Kitchen cabinets in a desert environment with a swamp cooler.

last year

It sounds like wood is not advisable for areas with wide changes in temperature and humidity. Because I live in the high desert, we occasionally use a swamp cooler. There are also times, mostly in the fall and spring, where the temperature can be warm in the day and cool at night.

The existing cabinets have been in place since the home was built in 1980 and have been fine. They're thin, stained oak in a half overlay style with wood fronts and mdf boxes. My heart is set on a stained wood look for my new cabinets. I'm doing my homework and am looking for feedback on what choices can help keep the new cabinets at least as durable and lasting as the old ones have been. Ex - do they need to be thin or is a thicker raised panel still okay? should I stay away from mitered corners? is full overlay really an option? I've been leaning toward a maple raised panel style, preferably in full overlay but am eager to add some opinions to what I've learned so far.

Thanks!

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Comments (5)

PRO
HALLETT & Co.
last year
I live in the SE so excess moisture is our challenge- surely the cabinet stores near you have experience in this? All MDF with a manmade surface would be bulletproof but not the look you want!
PRO
User
last year
last modified: last year
What style of door do you want? There are many laminates and foils that are beautiful, and foil wraps that are more stable than wood.
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PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
last year
I agree with Hallett MDF with a really nice manmade surface in a wood look would be my choice. There are really beautiful ones form Europe and pretty sure NA cabinet makers have great choices too. I might een check out Ikea the Askerlund finish is quite nice like this
salex
last year
last modified: last year
Have you measured the humidity in your house, both with and without the swamp cooler running? I ask because I also live in a desert area and formerly had a swamp cooler, and the humidity in my house was consistently low - even with the swamp cooler running. Yes, the swamp cooler produces moisture, but that moisture quickly dissipates outside (unless your house is hermetically sealed). Humidity fluctuations in less arid areas (like the NW or eastern US) are typically much wider. Desert humidity is low and usually stays low; even "high" humidity in the desert is low by most standards.
Tina
last year
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