Updated at: 18-07-2022 - By: cnbusinessnews

Water damage in an undersink kitchen cabinet can be repaired by removing all of the contents and allowing it to dry. Steps for repairing and drying water-damaged cabinetry will be discussed below.

Additionally, we’ll address the causes of undersink water damage and solutions to safeguard your kitchen cabinetry from further water damage. Finally, we’ll discuss the expense of fixing, so stay with us!

What Is Kitchen Cabinets Water Damage?

Hardwood, plywood, veneer, particleboard, and MDF are just a few of the wood-based materials used to make kitchen cabinets. Although these are long-lasting materials for kitchen cabinets, they aren’t water-resistant..

Water damage can be tough to avoid, especially if you don’t know it’s already happening until your cabinets have been soaking in water for several hours or days.

Water Damaged Cabinet - Repair & Prevent - YouTube

The damage could be caused by a leak in the kitchen faucet or under the kitchen sink, water getting in from the outside, or the occasional splash of water throughout the years.

These variables might lead to the spread of water damage throughout the kitchen. As a result, moisture can seep into the subfloor, flooring, and drywall, where it can swiftly spread to other parts of the house.

Cabinet delamination and warping, particularly in plywood or medium-density fiberboard kitchen cabinets, might be severe enough to necessitate a complete overhaul.

When plywood kitchen cabinets are damaged by water, the finish will peel off or the color may alter.

The staining on the cabinet is caused by water resting on it for too long, which will eventually fade the wood’s polish and cause discoloration. When water seeps into wood, it can cause the paint to peel off.

Particle board kitchen cabinets, on the other hand, are particularly vulnerable to water damage. The first giveaway for telling if your medium-density fiberboard (MDF) cabinets have water seeping into them for a while is if they are swollen in some places.

Your kitchen cabinets bubble up and lose their finish because the MDF boards have been wet with water and expanded. When water seeps into your cabinets, the laminate begins to peel away in large sections.

How Long Does It Take For Water Damage To Show

Having an adequate supply of water in the kitchen is a must, but if it leaks into the cabinets, it may be disastrous.

Overflowing sinks, dishwashers, broken refrigerator water lines, cooking steam, and frozen water pipes are the most common causes of water leaks. Damage from water can develop within three weeks.

When a high volume of water leaks through the kitchen cabinet, it is more likely to show up on the lower section of the cabinet, which is closer to the drain or water valves.

However, it might take up to five weeks before visible evidence of water damage can be detected if the leak is minor due to sustained long-term damage from a persistent leak or excessive humidity.

Steps In Repairing Water Damaged Undersink Kitchen Cabinets

Step #1. Remove contents

Before you can begin to repair your water-damaged sink cabinet, you must remove all of its contents. Do not touch anything until it has dried completely. If there is any pooling, get rid of it.

Get additional room by taking the doors off the wall. To be sure, check to see if the cabinet doors are also harmed.

Step #2. Remove affected area

Remove the cabinet’s water-damaged portions using a hammer after checking for wet regions. Check the base of the cabinet for water damage and then remove it if necessary.

Step #3. Repair as necessary

If the damage is limited to your base, then a new one will suffice. Make a frame for it and place it on the cabinet’s floor first.

After that, take measurements of the old base and compare them to the new one. After that, attach the new floor to the cabinet’s frame. To make the floor waterproof, it is necessary to sand it down and coat it with sealant.

Sand the cabinet doors if they’re damaged. After that, use a shellac-based primer to prep the cabinet doors for painting. Paint it when it has been sanded down again.

Why are your under sink kitchen cabinets vulnerable to moisture?

Because of their placement, your under-sink cabinets are vulnerable to water damage. Overflowing sinks can cause damage to your kitchen cabinets, as well as to your sink pipes.

Your under-sink kitchen cabinets may also be at risk if your dishwasher floods. The area around your sink could be damaged by water if your faucet is leaking or faulty. In the end, the water could even reach the cabinets under the sink.

Ways to protect your under-sink cabinets from water damage

We’ve listed techniques to safeguard your undersink kitchen cabinets from water damage because they’re so vulnerable.

