For whatever reason, homeowners seem to hold on to their cabinets way past their expiration date. Maybe it’s sentimental value (They were here when you moved in years ago! They’re a part of your home). Or, it could be just the opposite – your cabinets have become part of your kitchen’s landscape, and you really don’t notice how worn they are, or are just used to the fact that the drawers stick. Never count out the power of procrastination: you may be trying to squeeze another year out of their cabinets… and are in the seventh year of doing so. Finally, there’s the reluctance to shell out for a major new home feature. Each of these scenarios has varying degrees of validity. But none of them mitigate the fact that when your cabinets to be replaced. What are some of the telltale signs? Read on to find out.
- Water Damage
Are your cabinets swollen, not properly closing, or showing dark color spots? If yes, your problem might be water damage. Since most kitchen cabinets are crafted from wood, water damage is a likely occurrence. Wood can easily be damaged by water, and in your kitchen there is always a lot of water, especially if you have a leak somewhere.
In some minor instances, water damaged cabinets can be fixed. Here are signs of more serious water damage:
- Wood has started to warp.
- Cabinets are bubbling up on the inside or outside.
- Outsides are de-laminating.
- Wood has started to blacken, or otherwise change colors.
- Cabinets show signs of mold.
- Cabinets do not open or close properly.
The first step is always to find and then stop the source of the water from getting into the wood. Next, you want to sufficiently dry out the cabinet. Once dry, the appropriate repairs can be made, if possible. This will include replacing certain parts and bleaching out stains, a process that can take some time and money. You want to be sure that it is possible to repair your cabinets before embarking on the task.
- Overall Function Is Frustrating
If the overall function of your cabinets doesn’t work for you, this is another sign that you may want to replace them. No matter how aesthetically pleasing they may be, stubborn doors can fray nerves quickly.
Signs the design of your cabinets could benefit from replacement:
- If your cabinets are hard to access and require removing items in order to reach other items tucked in the back.
- If the cabinets open up all wrong. For instance, if you open two cabinet doors at once and they slam into one another.
- The drawers don’t open without getting stuck, making an odd sound, or causing some sort of issue. This is a sign of further damage beneath the surface. Simply removing the drawers and refacing them won’t fix the problem.
- “Soft” Cabinets
Have your cabinets gone soft? Push on the sides of your cabinet walls… do they feel soft at all? If so, this is a sign that your cabinets are badly damaged and could soon fall apart completely. The sides of your cabinets are SO important, if they’re not in good condition, there’s no point to waste money making aesthetic changes.
- Moldy Cabinets
Mold can grow from so many different surfaces, including your kitchen cabinets. When mold is caught early on it can be cleaned up and stopped, but when it’s left unidentified it will continue to grow and worsen. Not only can mold compromise the general integrity of your cabinets, but — in large quantities – it can hamper you and your family’s health. Mold is usually caused by a water leak somewhere, so at the first sign of mold you should identify the source of water so that the problem doesn’t continue.
- The Cabinet Box Is In Bad Shape
If the cabinet box is too worn for you to re-drill new holes or mount new hinges, the structure of the cabinet box will not be sound enough to support new cabinet doors. Without the ability to work with the current wood, your entire cabinet box needs to be replaced; otherwise you risk wasting a lot of money trying to make unsuccessful repairs. Before you buy new doors, or sand down, and repaint your old doors, you should make sure that the wood is able to support new holes and hinges.
Cabinets are, on average, the longest-lasting component of your kitchen – at least, they’re supposed to be. Knowing when to cut bait on them is vital… so is replacing them with cabinets that are high-quality, beautiful, and fit your needs. If any of the above resonates with you, contact Cedar Hills Cabinets today to explore the countless options we offer!
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