--- title: Soft Close Cabinet Installation Jacksonville FL canonical: "https://kleincarpentryjax.com/services/cabinet-maker/soft-close-cabinet-installation/" description: "Soft close cabinet installation in Jacksonville, FL: three retrofit paths, hinge types, cost per door and per drawer, and when to skip it." --- # Soft-Close Cabinet Installation in Jacksonville, FL 1. [Home](/) 2. › 3. [Services](/services/) 4. › 5. [Cabinet Maker](/services/cabinet-maker/) 6. › 7. Soft-Close Cabinet Installation Somebody in your house shuts the cabinet doors like they are mad at them, and you hear it a room away. Soft close cabinet installation in Jacksonville, FL is one of the smaller [cabinet upgrades we handle](/services/cabinet-maker/), and almost always a retrofit. What decides the cost is the hinges on your doors. ![Kitchen cabinet door part way closed on a new soft close hinge](/_astro/soft-close-cabinet-installation-1.wps1XR6d_1IlFA8.webp) ## Three Soft Close Retrofit Paths A soft close retrofit goes one of three ways, and your cabinets allow one or two. Path What happens Works if Effort Replace the hinge Soft close hinge in the existing cup You have Euro cup hinges 10 min a door Add a damper Piston clips to hinge or frame Almost any door 5 min per door Replace the glides Soft close slides The drawer box allows it 20 to 40 min per drawer Doors and drawers are separate decisions at separate prices, and plenty of kitchens are worth doing on the drawers only. ## Identifying Your Hinge Type Open a door and look at the hinge. That is the whole decision. A Euro cup hinge has a round barrel seated in a 35 mm bore in the back of the door, and takes a direct soft close replacement: no drilling, no new holes. A face-frame hinge screws to the door edge and the frame face, knuckle showing. There is no drop-in soft close version, so you add a damper or convert to concealed hinges, boring a 35 mm cup in every door. Older Ortega, Murray Hill and Riverside kitchens are face-frame, and anything built here after 1995 is usually Euro. ![Soft close hinge fitted inside a cabinet door](/_astro/soft-close-cabinet-installation-2.qrIjvZF-_ZcRVVV.webp) ## Soft Close Hinges Soft close hinges build the damper into the arm, so nothing clipped on can knock loose. On a Euro cup kitchen this is the clean answer: same cup, same plate pattern, door position unchanged. We check overlay first, since a full overlay hinge on a half overlay door will not close, and plate height second. Most catch the last 2 to 3 in of travel and are rated to about 40 in of door height, so a heavy [glass front door](/services/cabinet-maker/glass-front-cabinets/) wants a third hinge. ![Drawer with a soft close damper on its glide](/_astro/soft-close-cabinet-installation-3.B8K_mtHk_eeBin.webp) ## Cabinet Damper Add-Ons A cabinet damper is a piston that clips inside the box or onto the hinge arm and catches the door in the last inch. It is the one path open to every kitchen, face-frame included, and costs the least. The tradeoff is a visible part a stack of pots can knock loose, and it does nothing for the hinge. It suits a rental, a [garage cabinet](/services/cabinet-maker/garage-cabinets/) run, or a kitchen you will replace soon. ![Kitchen with all doors and drawers newly retrofitted](/_astro/soft-close-cabinet-installation-4.BDF4-tiz_Xw9J0.webp) ## Soft Close Drawer Slides Soft close drawer slides are the upgrade people notice most, since a drawer of silverware is louder than any door. Slide type Mount Drawer box needed Load rating Side-mount ball bearing Box sides 1/2 in clearance each side 75 to 100 lb Undermount Under the box Notched back, 1/2 in bottom 75 to 120 lb Side-mount is the straightforward retrofit and fits most existing boxes. Undermount rides smoother but needs a box built for it, which on older cabinets means [new drawer boxes](/services/cabinet-maker/custom-drawers/). Drawers that already drag need [drawer glide repair](/services/cabinet-maker/drawer-glide-repair/) first. ## What a Soft Close Upgrade Costs Scope Typical installed range Damper added $8 to $18 per door Soft close hinge swap $25 to $55 per door Convert to concealed hinges $45 to $90 per door Side-mount soft close slides $55 to $110 per drawer 25 doors, 10 drawers, hinges and slides $1,200 to $2,400 Three things move a soft close upgrade price: whether your hinges take a direct swap, drawer count, and whether the boxes carry the slides you want. These are typical Jacksonville ranges, and a quote takes seeing one hinge and one drawer. ## Is It Worth Doing Yes on a kitchen you plan to keep more than three years, and yes on drawers almost regardless. No on one you are replacing within the year, since new cabinets include it. If you plan to [reface](/services/cabinet-maker/cabinet-refacing/) or put [new doors](/services/cabinet-maker/cabinet-door-replacement/) on soon, wait and bundle it, since the hinges come off anyway. Soft close fixes none of what people hope. A crooked door, a sagging shelf or a stripped hinge screw are [repairs](/services/cabinet-maker/cabinet-repair/), best done first. ## Why Jacksonville Homeowners Choose Klein Carpentry 4.8 ★ ### Rated by 51 Google Reviewers Klein Carpentry holds a 4.8 star average across [51 Google reviews](https://maps.google.com/?cid=7803379908473648836&g_mp=CiVnb29nbGUubWFwcy5wbGFjZXMudjEuUGxhY2VzLkdldFBsYWNlEAIYBCAA). Homeowners keep mentioning the same things: fast replies, crews who show up when they say they will, and attention to detail. Every soft-close cabinet installation project gets a written quote, a clear schedule and a daylight walkthrough at the end. Humidity ### Built for Florida's Climate Wood gains and loses moisture with the air around it, and the USDA Forest