Waterproof shelf liner

Protect your cabinets from water and dust with waterproof shelf liners, which are flexible liners. Adhesive and non-adhesive solutions are available. Make sure to measure your cabinet’s surface before applying the waterproof shelf liners, which come in rolls.

Peel-and-stick vinyl tiles

It’s a well-known solution that many homeowners have tried out. This waterproof layer is provided by the peel-and-stick vinyl tiles.

You’ll need to trim them to size, just like with the waterproof sticky shelf liners. In order to get the most out of these vinyl tiles, they must cover all of the floor.

Waterproof stain sealant

Water deteriorates wood quickly. That doesn’t stop people from using them in their kitchens due of their swanky appeal, nevertheless You can safeguard your hardwood cabinets by lacquering or varnishing them to keep them watertight.

Always sand and prime your cabinets’ surfaces before applying any sealant. To aid in the adhesion of the varnish to the surface, this should be done.

Water Damage Under Kitchen Cabinets - Designing Idea

Make certain that the varnish you use is safe for use in kitchens and of food grade. Wait a few days before using the cabinet to allow the polyurethane to dry and harden before using it again.

Regularly check for leaks

It’s essential to keep your kitchen cabinets in good condition to avoid water damage. This is why it is important to inspect your pipes on a regular basis.

Because they are more likely to come into contact with your under-sink cabinets, check the condition of your under-sink pipes. Investing in PEX or copper pipes can also extend the life of your pipes.

Seal everything

As long as there is a crack or crevice for water to enter, it will find a way in. To keep water from damaging your property, make sure all locations are adequately sealed.

Keep water out of your cabinets by caulking all of the cracks and crevices. Caulks and sealants are two options.

Unlike caulks, sealants are more pliable. Depending on the surface you want to seal, you can use either one or the other.

Costs of repairing water-damaged under-sink cabinets

Repairing water-damaged under-sink cabinets varies depending on the type and level of water damage to the cabinets itself. If water has merely damaged the base, the cost will be between $150 and $200.

If, on the other hand, the cabinet’s materials have rotted, it’s time to get a new one. For conventional cabinets, the cost would be between $700 and $1000.

Consult your attorney about your insurance policy before you apply for coverage. So that they can clarify with you whether the water damage that occurred in your home is covered by your insurance.

Is Water Damage Covered By Insurance?

Most conventional house insurance policies cover accidental or abrupt water damage caused by burst pipes, frozen plumbing, and spontaneous overflows from malfunctioning plumbing in your home.

In most cases, however, a normal homeowner’s insurance policy will not cover water damage caused by a source outside your house. In the absence of separate flood insurance, this can be an addition to your current home insurance policy..

Water damage from rain or snowstorms, water damage from extinguishing a fire, leaking roofs, sudden or accidental overflow of an appliance or fixture, vandalism, and mold damage as a result of covered water damage and not as a result of lack of maintenance and neglect are all covered by homeowners’ insurance policies.

Unresolved maintenance issues like a defective sink or other plumbing fixture that hasn’t been fixed for several months, repairs or replacements to a machine or other genuine source of water damage are often not covered by most homeowners’ insurance plans.

However, the expense of repairing your floors, drywall, or ceiling may be covered by your insurance. Water damage to your cabinets from a sewer or drain backup is typically not covered by a regular homeowner’s policy. Even so, you can get supplementary water backup coverage to protect yourself against this type of loss.

How Can I Replace My Kitchen Floor Without Removing Cabinets?

It is possible to replace kitchen floors without removing the cabinets in a variety of methods, depending on the sort of flooring you choose. Linoleum or wood laminate flooring is the most user-friendly and quickest to install.

Simply cut the linoleum or laminate pieces to fit along the cabinet base to get as near as possible to the base of the cabinets. You can learn more about the greatest kitchen floor ideas on a budget by reading our guide.

The installation of porcelain or ceramic tile flooring is also possible, but it is more difficult and necessitates the use of a specialized instrument, especially when cutting the tiles.

