Can this be fixed?

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eaglesd

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#239852 7-Aug-2018 22:08

Just noticed one of our 2 year old kitchen cabinet doors has had this happen. I assume this is water damage?

Could I just sand this and paint the doors again or does the panel need to be replaced? Any ideas?

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#2069613 7-Aug-2018 22:36

If what we are looking at is the swollen edge of a customwood/mdf door then you'd have to replace it. Sometimes close ups like that need a wider shot to put it in context. How did it happen?

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eaglesd

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#2069619 7-Aug-2018 22:49

I have no idea how it happened. Just noticed it today but can't remember seeing anything like this last week.

Do you expect this to happen to something just 2 years old? Should I try to get it replaced under CGA?

tdgeek

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#2069629 8-Aug-2018 07:30

Is it wood? As that looks like a grain. You would expect MDF to swell and bulge, and the photo appears to still show a flat surface than a bulging one

scuwp

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#2069633 8-Aug-2018 07:44

Wider photo please...need some context.

If it's painted wood then just sand and repaint. If it's painted MDF then it will need to be replaced. I can't see how water damage is a CGA matter, unless you had some kind of promise or guarantee that your cupboard doors would be waterproof.

Personally looks more like impact damage...

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nickb800

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#2069634 8-Aug-2018 08:02

Assuming its MDF, then it's not repairable. Agree that it may not be water damage, as it appears to be part way up the edge, not at the bottom where you would expect water damage to accumulate.

I'm really surprised to see 2 year old kitchen cabinets with painted edge MDF, industry norm is to have a PVC edge band glued on, which is much more resistant to water and impact.

Where did you get it from? e.g. big box retailer, custom manufacturer?

robjg63

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#2069635 8-Aug-2018 08:16

It looks like MDF that has been exposed to water.
Don't know about a warranty claim for water damage, unless they have not reasonably sealed the MDF.

Our joinery is MDF,but is lacquered. The cupboard doors etc wouldn't be able to soak up water. But we did have a leak at floor level where a lacquered sheet had been cut (and therefore not sealed). That swelled a little before we noticed the leak.

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kryptonjohn

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#2069636 8-Aug-2018 08:18

Is that the top edge of the front panel of an under-bench drawer? Looks like water has got in and swollen it to me. Can happen when there's constant steam hitting it coming from a dishwasher or oven, or water from a sink or draining dishes above?

tdgeek

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#2069639 8-Aug-2018 08:22

kryptonjohn:

Is that the top edge of the front panel of an under-bench drawer? Looks like water has got in and swollen it to me. Can happen when there's constant steam hitting it coming from a dishwasher or oven, or water from a sink or draining dishes above?

or its above a jug? Steam every day

tdgeek

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#2069640 8-Aug-2018 08:23

But I still dont get how MDF can crack like that. If it was wood, that's what I'd expect

kryptonjohn

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#2069648 8-Aug-2018 08:31

tdgeek:

But I still dont get how MDF can crack like that. If it was wood, that's what I'd expect

I'd guess it's not the MDF cracking - it's the laminate applied over the top of the MDF.

tdgeek

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#2069651 8-Aug-2018 08:41

kryptonjohn:

tdgeek:

But I still dont get how MDF can crack like that. If it was wood, that's what I'd expect

I'd guess it's not the MDF cracking - it's the laminate applied over the top of the MDF.

Yes, that makes sense. never seen that before. Possible a poor laminate application, which would be a warranty issue. Also looks to have started from the left edge, so surprised the swelling isn't that obvious. I though laminate was a little flexible rather than hard?

kryptonjohn

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#2069656 8-Aug-2018 08:51

tdgeek:

kryptonjohn:

tdgeek:

But I still dont get how MDF can crack like that. If it was wood, that's what I'd expect

I'd guess it's not the MDF cracking - it's the laminate applied over the top of the MDF.

Yes, that makes sense. never seen that before.

Me neither. Have seen plenty where water has got in at the corner joins and it's just made a ragged split at that point. Either way I wish there was something better than MDF for cabinets in wet environments like kitchens and batchrooms.

tdgeek

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#2069658 8-Aug-2018 08:53

Agree. MDF is a great product, but no matter how perfect the workmanship is, all it takes is a bank or a knock to expose the sponge inside

Disrespective

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#2069723 8-Aug-2018 11:37

It's definitely MDF. Water will have ingressed through a tiny scratch and over time swelled the fibres and the cracks as the visible result. Its very common.

If you sand it back you'll find the fibres aren't as dense where the water has done its job. You could patch fix it with filler and repaint it but you'll have to repaint the whole door. You may also find that unless you have the original paint that it doesn't quite match the others. The finish also looks like it was probably sprayed on, so you'll have to match it that way, too.

There is a Moisture Resistant version of MDF which withstands this type of issue much better. In my office we specify only MR MDF if the cabinets will be used anywhere near water, but it is a more expensive product.

If the installer/designer gave you the option to use MR MDF and you chose not to, then it might be hard to argue for any kind of warranty claim. And to be fair, I don't think you'll get far anyway. The cost of a single sprayed door won't be much so you could perhaps negotiate the work to be done at cost rather than paying retail rates.

Good luck!

robjg63

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#2069818 8-Aug-2018 12:47

tdgeek:

But I still dont get how MDF can crack like that. If it was wood, that's what I'd expect

Are you kidding? - If you leave a piece of MDF sitting in the wet, it eventually starts to blow up like a soggy weet-bix.

That's what has caused the paint to crack like that - the MDF swelling.

MDF is great - but needs priming/painting etc to keep the water out.

Somehow that piece of joinery seems to have been exposed to a significant amount of moisture.

This would have had to have been more than just a one off bit of spilled water IMHO.

Would like to see a photo of the door in context - What is nearby?

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