Fitting New Cabinet Bottom

Cardboard patterns. Find the two parallel sides and cut to pieces that width and use them to scribe each end. Then lay them overlapping, scribe the obvious line, tape them together, and you’ve got a full size, real life, gen-yoo-wine template.

-- "...in his brain, which is as dry as the remainder biscuit after a voyage, he hath strange places cramm'd with observation, the which he vents in mangled forms." --Shakespeare, "As You Like It"

Welcome to LJS Tom. I agree with Lee,his suggestion should work fine.

-- Lynn "If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right". Henry Ford

Lee….thank you!

What a terrific approach! I’ve stared at this thing over and over, but your idea completely eluded me. It’s simple, quick, and accurate. Thank you.

Now, I need to buy a new big tool so I have some cardboard. How can the spouse argue with that, since it’s for her cabinet?

By the way, I like your quote. Surely, my brain has been a dry biscuit in this case.

Best regards,
Tom

-- Tom

Lynn…. thank you also.
Tom

-- Tom

I’ve done this before for a customer. Water damage in the bottom of the sink cabinet so I laid in a new piece of 1/4” ply. The templates as suggested above are how I did it. Just be cautious of the size of the piece. You’ll probably have to fit the new bottom in two pieces otherwise, you may not get it in the cabinet.

Thank you BB.
Your point about fitting the piece in is a good one.

I had to remove the entire bottom because it’s flakeboard and was badly damaged. The bottom was connected with dowels.

My thinking at this point is to set the dowels on one side, lower the new piece into place, and then dowel through the left side which is accesible by pulling out the dishwasher.

I need to stabilize the bottom of the side panels which were also damaged by water. I’m thinking of Minwax’s Wood Hardener, but I don’t know if the solvents will affect the glue in the flakeboard. I need to test a spot.

I’ve also considered hanging the bottom piece from the sides using angle braces. It would then be removable.The problem is further complicated because the cabinet uses european style legs which are fastened to the bottom.

All in all, it’s a complicated repair to do.

-- Tom

Posting a picture might get you some good ideas too.

BB….great idea….thank you.

Here are photos….if I did this correctly. The circled area is the part of the cabinet side I have to stabilize.

-- Tom

Yikes. That’s some water damage! What about losing a bit of space out of the bottom of the cabinet? Screw / glue a ledger around the bottom of the cabinet for the new bottom to sit on? If the sides are not strong enough to hold the ledger, you could use construction adhesive to apply a new skin to the sides although you’ll have to figure out something for the hinges.

Brad

Thinking a bit more on it, your ledgers could extend right down to the floor to hold the cabinet up.

Thank you again Brad.

The ledger is a good idea. I’ve considered it. It would solve the issue of the legs having to be supported on the bottom of the cabinet, and by having a full contact surface with the damaged side bottoms, would probably be stronger than just dowels or screws.

If I do the ledger, the facing on the bottom piece will have to be wider than the original edge banding on the old bottom. But the doors close against the cabinet edges do I don’t think it will be a problem.

I really appreciate all of your thought on this.

Sincerely,

-- Tom

Sounds like you have it under control. Post some pics when you get it done!

I had to do a similar repair, and cut 2X4s to the correct width to support the new bottom. Once the new
wooden bottom was installed, I covered it with linoleum cut just a hair larger than the wooden bottom so
it would curve up on the sides and the back creating waterproof catch basin. The original problem was
caused by a small drip from a leaky faucet connection that went unnoticed. I now try to remember to
periodically check all the sink cabinets to prevent another problem.

-- As ever, Gus-the 74 yr young apprentice carpenter