How To Dry Out And Repair Kitchen Cabinets Damaged By Water
Your cabinets can become ruined by a flood or a leak. Water damage is especially common in particle board cabinets. Even a tiny amount of water can cause them to swell or split, or even fall apart. Water can also cause damage to MDF and solid wooden cabinets. Water damage cabinets can be fixed by quickly drying them and removing any water. This guide will show you how to fix water damaged cabinets in your kitchen.
How To Repair Kitchen Cabinets Damaged By Water
The most susceptible to water damage are sink cabinets. However, water leaks, burst pipes, floods and flooding can also cause serious damage to your kitchen’s cabinet boxes. These steps will help you repair damage to cabinets that have been wet or absorbed water.
1. Clear Out All Cabinets
You must first empty your cabinets. Food items can be kept in plastic or glass containers. However, you should throw out any food that is not in a bag or box. Towels and other fabrics can be washed and thrown away with paper goods.
2. Take Out The Water
You must then remove as much water from your cabinets as possible. It will soak into your cabinets, eventually causing structural damage. To remove water, use thick towels or blankets. Next, wipe the kitchen cabinets dry using towels. Your cabinets should now feel dry to the touch.
3. Remove Kitchen Cabinet Doors
Also, you should remove all doors. This will speed up drying and reduce the risk of damage. The particle board may sag from the weight of the doors. To dry the doors, move them to another room. To prevent them from warping, lay them flat.
4. Cabinets That Can Be Used Dry And Wet
Once the doors are out of the way, dry the kitchen cabinets. You should not use household fans. It will take too much time to dry the particle board. Your cabinets are more likely to fall apart when they dry. You can rent high-volume fans or structural drying dehumidifiers instead from a rental company. A typical kitchen can be dried in a day using two to three fans with one dehumidifier. Every four hours, check the cabinets and adjust the fans as necessary. Dry behind and under cabinets.
5. Repair Kitchen Cabinets Damaged By Water
You might be able repair cabinets depending on how severe the water damage was. Use clamps and carpenter’s glue to fix any damage caused by water. Spread the glue between the layers of cabinets that have been damaged by water, and then press the cabinets back together with the clamps. To straighten out cabinets that are extremely damaged or warped, you can use 2×4 boards as braces. To hide damage, you can screw the doors to the back when fixing them. After the doors and cabinets have dried you can remove the braces.
6. Repair Damaged Cabinets
Water damaged cabinets can’t always be saved. Particle board cabinets are more susceptible to bursting than wooden cabinets because water weakens glue. They will not be fixed if they begin to crumble. The only way to fix damaged cabinets is to take them out and replace them with new ones. You might have to cover the cabinets with wood stain or veneer if you are unable to find similar cabinets.
7. Clean Water Stains
Even if your cabinets were not damaged by water, water stains are likely to remain. You can remove water stains by coating the wood with oxalic acids. To remove the finish, you’ll need to sand down the cabinet surface.
Mix the oxalic acids with water. Follow the instructions on the label. Use a brush to apply your solution to stained cabinets. Let it dry. For minor stains, one coat might be sufficient. However, it is best to apply two coats. After the stain has been removed, neutralize the acid. Use half a cup baking soda and one gallon of water to wash the cabinets. Next, rinse the cabinets thoroughly with warm water. Dry them completely.
8. Deodorize And Disinfect
Your cabinets may be dry but mold and odors can still grow over time. Use one cup bleach to clean your cabinets. This will kill bacteria and remove odors. Open your windows to get rid of unpleasant odors. Sprinkle baking soda on the odors. Then vacuum it up in morning. This may take some time, but baking soda absorbs most odors.
9. Refinish Your Cabinets
You may have to refinish the whole cabinet in some cases due to water damage. To remove any existing finishes, lightly sand the wood. Use a damp cloth to clean the wood. Let it air dry. To protect the wood, use a sealant and make a base for the stain. Then apply an even coat of stain. To protect the wood, finish the process by applying a top coat or finish coat. For best results, always follow the instructions on your label.
What Causes Water Damage To Kitchen Cabinets?
Water is often underestimated, but it is an incredible solvent that can destroy or damage almost anything. Although your kitchen cabinets can withstand a splash or spill, water will eventually seep into the wood surface. Kitchen cabinet water damage can be caused by the way they are made. Particle board is the main ingredient in almost all kitchen cabinets. You can make a variety of manufactured wood products by mixing small pieces of wood with glue. The veneer is usually applied to the particle board’s outside to give it a more solid look.
Two things can happen when participle boards cabinets get wet. The wood absorbs water and begins to swell. The glue that holds the cabinet together is also disintegrated by the water. The cabinet will fall faster as the wood absorbs more water. Water will eventually seep into cabinets. It is important to drain the water immediately and dry your cabinets. You can call a Fayetteville water damage restoration company like 911 Restoration of Fayetteville if you don’t have enough time or the equipment.
Get Kitchen Cabinets Dried And Repaired After Water Damage
If you are unable to dry or repair damaged kitchen cabinets from water, we can help. 911 Restoration of Fayetteville provides water damage repair services that are fast and reliable. Call us at 910-889-8086 to receive a free visual inspection from our restoration specialists.
