The majority of kitchen cabinets, particularly those made out of wood, are designed to survive for many years. The timeless elegance of high-quality solid wood cabinets makes them a perfect complement to any kitchen. However, no matter the material of the cabinet, as time passes, some form of damage is bound to happen. At first glance, this damage may appear to have come out of nowhere. Most cabinet damage is caused by fluctuations in humidity and temperature. Humidity in the kitchen may lead to the wood expanding and contracting. This can, for instance, cause the paint on your cabinets to chip and reveal the joint lines. Aside from that, water damage, faulty installation, relocating the cabinets, and unprepared wood prior to painting are all possibilities. For this preseason, we are going to discuss the top five things that can damage your kitchen cabinets.
Extreme Moisture and Temperature Change
Kitchen temperature and humidity fluctuations are the leading cause of cracks in the wood center panel and cabinet doors that damage your kitchen cabinets. Wood is a natural material that will adjust to the humidity and temperature of your house over time. However, even the best kitchen cabinets and wood countertops can swell in summer and other humid months because wood easily absorbs extra moisture from the air due to higher relative humidity. When winter arrives, the humidity lowers, causing the wood to compress. Additionally, kitchen cabinet paint wears off over time due to the wood’s continual movement. These flaws manifest as tiny openings or thin fractures in the cabinet’s doors, joints, or corners. That being said, if you manage the kitchen’s humidity properly, problems with painting won’t arise. On the other hand, if you wish to prevent cracks, you will need to maintain a constant humidity level of between 40 and 50 percent.
Damage Caused by Water
The kitchen is one of the busiest areas in the home, so it’s not surprising that water spills and stains are common on painted cabinet surfaces. If your high-quality wood cabinets or countertops absorb even a tiny bit of water, they can quickly lose their quality and beauty. Cracking of butt joints in corner cabinets, paint peeling or bubbling, and expansion of wood materials are all possible results. However, if you have plywood cabinets and countertops rather than solid wood ones, it’s highly unlikely that your cabinets will become damaged due to water alone.
Failing to Properly Prepare Cabinetry Prior to Painting
When the wood in your kitchen cabinets isn’t properly treated or prepped before the final painting process, cracks may form in either a small piece or across an entire panel. For instance, the paint may bubble or shatter if you work on an unclean surface. Therefore, you need to make sure to remove any dirt, grease, and dust from the wood surface before painting. It’s also not a good idea to paint your wood cabinet doors and panels while they’re still wet. This may cause bubbles to develop on the paint and eventually peel off, leaving behind unsightly fissures.
Household Pests Can Damage Your Kitchen Cabinets
No one wants to believe they have a problem with pests in their kitchen. It still can be. Cockroaches in particular are often attracted to the greasy residue that builds up behind the stove. Additionally, pests such as termites love moist environments in kitchen cabinets. This makes your kitchen cabinets the perfect place for them to establish their colony. Termites can seriously damage the woodwork inside your kitchen cabinets and in the process can wreak havoc on your home. That’s why it’s so important to regularly inspect your cabinets for signs of infestation so you can take immediate action to minimize further damage and prevent the infestation from spreading to other areas of your home.
Poor Installation
Failing to install it properly weakens the overall structure of a cabinet, which over time leads to cracks and damage. If you want your cabinets to last a long time without breaking, you need to use professionals who know how to correctly secure the joints and install the cabinets.
How to Increase the Longevity of Your Kitchen Cabinets?
If you have recently purchased or are planning to purchase a custom cabinet set for your kitchen and are looking for ways to make it last longer, you should:
Keep Them in Working Order
As soon as you notice that they are not performing properly, you must determine what is causing the problem and resolve it. As we have mentioned, leaving technical issues unattended can cause further damage to your kitchen cabinets.
Clean Them Frequently
Wardrobe cleaning is a tedious job that no one wants to do. However, you don’t need to be completely thorough. You can wipe it regularly with a damp cloth.
Minimize the Humidity in Your Kitchen to Avoid Damage to Your Kitchen Cabinets
Moisture is the worst enemy of kitchen cabinets. As a result, make sure to air out any cooking streams and deal with spilled liquid as soon as possible.
Conclusion
Now that you understand what the top five things that can damage your kitchen cabinets are, we hope that you will take the necessary precautions to protect your investment. Regularly following these tips will save your kitchen cabinet set a lot more for years to come.
For further information about kitchen and bathroom cabinets, and countertops or to add granite, marble, or quartz countertops to your kitchen and vanity tops to your bathroom, call Potomac Kitchen & Bath Now! You can also make a free appointment to get service in:
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