I don't know what normal is but I would find it unacceptable. I'd also be concerned as to whether that gap would start forming elsewhere too as the cabinets acclimate to your space and as weather fluctuates and wood shrinks and expands.

Really nice match to your flooring!

Looks like they used a wood fill that needs to be added to in the crack. I am not sure that is a big issue. And will need to be touched up from time to time.

Wood shrinkage is normal so I think it is normal.

Now - putting wood fill in that space is the "problem". It gives a certain look but requires maintenance. A lot of maintenance in the first year.

Somewhat normal for wood and definitely more noticeable in lighter stains and painted ones.

How is the humidity controlled in your house throughout the year? Have you tracked it? It might need to be addressed with additional equipment added to your hvac system.

Chispa - We haven’t moved in yet. These were installed a couple months ago now. We have had quite a bit of rain the last few months, but not sure on the levels in the house.

David - what you see on the cracks is stain. When we oroginally asked the question of our GC and he said he would look into it, the painter pushed stain into the cracks to ”fill” them. That doesn't make any sense to me and i have no idea why they would do that.

Kendrah - I agree. I am concerned about those same things!

Kimberli - Got it! I was under the impression ours were glued. Hmm.

No, not normal. There is supposed to be space along the whole panel. This is why you use a dental pick to remove any finish that is bridging the panel and stile. Nothing should be "gluing" the two together.

As above the gap is normal and should allow free movement of the panel. You seem to have a partially glued gap.

If there is supposed to be a gap, how do you keep crumbs and crap from falling into it? Perhaps I have always had these gaps on my cabinets and never noticed?

Is the panel solid or is it plywood? Plywood can be glued, but it should fit snugly and there should not be a gap. Why was the painter messing with your cabinets?

Catbuilder - I asked the same thing on why the painter was involved… they applied the stain to our cabinets.

Texas?

For some cabinet manufacturers it is normal. Not saying it is good, just saying it is normal for them. I would prefer a tighter fit, and probably for a drawer front the panel to be stationary to the frame. For a door I would want the panel to allow for any movement. A lot depends upon how the cabinet manufacturer constructs the door or drawer front. No gap is ideal.

The panel needs to be able to move, but not in the dimension these are showing. Because the panel moves you don't caulk the interface. If the interior hasn't been conditioned because of construction, the gaps could shrink when the humidity level is stabilized.

Hallett- we are in central California.

Mark - makes sense. We have had some other issues with how some things have been done, so that is not surprising tk hear.

dan1888 - that’s kind of what we thought too. All of the drawers and cabinets have a very small unnoticeable gap, but several have these much bigger gaps. We will watch and see if they improve once we have moved in. We are about 30 miles inland from the coast so not super dry, but also not really humid. So maybe I’ll need to look into whether we need it do anything on that front.

Thanks, all, for your help!

Sara - I have 5 piece oak wood doors/drawer fronts that are OLD (house finished in Dec 1996) - my kitchen is about to have a full renovation done.

I just went and looked at my doors/drawer fronts again right now. I do not have gaps that look anything like the ones in your photos. I actually barely see a line between the center panel and the rails/stiles (and haven’t noticed any gaps during winter either when the air is the driest in the house).

I certainly don’t have extra stain or glue or whatever that is inside the space between the center panel and the rails (or stiles).

I live in an area where there are four seasons - with pretty humid summers. Obviously, I have an HVAC system - but I do not have a humidifier or dehumidifier. I’ve also noticed no change in my site finished hardwood floors either re: gaps between wood based upon different seasons.