door itself has probably sagged. In this situation, it rubs against the guide and jams. To fix this, raise the doors a few millimeters by turning the roller screws on each side clockwise.

Such a breakdown may also be an advanced case of a previous problem. Lift the sash and inspect the roller: if it is worn out, replace it with a new one.

Replacing doors

A complete replacement of sliding doors makes sense if the design has completely fallen into disrepair or does not correspond to modern design trends.

For a global rework you need:

Decide on a design. Choose a more modern material - glossy and mirror surfaces visually increase the space; you can use a combined option. You can select a design using a large number of photographs on the Internet;
decide on the sizes. If the cabinet has a non-standard size, the guides and horizontal profile must be trimmed;
purchase or order from the workshop all the necessary components and equip the place;
prepare all the details. Carry out cutting and drilling;
assemble the structure and install it in place of the old one.

Renewing cladding using self-adhesive film

Cosmetic updating of the frame can be done using the popular self-adhesive film, the color range of which is very widely represented in the furniture industry.

To do this you need:

Sand the chipboard frame, removing the top layer of film;
Remove dust and remaining shavings with a slightly damp cloth;
carefully adjust the size of the film to the size of the part;
remove the protective film and, starting from the top edge, pressing tightly against the chipboard, glue it to the frame.

Useful tips

When planning a reconstruction or repair of a wardrobe, it is important to remember that the more correctly the work is done, the longer the wardrobe will last.
Careful planning of updated parts will extend the life of the product for many years.
By making your stocking shelves adjustable, you'll create a practical closet for years to come. Holes in 5 cm vertical increments will help you rearrange the shelves to a convenient height.
Mirror doors will last much longer if the reverse side is covered with a special protective film.
If there are children in the apartment who, while playing, can touch the glass door, it is better to make more dividing strips. Due to this, the shock absorption of the door will increase, and damaged elements will be easier to replace than the entire structure.

Repair of wardrobe doors

The blade has fallen out of the guides or is skewed;
The wardrobe door does not close completely;
There is an incomprehensible noise when opening and closing;
The structure moves jerkily or even jams;
The exterior finish was damaged, scratches, defects, and dents appeared.

To return wardrobe doors to their functionality and attractive appearance, a professional approach is required. Even the slightest deviation in work greatly reduces the service life of furniture. Therefore, do not try to fix wardrobe doors yourself, you will only make the problem worse.

Our company repairs wardrobe doors