Most kitchen cabinets, especially those that are made of wood are built to last for many years. Not only this, but high-quality wood cabinets are designed with timeless beauty so they become the perfect addition to any home’s kitchen style. But, as with all things, time and wear and tear can compromise your cabinets’ longevity.
Sometimes you may look at your cabinets and feel like damage has appeared out of nowhere. But the damage done has been happening for years before you even notice it. Most of the time, temperature fluctuations and humidity cause the most problems. It’s true that humidity leads to contracting and expanding wood. If you see dents and chips and exposed joint lines, most likely temperature is to blame. However, there are also other issues that cause damage to your cabinets and may have you scrambling to find a good cabinet refinisher in a hurry. Some other culprits are water damage, faulty installation, cabinet relocation and unprepared wood that is painted. For this blog, we will explore five things that can do damage to your cabinets. So read on to find out what these major compromising elements are.
1. Temperature Changes and Extreme Moisture
Humidity and varying kitchen temperatures are the leading causes of cabinet damage. This is because wood is a natural material that adjusts to the temperature and humidity of your kitchen after years. You would think the fact that cabinets adjust to temperatures and moisture will keep the wood safe, but even the best kitchen cabinets on the market can swell up in summer and high moisture months. The reason for this fluctuation that can cause cracks in the wood center panel and doors is that wood absorbs extra moisture in the house during these humid months. When winter comes, humidity lowers and the wood compresses. Over time, the paint wears down because of the wood’s constant adjusting. You may see tiny holes or fractures in the corners, doors and joints. But there’s good news. If you manage the humidity of your kitchen, these paint problems won’t crop up. What’s the secret? Keeping your kitchen’s humidity level between 40 to 50% will prevent these wood problems from occurring.
2. Water Damage
If you’re like most people, your kitchen is the busiest room in your house. All this constant activity makes spills and stains on your cabinets and other painted wood surfaces inevitable. If your cabinets absorb the smallest amount of water, the paint will be compromised. Cracked joints in corner cabinets, bubbling or peeling can occur because of the expansion of the wood. That being said, if you have plywood kitchen cabinets, you won’t run into this problem. But plywood doesn’t have the rich textures and elegance of solid wood. To avoid this type of damage, be sure to clean spills immediately.
3. Not Cleaning Properly Before Painting
If your cabinets aren’t cleaned or prepped before painting, cracks can generate across a panel or in a small piece of the wood. The paint could bubble or shatter if the cabinets aren’t properly cleaned prior to painting. All dirt, grease and dust must be removed before the cabinets are refinished. Additionally, you shouldn’t paint cabinets while they are wet. This can cause bubbling and peeling. For this reason, you should always hire a professional kitchen cabinet to complete your job. Kitchen cabinet painting is an intensive process that isn’t a DIY project.
4. Insect Damage
Nobody likes to see bugs in their kitchen, but if you live in humid area it’s bound to happen occasionally. Roaches, for instance, love the built-up greasy residue behind the range. Termites also love wet environments, and they can cause terrible damage to your wooden cabinets. Because bugs like high moisture areas, kitchens are places they like to build their colonies. It’s very important to have your home inspected by a pest control pro on a regular basis or your kitchen cabinets can be seriously compromised. Not only this, but infestation is sure to spread to other parts of your home such as the bathrooms where they can damage those cabinets.
5. Faulty Installation
Most homeowners exert a lot of effort to prevent scratches and dents on their cabinets. However, not everyone has them installed correctly. This can cause serious problems in the future. Cabinets have a lot of joints. These include rabbet joints, butt joints, dado joints and corner joints for example. The overall structure of the cabinets can weaken as a result. If you want a product that’s going to last and be done right, once again contact a local professional cabinet refinisher.
If you’re in Upstate South Carolina, give us a call here at Greenville Refinishing. We are the upstate’s premier cabinet refinishers with over 50 years of experience in the business. We use only the finest craftmanship when working in your home, and you can be sure the job is done correctly. To see photos of our work, check out our gallery. Before you decide to buy new cabinets, call us! We can save you lots of money and make your cabinets look like new unless they are too damaged to be refinished. Call us at 864-252-5106. We will be happy to come to your home and offer you a direct quote for the job. Happy renovating!
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