How to repair undersink water damaged cabinet?

Question

What is the easiest and cheapest way to repair my undersink water damaged cabinet? I have no experience whatsoever, but can follow instructions well.  There doesn't seem to be a lot of water damage but it smells a bit.  Tapping on the floor, it seems really solid still.  Can I have some advice on how to fix it quickly and easily? I would prefer not to replace the bottom.

Thank you

MitchellMc · Answer

To improve the look of it, that would be a good idea @poppym1275. Just ensure you give the surface a good clean first, and then apply the white self-adhesive vinyl film.

Mitchell

poppym1275 · Answer

Thank you so much for your reply, Mitchell.  The leak has been fixed, it was the garbage disposal that had a whole on the bottom, so we replaced it. I was thinking of covering the section with an adhesive film.

MitchellMc · Answer

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @poppym1275. It's fabulous to have you join us and many thanks for your question on cabinetry.

Unfortunately, there’s no real way to “repair” MDF cabinet panels once they’ve absorbed water. The material swells and stays that way, and the only true fix is to cut out and replace the affected panel. That said, since you’ve checked and the board is still structurally solid, there’s no immediate need to replace it. If the swelling is mainly at the front edge and you don’t mind how it looks, it’s perfectly fine to leave it as-is.

The smell you’re noticing is probably caused by residual moisture still trapped in the MDF. Assuming the leak has been fixed and water is no longer entering, this smell should gradually diminish as the board dries. To speed this up, you could point a small fan into the cupboard for a couple of days or place a moisture-absorbing container inside the cabinet to out any remaining dampness.

Once you’re confident the boards are fully dry, you can improve the appearance by painting the front face of the panel. White paint works well to conceal watermarks and give the cupboard a fresher look.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell