The kitchen is probably the most trafficked part of the home. Which subsequently will be one of the first rooms in your house to show signs of aging. Distinctive Cabinetry is one of the premier kitchen cabinet suppliers in the East Bay and we’ve help thousands of clients select the right cabinets for their kitchen remodels and renovations.

Because kitchen cabinets are exposed to more water, steam and other damaging elements, don’t be surprised when they show wear & tear faster. Homeowners routinely ask us “How often they should replace kitchen cabinets?” Simply put, we recommend replacing kitchen cabinets every 10 years because that’s a decade of wear and tear folks 😉

However, to help you make the right decision we offer…
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5 Signs It’s Time to Replace Kitchen Cabinets

1.   WATER DAMAGE

Since most kitchen cabinets are crafted from wood, water damage from a leaking pipe, or excessive steam might cause problems.  Look closely at your kitchen cabinets. If they appear swollen, are not properly closing, or show dark color spots your cabinets might have water damage.

If you have a leak, we encourage homeowners to find the source of water and stop it immediately. Continuous water damage will cause mold and worse be hazardous to your health.
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2.   LACK OF FUNCTION

Should the overall function of your kitchen cabinets annoy you, it may be a good idea to replace the kitchen cabinets as any aesthetic treatment wouldn’t solve the problem of functionality. Maybe the cabinets are difficult to access or open the wrong way or the drawers won’t open without getting hung up on something. These all could be signs of framework damage beneath the surface or the realization that entirely new cabinets would make your kitchen so much more accessible.
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3.   COMPROMISED CABINET STRUCTURE

It may sound strange, but one of the biggest indicators it’s time to replace kitchen cabinets are soft sides. If you can push on the sides of your cabinet walls and they feel soft, they structurally aren’t sound and need to be replaced.
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4.   MOLDY CABINETS

Moldy cabinets compromise the structural integrity of your cabinets and are an indication that you have a leak somewhere near them. You should find the source of the leak and stop it immediately. Many homeowners are surprised to learn mold can grow on their kitchen cabinets. However; if the mold is caught early it may be cleaned and stopped. On the flip side when left untouched it will continue grow and worsen.
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5.   WORN CABINET BOX

If the kitchen cabinet box is too worn to re-drill new holes or mount new hinges, the structure of the cabinet box won’t be sound enough to support new cabinet doors. The entire cabinet box needs to be replaced without the ability to work with the existing wood. Attention DIY’ers, make sure the wood will support new holes and hinges before purchasing new doors.

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When it’s time to replace kitchen cabinets give us a call:925-588-2411. Our experienced team of kitchen & bath designers have been helping homeowners throughout the bay area for more than 30 years!

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