The potential damage that can occur when water is pumped into a kitchen has long been realized, but many people don’t realize the impact steam can have. When cooking on a stove top, steam is introduced into the room where the food is being prepared. This process breaks down fats and grease, creates a natural aroma in the air, and can even draw out smells from foods so they come out more delicious. When you consider the fact that steam can introduce bacteria and viruses into your food and ruin your health, it’s easy to see how serious this can be.
What Can You Do With A Flooded Kitchen?
In most cases, if you’re dealing with water damage from kitchen sink leaks or a flooded kitchen and bathroom, the first thing to do is to assess the scope of the damage. The severity of the damage will often determine what you can do with it. If the water is standing alone on the floor or the cabinets are intact, you’ll likely have to replace them because they are structurally unsound. This may mean removing the cabinets altogether or replacing with new ones, which can be extremely costly.
Cleaning up a kitchen sink full of water is much different than cleaning a cabinet full of water damage. You’ll need to get rid of all excess moisture, which means you will need to purchase special equipment to help with this process. In some cases, a small level of damage can be fixed by using a wet/dry vacuum and mild household detergent. In more severe cases, you may need to hire a professional to perform the clean up.
How to Fix Steam Damage Cabinet
Steam damage is typically caused by two things: water seeping into the wall cavities, and a faulty or damaged boiler. The first thing you should do is to ensure the presence of water – this can be done with the use of a floodlight. Once you have the water present you can check for any signs of structural damage, including warped wood. This is often one of the most difficult aspects of repairing a steam loss, because warped wood and other structural signs are much harder to fix.
If you discover structural damage in your cabinets, you need to start the process of cleaning them. If there are any holes, it’s recommended that you fill them with epoxy to make sure they don’t harbor any future mold spores. Your next step is to remove the padding and clean the surface with a disinfectant solution.
When you begin the process of cleaning up the steam damage on your cabinets, it’s important that you wear a mask and protect your eyes and mouth from some of the chemicals contained within cleaning products. Make sure the chemical-free solution you’re using is free of fumes. Then, take out all the doors and drawers from the cabinets, beginning with the furthest away from the water source. You can then move to the closest cabinets, following the edges. This should allow you to thoroughly clean the cabinets, including any hidden damages, such as the padding.
Replacing Steamed Damage Cabinet
A minor water damage job, like replacing a cabinet door, may not require replacing at all. There are some types of glue that can be used as an interim fix to a minor water damage situation. This allows you to work around the water damage while you work on the bigger problem, and it allows you to keep the cost of the repair down. However, if there is extensive water damage, such as a complete kitchen collapse, you may need to remove and replace everything in the affected area.
Your next step is to sand down the cabinets thoroughly, as well as remove any mold that may be present. Make sure that your wood putty is already placed between the cabinet doors and the surrounding walls, so that nothing comes loose when you put the finishing touches on your steam damage restoration project. This will also save you time in the long run. Finally, apply one coat of mineral spirits to dampen and absorb any water damage, and then use a high-quality lacquer to finish off the job. By using the correct products, this should take care of most minor issues with steam damage on cabinets.