Wondering how to deal with water-damaged kitchen cabinets? Here is how you can fix water-damaged cupboards.
If you have water-damaged kitchen cabinets, then you need to act quickly to fix them. This is because water can destroy the exterior of your cabinets and damage the finishing of the wood. In most instances, extensive water damage can also ruin your cabinets for good. This is especially true if you have a water leak inside the cabinets from under your kitchen sink.
If your kitchen cabinets are made of plywood, then you might face warping, which will lead to a complete cabinet renovation. Even though you should know the basics of repairing water-damaged cabinets, it always pays off to hire a professional service to assess the damage and help you with the repairs, particularly if the damage is severe.
So, here’s everything that you need to do to fix water-damaged kitchen cabinets:
Assess the Damage
Firstly, you need to assess the severity of the damage incurred to your cabinets. This will largely depend on how your cabinets got damaged in the first place, via a burst pipe, leaking sink water, or high humidity.
As you’re taking a look at your kitchen cabinets, don’t forget to evaluate whether they are structurally sound or not. Check to see if the plywood has warped. Assess the stability of the glue joints. See if the shelves in the cabinets are sagging and waterlogged. Evaluate the overall damage so that you can come up with an action plan to deal with it. It will also help you communicate clearly with a professional water damage and restoration company in case the damage is beyond the scope of a simple DIY job.
Prepare the Supplies
Now that you’ve gauged the severity of the structural damage, figure out how you’re going to go about repairing the cabinets. Firstly, let the cabinets dry completely before doing anything. Meanwhile, gather all the necessary supplies including clamps, carpenter’s glue, and screws.
Although the exact fixes will depend entirely on the severity of the damage, you can start by fixing the delamination. You can do that by spreading the glue between the layers of delamination. Then, tightly clamp the sheets together with C-clamps.
Another great way to go about fixing the cabinets is to check for bracing that’s separating. If you spot any, then you’ll have to take down the old braces and reset the cabinets with new screws and glue. The screws will ensure that your cabinet is stable and safe to use.
Swap the Damaged Parts of the Cabinets
If any parts of your cabinets are brutally damaged, then it’s time to throw them out and replace them with new parts. For instance, if it’s an under the sink leak that you’re dealing with, then the shelf of your cabinet that’s right underneath the sink might be too waterlogged from the damage and you’ll have to replace it. At this point, it’s best to seek the help of a professional as they’ll be better equipped to deal with such a task.
When it comes to water damage, it’s always best to seek professional help since you might not see the additional water damage or mold hidden in the layers of your cabinets, which a professional with trained eyes will be able to spot.
For professional and reliable water damage and home restoration services, visit our website today!
