Are Bathroom Cabinets Waterproof? Let’s Take a Look at Some Ways to Waterproof Your Bathroom Cabinet
Most times your bathroom cabinet is readily made from waterproof materials.
Bathroom material should be durable, and not rot easily while having enough space for the storage of materials in the bathroom.
Although, most bathroom cabinets are produced from wood and other wood composites.
However, in recent times most of the bathroom cabinets produced are provided with some waterproof measures that help to avoid damages stemming from moisture, water spills, and leaks in your bathroom.
We all know the bathroom as one of the areas in our homes that make use of water. Activities like washing, and bathing are daily activities that can not be avoided at home. This action would make it feasible for leakages, spills, and a host of others to wreak havoc on your bathroom cabinet if not avoided.
The wreaked havoc would bring about different questions like — can I make my bathroom cabinet waterproof, are bathroom cabinet waterproof against these activities, how can I protect my cabinets from being affected by the aforementioned activities? These and more are the questions most homeowners battle with every day.
However, in this article, we will provide solutions to most of your bathroom cabinets problem and also provide you with strategies to follow to have long-lasting cabinets.
Let’s Look at The Ways to Waterproof Your Bathroom Cabinet
Most bathroom cabinets out there are not waterproof, most of the cabinets we have out there are been made from hardwood and stone, and they are not fully waterproof, making them vulnerable to actions of leakage and spill that occur in your bathroom.
Given this, we have listed out for you some ways to protect your bathroom cabinets from being damaged.
- The Use of a Sealant
It’s one of the best ways to make your bathroom cabinet waterproof. It can be achieved by spraying polyurethane and varnish into your sterile sanded wood.
Although when it dries, there is a need for you to recoat the cabinet to make it waterproof from being damaged easily shortly.
2. The use of an Oil Rub Finish
This method works best on cabinets made from walnut and mahogany wood.
You mix oil with your mineral spirit, and you then add polyurethane to help in removing the accumulated toss and make it dry faster. It provides your cabinet with a waterproof property against damage.
3. The use of a Waterproof Mat
Using a waterproof mat at the base of your cabinet helps in preventing your cabinet from damage.
They are installed beneath your sink and help to protect your cabinet from the inside.
You should know that the waterproof mat can be adjusted to any size of the cabinet just to fit in and provide your cabinet with the necessary protection.
4. By Sealing your under-sink pipes
The use of sealant beneath your sink helps in protecting your cabinet from water activities that can damage cabinets.
You should have in mind that water flows through the pipes every time of the day. Hence, any issue with the product may lead to water leakage that would be detrimental to your bathroom cabinet.
5. The use of a Varnish
The varnish contains properties like a solvent, resin, and oil that are used on wood to protect against a glassy layer of a faint yellow hue on your bathroom cabinet materials.
6. The Use of a High Gloss Paint
Using a high gloss paint would help in protecting your cabinet from being damaged easily.
The more glossy paint you have on your cabinet, the longer it would take for water to penetrate through the wood surface. However, you should have in mind that, the use of high gloss paint does not necessarily means that you have a waterproof cabinet.
But, with high gloss paint, it is rest assured that your cabinet will not be penetrated or destroyed easily by the action of water.
7. The use of Polyurethane
It’s one of the best means of waterproofing your wood cabinet. All you have to do is get a spray or a liquid variant of polyurethane and apply it to your wood for protection against water damage.
8. The application of Caulk to the Sink Area
Most time, the water damage effect on the cabinet in the bathroom occurs in the sink, and when it happens, it can be persistent until it destroys your bathroom cabinet.
However, to prevent it from happening, you have to coat the little space in between your cabinet and sink to prevent water damage. Moreover, the most advisable caulk to be used is silicon caulk.
9. The use of Laminates instead of a Cabinet
If you want to avoid water damage in your bathroom, you should make use of a Laminate cabinet in place of a cabinet.
These cabinets are known to withstand water effects than other types of cabinets.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does it Cost to Waterproof a Bathroom?
The cost of waterproofing your bathroom would vary depending on the size of your bathroom the material being used and where your home is situated.
What Are the Best Materials for Bathroom Cabinets?
You may ask yourself what type of materials are best used in constructing bathroom cabinets. Let’s give you some popular materials to choose from:
Birch
One of the most popular hardwoods due to its attractive look. However, it is resistant to fungus and rust effects, with an intrinsically waterproof structure. This feature makes it a popular choice in the production of bathroom cabinets.
Teak
It is known for its durability, and its ability to generate natural oil that is resistant to water. Although it is more expensive than the other type of wood. However, it is worth it if you want something durable against water activities in your bathroom.
Maple
It happens to be the popular choice when it comes to bathroom cabinet production, the smooth finish and its even grains make it one of the stand-out choices.
However, it is also not expensive, it is easier to paint, and easily accessible, unlike the other choices.
