WARPED DOOR & HUMIDIFICATION
Last Updated: August 20, 2024
WARPED DOOR
Cabinetry Solution’s line of framed and frameless cabinetry is crafted to precise standards, including careful control of the wood's moisture content. By maintaining consistent moisture levels, Cabinetry Solution helps reduce the natural expansion and contraction of wood, minimizing the likelihood of door warping. We randomly monitor humidity levels during manufacturing to ensure that our customers receive a high-quality product.
Since wood is a natural material, each piece has its own unique color and grain variations, adding to its inherent beauty. However, these natural properties also influence how each piece of wood reacts to weather changes, making it impossible to completely eliminate the possibility of warped doors.
If you believe you have a warped door, Cabinetry Solution asks that you follow these steps to assess the situation:
-
Remove the door: Detach the door from the cabinet and remove all hardware, including decorative knobs, pulls, and hinges.
-
Flat surface test: Place the door on a perfectly flat surface (verify with a level). Press alternately on opposite corners to check whether the door "rocks" or pulls away from the flat surface.
-
Measure warpage: If there is a gap between the door and the flat surface, measure the distance to assess the warpage.
-
A door must be warped by at least 1/4" to be eligible for replacement. When requesting a replacement using the Cabinetry Solution Part/Replacement Order Form, ensure you fill out the "Reason for Replacement" section, identifying the applicable warping classification.
-
If warping is less than 1/4", we recommend waiting through a complete heating and cooling cycle (e.g., from summer to winter) to allow the door to reach moisture equilibrium. Installing magnetic or roller catches can also help resolve minor warping issues.
-
-
Check for installation issues: If the door does not pull away from the surface, the issue may be with the cabinet installation. Improper installation of the cabinet (i.e., not level or plumb) can cause doors to appear warped. To check for installation issues:
-
Place a level along the front side of the cabinet. If the bubble is centered, the cabinet is level. Repeat this on the other side of the cabinet.
-
Test both the top and bottom of the cabinet box with a level to ensure proper installation. Any variations in the level’s reading indicate that the cabinet may need adjustment.
-
By following these steps, you can help determine whether the issue is due to a warped door or improper cabinet installation, allowing Cabinetry Solution to assist you appropriately.
GLOSSARY
LEVEL : (v) A term used to describe a true horizontal line.
(n) A device for establishing a horizontal line or plane by means of a bubble in a liquid that shows
adjustment to horizontal by movement to center of a slightly bowed glass tube.
PLUMB : (v) A term used to describe a true vertical line. If something is "out of plumb" it is not exactly
straight up and down.
RACK : (v) The action of straining or wrenching through improper installation.
WARP : (v) The action of twisting or bending out of a true flat or level surface.
HUMIDIFICATION
HUMIDIFICATION AND WOOD MOVEMENT
The extent to which wood reacts to fluctuations in humidity is often underestimated by many. Below is a table illustrating (a)
the probable contraction of a cabinet door panel in a dehumidified home, (b) the potential expansion of a cabinet door in high
humidity conditions, and (c) the overall potential variations from a humid summer to a dry winter season.
Total Potential Movement (inches) of solid wood panels
note that we do not alter our Website’s data collection and use practices when we see a Do Not Track signal from your browser.
TOTAL PROTENTIAL MOVEMENT (inches) OF SOLID WOOD PANELS
Take note of the annual size variation in a solid wood panel, which can be as much as three-quarters of an inch! Because of
this, cabinet doors are typically produced with a target humidity range of 40% to 50%. This range generally works well
because even homes without humidification tend to remain within the 20% to 70% humidity range during normal years with
standard cooking and washing activities.
During extremely cold and dry winters, some doors may experience conditions with humidity levels below 20% for several
weeks. Panels exposed to sustained conditions like these may shrink, but this is not considered a defect. New construction
exacerbates this issue, as heating a home can lower humidity levels. Conversely, when indoor humidity exceeds 70% for
extended periods, panels may swell, but this is also not considered a defect.
STEPS CONSUMERS CAN TAKE TO PROTECT REAL WOOD FURNISHINGS
-
Keep an eye on the humidity inside the home. Reasonably accurate digital thermometers-hygrometer units are
available to measure humidity pinned and pin-less.
-
Maintain the humidity at or above 20% when the temperature is below 20° and over 35% when the temperature
is above 20°. Some ways this may be accomplished are by installing a humidifier purposed for the entire house on
the furnace, running portable humidifiers in specific rooms, or even placing pans of water near the hear registers.
-
Don't over-do it. Significant condensation on windows is a sign of humidity levels are too high for outside
temperature conditions.
-
Recognize that finished wood responds to humidity over several days to several weeks. It takes time before the
wood returns to normal after any correction to the environment.
