Replacing Hardware for Existing Odd Size Holes

Adjustable drawer pullsNot all hardware is made the same and sometimes the hardware that comes with the cabinets that are in your home are odd sized.  This can mean that there is an issue when replacing the existing odd size holes with other hardware.  How do you make the new hardware fit the cabinets when the holes are too large or too small for your new hardware?  There are a few things that you can do to get your new cabinet pulls and hinges to fit without having to get new cabinets entirely.

  • Large Holes – When the holes are larger than the screws for the new hardware you can do one of two things.  You can either purchase inserts to make the holes smaller and allow them to be able to fit the new screws, or you can fill them with putty and drill new holes.  Many people prefer to use the inserts because they are easier to use.  It also keeps the cabinets from having too many holes.  Drilling new holes can offer a tighter fit for the new hardware so that can be a positive for that method.

  • Small Holes – These are much easier to deal with as long as they are positioned in the same spots as the new hardware needs to be.  All you need to do in this situation is drill the holes a bit larger to accommodate the larger screws. If they are not spaced correctly, then you need to use what holes you can by drilling larger, plugging the ones that are not needed with putty and then drill more holes for the rest of the hardware.
  • Misplaced Holes – Some hardware can have odd hole placement as well as size.  In these extreme cases, you may need to completely start from scratch.  This means filling the holes with wood putty, sanding them down and drilling new holes.  If you do not fill the holes with properly, you end up with cabinets that look like Swiss cheese.  We have much easier options such as adjustable handles and backplates that can eliminate the need for any of this with odd hole placement.

Not all cabinet hardware is created the same.  For this reason, it can take a bit of work to make the new hardware work with the old odd holes.  Use time and care to make sure that the cabinets look their best with the new hardware.

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