Installing the tile over an existing floor without removing the cabinets may necessitate considering the height difference of the countertop due to its thickness being more than that of linoleum or wood laminate flooring.

It’s also possible to just remove most of your kitchen’s flooring and keep the tile underneath your cabinets. If you have an oscillating or rotary saw, you can use it to make clean, professional cuts in your tile that are flush with the cabinets’ edge.

If you want a clean and unobtrusive look, consider installing strip molding to cover up the space between the base of your cabinets and the flooring.

You don’t want water damage to harm your kitchen cabinets, your floors, or even the walls. You may have found this information helpful in protecting and repairing your kitchen cabinetry from water damage.

FAQs

Can water damaged MDF be repaired?

When water damage occurs to baseboard composed of medium-density fiberboard, the best option is to replace it. If the damage isn’t too severe, you can try to fix it. In cases where the MDF hasn’t crumbled or separated too much, the swellings can be sanded away.

How do you fix peeling melamine cabinets?

Super Glue or Krazy Glue can be used to restore melamine coating that has come free in a few places. Reattach a cabinet’s flaking melamine finish with quick glue. The melamine cabinets will need to be painted if substantial parts are loose.

Fixing a water damaged cabinet base underneath kitchen sink

Can water-damaged particle board be repaired?

Particleboard that has been exposed to water can be repaired if the damage is not severe. To avoid additional damage, particleboard that will be exposed to moisture should be painted or coated with a waterproofing substance.

Can you fix swollen particle board?

To repair water-damaged particleboard furniture, first remove the water. The swelled portions can then be buffed with sandpaper. Swollen spots that have been extensively affected by water can be cut out with a sharp knife. A replacement board will be needed if the particleboard is damaged to such an extent that it cannot be repaired.

Does wood filler work on particle board?

Particle board, an extruded mixture of wood chips, shavings, and sawdust, is less expensive than hardwood. Repairs with wood filler and a sanding block can be done swiftly even if the material is easily damaged.

How much does it cost to replace wood under sink?

It’s possible that you’ll have to replace the sink’s wood floor if mold has already spread over half of it. Either hire a handyman for $150 or do it yourself for less than $50 to accomplish this.

How can I replace my kitchen floor without removing cabinets?

Installing linoleum or wood laminate flooring (also known as “floating floor”) may often be done without removing cabinets; merely go as near as possible to the cabinets using complete panels, and then cut the linoleum or laminate pieces as needed so that they abut neatly against the cabinet base.

How do you install a kick plate under cabinets?

Instructions for Placing a Toe Kick Installing the longest portion of the toe kick initially is necessary. As a trimmer, you know to always begin by putting up the longest piece. Step 2: Adjust the length of the toe kick. Next, rough fit the kick. Installing the cabinet’s kick is the final step. Paint over any nail blemishes with Color Putty in Step 5.

What is a cabinet toe kick?

In the case of a bottom cabinet, a toe kick is the recessed area that provides room for your toes. Your feet can rest comfortably under a small piece of the cabinet when using this extension, allowing you to approach the counter without stooping.

Can you remove toe kick from base cabinets?

Claw hammer and pry bar are all you need to remove the toe kick from the shoe. Removing the toe kick is frequently required when installing new flooring or updating your base cabinets. In order to get rid of the toe kick on base cabinets, all you need to do is pry the boards away from the cabinet.

How do you repair veneer cabinets?

Before cutting the patch, make sure the grain of the new veneer matches the grain of the old. A piece of kraft paper can be glued down to level the repair if the new veneer is thinner than the old. Glue the substrate to the new veneer with a thin layer of wood glue. It is now time to apply the patch.

How do you fill holes in laminate cabinets?

Putty your putty knife with a pea-sized amount of wood putty, or more if the hole is large. The putty should be pushed into the drill hole as hard as possible. You can smooth the puttied hole surface by squeezing the excess putty from around the hole into the hole location with your finger.

Conclusion

We’ve written out the steps for repairing a water-damaged kitchen cabinet under the sink. If you were looking for information on under-sink cabinets, I hope this post was helpful.