A pipe burst and flooded my kitchen! What should I do?
We have had some crazy weather in Oklahoma recently with below average temps and unfortunately many people have had busted water pipes and water damaged cabinets. If this happens to you follow the below steps:
Turn off the water to stop further damage
Remove water with towels, blankets, a shop vac, etc.
Remove cabinet doors and drawers to help cabinets dry out faster and remove weight that can cause boxes to sag
Clean out cabinets
Have fans blow on the affected areas to help dry faster. Use high volume fans and dehumidifiers. Reposition fans every 4 hours as needed
Disinfect cabinets with water/ bleach mix or mildicide
Fire and water restoration companies are great resources to help you mitigate your loss and avoid extra damages.
Can my cabinets be saved?
Once everything is dried out it is time to inspect. Almost all kitchens have particle board in the cabinets which doesn't hold up well when soaked in water. The water can also cause glue to dissolve which can cause veneer damage or delamination. If the particle board isn't swollen or if you have solid wood cabinets then they might be able to be saved. Other things to look for is swollen or soft wood, sagging, and black mold. If you have any of the above issues then I would recommend having your cabinets replaced.
If you just end up with water marks or a damaged finish then your cabinets may be able to be refinished to make them look new again and avoid further damage. You can also remove the boxes that are beyond repair, replace with new boxes, and refinish all of the cabinets so they match. You will want to make sure you hire a reputable company to help you with your cabinet refinishing project so check out our Top 3 Things to Ask Your Cabinet Refinisher to help you find the right refinisher for your project.
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