Ways to Stop Rattling Cabinet Doors When Building Them

Make Panels Tight

• A rattling door can be caused by several factors, the two most common being that the door isn't sitting right in the cabinet and that the panel is loose in the door. To avoid the latter problem, cut the panel so that it fits snugly into the notches on the interior edges of the door frame. If the edge of the panel is too narrow, it will rattle inside the door frame when the door is moved. Build the door frame parts and notch them before you build the panel, and set your tools using a piece of scrap wood that you can test in the notch before making the panel itself.

Position Latches Accurately

• If your cabinet doors are kept shut with a latch that clicks into a hole or plate in the frame, they could rattle because the latch or the plate is not positioned correctly. If the tongue of the latch in the side of the door is too far back, or the hole it clicks into is too far forward, this will allow play in the door when it is shut and may cause it to rattle. To avoid this, measure carefully when you install the latch and the plate, and test them to ensure the door is secure before you put everything together.

Use Bumpers

• An easy way to minimize the risk of rattling doors is to use bumpers. These are small, adhesive plastic circles that stick to the back surface of the door and press up against the face of the cabinet when the door is closed. They are usually used in conjunction with self-closing hinges so that the cabinet door is gently pressed back against the cabinet face with the bumper between them. If all of these elements are positioned properly, the door will open and close almost silently and won't rattle at all when it is closed.