Expert: Jamie Yocono - 3/5/2009

Question
Hi Jamie,

Received your reply.  Yes, you are right that it is a five piece door with a
panel.  They are splitting on the frame.    I understand what you are saying
about wood contracting and expanding.  However, in our first home we had  
inexpensive cabinets and they never split.  We lived in that home for 9 years.  
We live in Michigan.  I have read that if the wood is not dried properly before
constructing the cabinets; they will split.  Is this correct?  None of the other
wood in our home is splitting.  You also made the comment  to replace the
doors.  I feel that kitchen and bathroom cabinets should automatically allow
for expansion and contraction.  Who would buy cabinets that wouldn't????  
Again, I would say that we never had a problem like this before and our
neighbors, who have different cabinets, do not have any problems.    

shirl

Answer
Shirl,

I think there is a relation between the fact that your cheap cabinets weren't splitting, while the more expensive ones were. The cheaper ones were probably constructed with plywood panels, which are more stable than solid wood. Cabinets made of solid wood can be more prone to movement, if not made properly.

Also, if your cabinetmaker used air dried wood, as opposed to kiln dried wood, that could also be a culprit. The air dried wood could have had a higher moisture content, as you mentioned, which can be VERY problematic once those cabinets are brought inside and they acclimate to the interior climate.

You're absolutely right that the doors should have been made to withstand that movement. Many door makers use something called space balls, which let the door panel float within the frame. It seems like your cabinetmaker didn't use them.

Another thing I didn't ask, but is there a heater duct near these doors? Or does the room build up a lot of heat? Maybe there are a lot of windows in the room? As I've mentioned, heat and moisture are the enemy of wood.

I used to live in Ohio, and we had some pretty humid summers. Doesn't Michigan have similar weather to Ohio? If these cabinets were made in the summer, when it was humid, and then brought into a climate controlled home, with lower humidity, they could definitely be prone to drying out and cracking.

I'm just not sure there is a solution for your doors. If they're split, they're split. There isn't an easy fix to repairing these doors, although I think they could be steamed apart, and the panels could be replaced with plywood panels. Still, steaming the wood to soften the glue will make the framework swell up and the grain raise, so you'll be creating some new problems while fixing the old ones.

Short of replacing the doors and using more stable panels, I'm not sure what to suggest to you. I know of one door company that is roughly in your area, MapleCraft in Pennsylvania (www.maplecraftusa.com). They make very reasonably priced doors, and will even drill then for cup hinges, as well as finish them. You might want to visit their site, and type in your door sizes for an estimate. You might be surprised how affordable they can be.

Hope this helps. I know you're not wanting to replace the doors, but I really don't think repairing them is an option. Good luck,

Jamie in Vegas