Sink cabinets are subject to water damage. No matter how well maintained the sink pipes may be, badly water constantly ends up inside the cabinets, causing unprotected timber to grow mold and decay out. There is no way to safeguard a cabinet from all harm, but a fantastic polyurethane finish will go a very long way to maintaining the wood.
Preparing the Cabinet
Begin prepping the cabinets using a hardwood cleaner-bleach to remove all the dirt and grease accumulation. As soon as you remove all the dirt, mold and grease from inside the cabinet, let the cabinets set for 24 hours before applying a heat lamp to finish drying out the timber. Once the wood is totally dry, then sand the wood smooth at measures. Start the sanding procedure with a tough, 100-grit sandpaper, then a 150-grit sandpaper and finally a 200-grit sandpaper.
Seal the Wood
Now you’ve got a beautiful, smooth, wooden surface to utilize, make confident the wooden surfaces are completely free of any sawdust before you apply the sealer. Vacuum out the cabinet using a shop vac or even your family vacuum when it’s a wand attachment. Then, to guarantee that the wood is totally dust free, wipe it down with a tack cloth after vacuuming. Once the surfaces are dust free, brush on the sealer and let set for 24 hours.
Applying the Polyurethane
Polyurethane comes in two kinds, an oil base and also a water base. Don’t use the water-based selection, although cleaning your brushes subsequently is merely a matter of washing them out with soap and water. You want to work with the oil-based polyurethane for the best protection against water damage. Brush on the oil-based polyurethane protective finish using smooth, long strokes, tilting each breath to completely cover the timber. Do not forget to cover the edges of the gaps around the pipes. Apply at least two coats of the polyurethane, allowing 24 hours to elapse between coats.
Seal All the Openings
To completely protect the inside of your kitchen sink cabinet, you will need to seal all the gaps where the sink’s hot and cold water pipes enter the cabinet and where the waste pipe exits the cabinet. The easiest way to do so is to simply fill the holes with an expanding foam insulation available in aerosol sprays in any hardware store or home center.