Products Laboratory's [Wood Handbook](https://research.fs.usda.gov/treesearch/62200) shows how much it swells and shrinks as a result. We plan every soft-close cabinet installation job for that movement: stable sheet goods, acclimated lumber, moisture-resistant material near slabs and wet rooms, and joints with room to move. 3 Heights ### Fit to Your Actual Walls Jacksonville homes range from plaster and concrete block to square new construction. We measure each opening at the floor, mid height and ceiling before building, then scribe the finished work to the wall. Depending on the piece, it is built in our shop and brought in finished or built on site in your home, so the fit stays tight either way. ## What Jacksonville Homeowners Say 4.8from [51 Google reviews](https://maps.google.com/?cid=7803379908473648836&g_mp=CiVnb29nbGUubWFwcy5wbGFjZXMudjEuUGxhY2VzLkdldFBsYWNlEAIYBCAA) - > I am thrilled to share my positive experience with Ray and Klein Carpentry. From start to finish, they exceeded my expectations in every way possible. Their professionalism and commitment to quality were evident from the moment they arrived, and they consistently delivered exceptional work throughout the entire project. One of the standout aspects of working with Ray and Klein Carpentry was their ability to accommodate my needs and desires. They took the time to truly understand what I wanted and went above and beyond to ensure that I was completely satisfied with the end result. Their attention to detail was impeccable, and they demonstrated an unwavering commitment to ensuring that every aspect of the project was completed to the highest possible standards. Ray and Nathan were an absolute pleasure to work with - not only were they skilled craftsmen, but they were also kind, funny, and genuine individuals who truly cared about ensuring that I was happy with their work. They were punctual, reliable, and always went the extra mile to ensure that the project was completed on time and within budget. The end result of their work was simply stunning - a beautiful 20-foot built-in shelving unit with crown molding, complemented by a gorgeous accent wall behind the TV. The craftsmanship and attention to detail were second to none, and I have received countless compliments on their work from friends and family. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend Ray and Klein Carpentry to anyone in need of their services. They are true professionals who take pride in their work and go above and beyond to ensure that their clients are completely satisfied. If you want exceptional quality and unparalleled customer service, look no further than Ray and Klein Carpentry - they truly are the best in the business. [Sam Scholten](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/105138397256252213126/reviews) · 3 years ago on Google - > Very happy with the professional work done by Klein Carpentry. We had wood accents done for the entrance way, great room and master bedroom. Fantastic craftsmanship and took the time to make it look perfect. Also had ceiling beams placed in the great room and master bedroom. They really complete both rooms. Lastly had wood accents for the half bath in the living area. Made a noticeable difference. Would highly recommend Klein Carpentry, highly detailed and professional. [Mike C](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/113480878755715617097/reviews) · a month ago on Google - > The level of quality Klein Carpentry has is next level. Their service is incredible and are very responsive and knowledgeable. They do all kinds of work. Highly recommend them for any projects you may have coming up! [Vladimir Orgunov](https://www.google.com/maps/contrib/102932875100955090697/reviews) · 4 months ago on Google Reviews from Google ## Frequently Asked Questions Can you add soft close without replacing my cabinets? Almost always. With Euro cup hinges it is a direct swap, and with face-frame hinges we add dampers or convert to concealed hinges. Do soft close hinges wear out in Florida humidity? The damping fluid is sealed, so humidity does not hurt it. What we do see in unconditioned garages and at the Beaches is corrosion on cheap plated hinges, so we spec stainless. Is soft close worth it on bathroom vanities? It is one of the better places for it, since [vanity](/services/cabinet-maker/bathroom-vanities/) doors get shut fast in the dark, and four doors is a cheap add. Will soft close work on my 1980s Jacksonville kitchen? Yes, usually by damper or conversion, since kitchens from that era here are face-frame. Conversion is the better result but means boring each door in the shop. How long does a whole kitchen take? A hinge and slide retrofit on a 25 door kitchen is one day, and damper-only work is a half day. Converting to concealed hinges adds several days of shop time. ## Related Cabinet and Carpentry Services - ### [Cabinet hardware installation](/services/cabinet-maker/cabinet-hardware-installation/) For new pulls - ### [Drawer glide repair](/services/cabinet-maker/drawer-glide-repair/) If drawers drag or drop - ### [Custom cabinetry](/services/carpentry/custom-cabinetry/) For built-ins with the same hardware - ### [All cabinet maker services](/services/cabinet-maker/) From Klein Carpentry Get a Free Quote Tell us about your soft-close cabinet installation project. 4.8[51 Google reviews](https://maps.google.com/?cid=7803379908473648836&g_mp=CiVnb29nbGUubWFwcy5wbGFjZXMudjEuUGxhY2VzLkdldFBsYWNlEAIYBCAA) ## Quiet the Kitchen Down Call [(904) 759-4988](tel:9047594988), open one cabinet door, and tell us what the hinge looks like. We will say which retrofit path your Jacksonville cabinets take and what it costs. Get A Free Quote Today