Cabinet Lifespan: Different Room Longevity And How To Extend Their Lifespan

Cabinetry is one of the most essential parts of your home, allowing for seamless daily activities and organization. Cabinets are built to be durable, but they won’t last forever, especially when used multiple times daily. Cabinet lifespan can vary depending on the type of wood used, whether it is coated or sealed, and how humid your home is. 

Lloyd’s Remodeling and Cabinetry offers cabinets for different areas of the home to help keep you organized. Cabinetry can be a great final touch to your interior design, but it needs to be installed properly, and proper maintenance will need to be performed to keep it looking pristine. Let’s look at the average cabinet lifespan across your home and how different external factors affect their longevity. 

Longevity By Room

Different areas of your home will feature different tasks, humidity, sun exposure, and external factors. Depending on the location of the cabinets, the lifespan of the wood or composite material can change. Let’s look at common areas for cabinets and how this may affect your lifespan. 

Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets are probably one of the most used cabinets because we eat around 3 times a day and spend hours in the kitchen each day. Many people hang out in their kitchen after work, while completing hobbies, or even after they have completed their meal. While not all of these tasks require the use of your cabinets, cooking and cleaning could leave residue on the surface of the cabinets, leading to deterioration. The average lifespan of kitchen cabinets is around 10-15 years, but higher-quality woods may last up to 25 years. Steam, chemicals from cleaning products, and oil from our skin can eventually lead to the deterioration of kitchen or other cabinets across the home.

Laundry Room Cabinets

Since laundry rooms are typically utilized less than other cabinets around the home, homeowners may choose a lower-quality material for laundry cabinets. Plywood, particleboard, and fiberboard will all have different lifespans and react differently to elements. Most cabinets not made of solid wood will last anywhere from 10 to 25 years. With high heat and humidity that comes from laundry machines, cabinets may experience wrapping, chipping, or sagging over consistent use. Laundry rooms often need to store heavy cleaners and lots of linens. If cabinets are overloaded, they may have a shorter lifespan.

Bathroom Cabinets

The bathroom is one of the most humid places in the home, especially when taking hot showers or bathing children. Bathroom cabinets are essential for morning and night routines, during long sick nights, and for maintaining proper hygiene. Bathroom cabinets may last for shorter time periods because of the exposure to moisture. Well-maintained solid wood can last up to 50 years with proper sealant and regular cleaning. Cabinets in a bathroom should be sealed to prevent moisture from seeping too deeply into the wood.

Factors That Affect Cabinet Longevity

While the type of material and amount of maintenance you perform on your cabinets affects their longevity the most, other factors can affect their total lifespan. Understanding how other external factors can affect cabinet longevity will help homeowners make an informed decision before purchasing new cabinets. Factors that can affect the lifespan of cabinets in any room include:

• Moisture and humidity levels
• Construction of the cabinets
• Hardware
• Usage
• Heavy loads
• Installation quality

Can You Extend Cabinet Lifespan?

Proper cleaning and repairing small damage to cabinets will extend the lifespan of your cabinet sets. Homeowners should take care to remove buildup, avoid harsh chemicals on the solid wood, and make necessary repairs if they want to avoid expensive replacement. Cabinets will last much longer if they are cared for, sealed from sun fading, and used without excessive force. 

Homeowners can also help extend cabinet lifespan by choosing high-quality materials and a professional to install them. Installation plays a role in how much weight the cabinet can hold and how frequently it can be used. Improper installation from an untrustworthy cabinet company can cause your cabinets to fall apart soon after installation.

Signs You Should Upgrade Your Cabinets

Cabinets that are difficult to operate, that have become discolored, or that have damaged components should be replaced to ensure proper function. Loose hardware or shelving is also a sign that your cabinets may be outdated. Repairing or replacing cabinets is the best way to keep your home organized and safe. When cabinet longevity has run out, replacement is inevitable if you want to keep using the space as intended.

Cabinetry From Lloyd’s Remodeling & Cabinetry 

Lloyd’s Remodeling & Cabintery are the expert in helping provide a quality remodel and organization options for homeowners. If you are unsure where to begin or what cabinet materials are right for you, our team can help. No matter what project you are looking for, the end result will exceed your expectations. Remodeling is one of our unique abilities, setting us apart from other contractors or cabinet companies. Contact us to get started on your project today!

lloydscabinet

Mike has been in the cabinetry business since 2003 where he started as a CNC Machine operator in his father’s commercial production cabinetry factory. He has experience in all aspects of manufacturing cabinets from machining, assembly, and finishing. Mike Joined Lloyd’s Remodeling & Cabinetry as a co-owner in 2013 where he specializes in hands-on retail showroom sales. Mike’s expertise is in designing and developing all of our interior remodel projects. Mike is masterful at designing and executing full scale kitchen and bath remodels and has been very successful in meeting the needs of even the most meticulous customers. Mike doesn’t believe in “Selling a Job”, rather he builds a relationship with each customer who chooses to engage in the process with Lloyd’s Remodeling because he understands that “people buy from people”.