How to protect timber from water damage?

Riddhi

Two weeks back we have moved to our new home which is 15 years old but renovated home. Please suggest how can I prevent this back side of the kitchen sink from water splash. I have experience from previous house that the white wooden area(I think it is wooden) will be ruined due to continuous water use. There is no leakages but with kitchen usage high in our big family I would like to prevent it to get damage. 

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @Riddhi. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about splashbacks.

Congratulations on moving into your new home! It's great that you're already thinking ahead to prevent water damage behind the kitchen sink — this area often gets overlooked, but it’s especially vulnerable in a busy household. 

The key to protecting this area is ensuring there’s always a solid, watertight coat of paint over the surface and that any gaps between the upright backsplash and the timber trim on top are properly sealed. From your photo, it appears that there’s a small crack visible just to the right of the tap where the timber meets the vertical splashback. Cracks like the one visible can allow water to seep in and begin degrading the timber underneath. These should be sealed with a wet-area silicone or grout, and any signs of damage or wear should be addressed quickly. If the paint is chipped or worn, lightly sand the area and repaint it with a durable, moisture-resistant paint designed for wet areas.

Keeping the surface sealed and watertight will significantly extend the life of the timber and help you avoid issues down the track.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell