24/7 Help for Water-Damaged Cabinets in Fort Myers Homes
- Water from sinks, dishwashers and fridge lines runs under cabinets and behind toe kicks, where you can't see it.
- Particle board cabinet floors swell and don't recover; solid wood and plywood can often be dried in place.
- Drying behind and under cabinets often saves the countertops and the cabinets themselves.
Water under your cabinets right now? Do this first
- Shut off the water at the valves under the sink, or the main if you can't find the source.
- Empty the cabinet and photograph everything inside before cleanup.
- Soak up standing water and leave the doors open.
- Turn off the dishwasher or disposal at the breaker if they're near the water.
- Photograph the cabinet floor, toe kick and nearby flooring.
- Start drying the same day. Mold can start within 24 to 48 hours in Florida humidity.
Every step in one list: the first-hour water damage checklist.
Where cabinet leaks come from
| Source | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Sink supply lines and shut-off valves | Braided lines or old valves drip or burst inside the sink base |
| Sink drain and P-trap | Loose slip nuts drip into the cabinet every time the sink drains |
| Garbage disposal | Cracked housing or loose connections leak inside the base |
| Dishwasher | Water runs under the dishwasher and into neighboring cabinets |
| Refrigerator ice maker line | Slow leak behind the fridge and under nearby cabinets |
| Bathroom vanity | Faucet, drain or toilet supply leaks into the vanity base |
| Leaks from above | AC drain, upstairs bathroom or roof leak coming through the wall |
For dishwasher, fridge and washer leaks, see appliance leak water damage.
Can my cabinets be saved?
| Cabinet material | Usually |
|---|---|
| Particle board cabinet floor or sides that have swelled | Replace that panel or the cabinet |
| Particle board that's damp but not swollen | Can sometimes be dried quickly |
| Plywood boxes | Often dried in place |
| Solid wood doors and face frames | Often dried in place |
| Thermofoil or laminate finish that's peeling | Usually replaced, the finish won't re-bond |
| Cabinets soaked by sewage or floodwater | Usually removed |
Many cabinet sink bases can be repaired by replacing just the cabinet floor panel, rather than the whole cabinet, if the rest is sound.
Why water hides under cabinets
Cabinets sit on a base or toe kick, with an enclosed space between the cabinet floor and the slab. When water gets under there, it's trapped with no airflow. It soaks the bottom of the drywall behind the cabinets, the flooring under the toe kick and the cabinet floor itself. In Southwest Florida humidity, that hidden space is a common place for mold to grow.
How water-damaged cabinets are dried
- Stop the source. A plumber or appliance technician fixes the leak.
- Empty the cabinets and remove the toe kicks.
- Map the moisture in the cabinet floors, the wall behind and the flooring underneath with meters and a thermal camera.
- Drill small holes or open the toe kick space so dry air can be pushed underneath and behind the cabinets.
- Remove what can't be dried, such as swollen particle board panels and wet drywall behind the cabinets if needed.
- Dry the space with dehumidifiers and air movers, logging readings daily. See how structural drying works.
- Replace damaged panels, toe kicks and drywall once everything reads dry.
Done early, this often saves the cabinets and countertop. When a leak has sat for weeks or the cabinets are badly swollen, removal and replacement is often the better choice.
When countertops have to come off
Replacing a whole run of base cabinets usually means removing the countertop. Granite and quartz can sometimes be removed and reinstalled, but there's a risk of cracking. Laminate countertops usually can't be reused. That's why drying cabinets in place, and replacing only the damaged panels, is worth trying first when the cabinets are still sound.
Signs of hidden water damage in cabinets
- Swollen or bubbling cabinet floor under the sink
- Peeling or lifting edges on cabinet doors or sides
- A musty smell when you open the cabinet
- Stains or dark spots inside the cabinet or on the toe kick
- Vinyl plank or tile near the cabinets lifting or staying damp
- Swollen baseboards next to the cabinets
How to prevent cabinet water damage
- Check under your sinks once a month for drips and damp spots.
- Replace old braided supply lines and corroded shut-off valves.
- Use a leak alarm or a waterproof cabinet mat under the kitchen sink.
- Don't store paper goods or cleaners directly on the cabinet floor where a slow leak can hide.
- Close the valves under the sinks when you leave home for an extended time.
How much does it cost to fix water-damaged cabinets?
These are national 2026 ranges for the drying and cleanup side.
| Work | Typical 2026 range |
|---|---|
| Category 1 extraction and drying | $3 to $4 per sq ft |
| Category 2 extraction and drying | $4 to $6.50 per sq ft |
| Drying equipment, whole job | $800 to $3,000 |
| Antimicrobial treatment | $200 to $600 |
| Drywall removal and replacement | $1.50 to $3 per sq ft |
Cabinet replacement costs vary widely with the cabinet style, the countertop and whether the existing cabinets can still be matched. Drying in place, when it works, is almost always the lower-cost option. These are national ranges, not a quote; your price is set after an inspection. See the full water damage cost guide.
Does insurance cover water-damaged cabinets?
Damage from a sudden leak, such as a burst supply line, is often covered. Damage from a slow drip under the sink that ran for weeks is often excluded as continuous seepage. Matching cabinets and countertops depends on your policy. Photograph everything and keep the failed part. Read how insurance handles water damage in Florida.
Bathroom vanities after a leak
Bathroom vanities have the same weak point as kitchen cabinets: a particle board floor sitting just under the sink plumbing. Toilet supply leaks and overflows also run under vanities and into the wall behind them. Toilet overflows can be Category 2 or Category 3 water, so a vanity soaked by an overflow is often replaced rather than dried. See sewage backup cleanup for toilet backups.
Cabinets in condos
In condos, a leak in a kitchen or bathroom can reach the cabinets in the unit below through the ceiling and walls. Under Florida condo law, the association and owners usually split responsibility depending on what's damaged and what the condo documents say. See condo water damage.
Questions about water-damaged cabinets
Can swollen particle board cabinets be fixed?
Not the swollen part. Particle board doesn't shrink back once it swells. The damaged panel, often just the cabinet floor, can be replaced, or the whole cabinet if it's widely damaged.
How do I know if there's water behind my kitchen cabinets?
Look for swollen toe kicks, a musty smell, peeling edges or damp flooring near the cabinets. A moisture meter on the wall and toe kick, or a thermal camera, confirms it.
Do kitchen cabinets have to be removed after water damage?
Not always. Many cabinets can be dried in place by removing the toe kicks and pushing dry air under and behind them. They're removed when they're badly swollen, contaminated or hiding mold.
Can I save my granite countertop if the cabinets are replaced?
Sometimes. Stone countertops can often be removed and reinstalled, but there's a risk of cracking.
Is a musty smell under the sink a sign of mold?
It can be. A musty smell usually means moisture has been there for a while. Find and fix the leak, then have the cabinet and wall behind it checked.
How long does it take to dry cabinets?
Usually about 3 to 5 days for a clean-water leak caught early, longer if water sat under the cabinets for a while.
Who handles cabinet water damage in Fort Myers?
Call 239-356-3708, answered 24/7, for cabinet and kitchen water damage in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Estero and Bonita Springs.
Can I paint over water stains inside the cabinet?
Not until the cabinet and the wall behind it are confirmed dry and the leak is fixed. Painting over damp wood or particle board can trap moisture and hide mold.
Water under your cabinets?
Shut off the water, empty the cabinet, take photos and call. Drying early can save cabinets and countertops.
Call 239-356-3708 answered 24/7