Hello World! Welcome Friends! Kitchen cabinets are often susceptible to water damage, especially when a sink or water faucet is directly on top. But a leaking sink or water tap isn’t the only cause of water damage to your kitchen cabinet. The damage could also be caused by high humidity levels, burst pipes, and floods. Before repairing a water-damaged kitchen cabinet, it’s necessary first to understand the cause of the damage. That would mean checking for leaks or ventilation issues and then fixing them first.
How you will carry out the repair exercise also depends on the make or design of the kitchen cabinet. Some materials are more susceptible to water damage than others, and replacing the cabinet material may be the better option. We have discussed more on this topic below, including the types of kitchen cabinets and how to protect them from water damage.
Kitchen Cabinets and Water Damage
Any piece of material that allows water to sip in will eventually become damaged. Provided your cabinet is made of wood or any composite material, there are high chances that it can absorb the water content in the atmosphere. This can lead to rotting, bacterial growth, mold growth, swelling, and delamination.
In most kitchens, water has been known to destroy the cabinet’s outer shell, damage the finishing, and even darken the wooden surface. Gradual and unnoticed water leaks can also cause the cabinet surfaces to warp. If the level of damage is severe, this could require a total cabinet overhaul. Below are some tips to consider when repairing a water-damaged kitchen cabinet.
1. Check the Level of Damage
Before you can repair your kitchen cabinet, you want to understand the level of damage. This means finding the source of water or leaks causing the damage and the most affected areas. The goal is to know if you need to do some simple repairs or to find a professional who will fix the water damage or help you choose a new kitchen cabinet.
2. Stop Further Damage
Now that you know what needs to be repaired or what needs to be replaced entirely, you want to fix what you can as soon as possible to stop further damage. This could be as simple as fixing a leaking pipe or tightening a loose water faucet. The other simple interventions you may handle include but are not limited to cleaning the cabinet surfaces, applying a sealant to the leaking parts, removing rotten wood parts, etc. Warping of the plywood, dark spots on the wood surfaces, or delamination are signs of larger structural issues, so you want to schedule some professional water damage restoration services.
Understanding the Make of Your Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are often made from two popular materials: plywood and MDF (Medium-density Fiberboard.) Each of these materials has its unique benefits and drawbacks. Ideally, MDF cabinets are common in most homes due to their lower prices and versatility. Their surfaces are smooth and consistent and can support various decorative designs. However, this material can soak up water and swell unless it’s well sealed on all edges.
Since it’s an engineered material, MDF comprises fine particles and doesn’t hold screws very well. Once it starts soaking water, MDF cabinets can easily shift, plus their weight can add to the warping, making the damage quite visible.
On the other hand, plywood is made from several layers of wood veneer. It is generally more robust than MDF, and since it doesn’t soak up as much water, it’s relatively less susceptible to water damage. This material also features a wood grain and can be a perfect pick if you want a stained wood surface.
One of the drawbacks of plywood is that it’s expensive, especially for the higher grade and rare wood species. It’s also hard to get a perfectly smooth cut with plywood due to the course wood particles; hence it requires proper edge banding for that perfect finish.
Whether your damaged kitchen cabinet is made of plywood or MDF, working with a water damage professional is the way to go. Here, you’ll benefit from high-quality repair or replacement services, plus you’ll get insights on how to care for your cabinet to avoid further damage.
Protecting Your Kitchen Cabinet
Now that you know the causes of water damage and how to identify a complex problem from a minor one, you may also want to learn some water-damage prevention techniques. More often, your kitchen cabinets are well-laminated to prevent soaking in water. However, they are not waterproof. That means water may still penetrate the poorly laminated surfaces and cause damage. Here are some water damage prevention steps you can take:
- Caulk the seams between countertops and sink edges to prevent leaks.
- Seal all the gaps between the countertops and backsplashes.
- Improve ventilation in the kitchen areas to reduce humidity.
- Routine check for leaks around the drains, kitchen supply line, and appliances.
- Clean up spills to reduce the chances they will seep into the cabinets.
Conclusion
Depending on the level of damage, repairing your kitchen cabinet can be challenging, requiring skills and the appropriate set of tools and equipment. And unless the damage is so insignificant, handling the repair yourself may result in substandard results, or even worse, you could end up causing more damage to your piping system or cabinet area.
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