In building kitchen sink and bathroom vanity cabinets, what is generally used for the cabinet bottoms, to lessen the possibility of rotting from possible future exposure to dampness, water leaks, etc? I have the choice of the red oak interior grade plywood that the cabinet side will be built from, or I can use exterior construction grade plywd, such as ACX. Or is there another choice which I am unaware of?
I’m thinking of just using the regular red oak and with some type of waster resistant finish and caulking the side’bottom joint. I appreciate your thoughts/experience on this. Thanks. Dsrtmstr
Replies
How about using the veneer plywood, but covering it with laminate in a pattern that looks like wood. I'd laminate it before installation, and making the dados wider to compensate. You wouldn't be after perfect realism. No one cares inside a cabinet. After it gets wet a few times, and has cleaning products spilled on it, laminate will look better than anything you could seal the wood with.
My best recomendation would be to have a pan that has a 1/4"-1/2" lip on it. Any sheet metal shop can make it for you.
Next best choice would be to have a laminate bottom and chaulk all the edges, as this was already posted by another person
I suppose someone has done it, but I have never seen a cabinet bottom made specifically to assume that the plumbing would leak.
Ordinarily, once you get your fittings tightened down -- and checked periodically over a week's worth of expansion/contraction cycles -- they should stay that way.
The mess from cleaning supplies can be contained either with a plastic tray or a pull out shelf.
Edited 10/4/2004 9:25 am ET by nikkiwood
I always assume that the plumbing will eventually leak so I use 3-4 coats of poly on the cabinet bottom and advise the customer to put in a vinyl 'shelf paper'. My theory is that it's better to be over cautious.
On all my sink cabinets I put on 3 coats of poly and then put down vinyl self stick tiles. The tiles can be washed or wiped off easily. Hope this helps. Rod in Appleton, WA
Edited 10/4/2004 9:52 am ET by Rod
desertmaster ,
I would tend to agree with nikkiwood , I wouldn't do anything special to the bottom . I generally use Maple or Birch interiors on household cabinetry , and place an extra coat of finish on all sink compartments. If the plumbing leaks , get it fixed , ultimately you wouldn't want it to leak forever, what happens when the drip pan gets full . One thing that can be done is to lay down a scrap piece of vinyl flooring cut to fit, you could even cove it up the walls if it makes you feel better.Oak often tends to discolor more than other species from moisture .
good luck dusty
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