Which wood types are options for slab cabinets in humid environments?
Would like to update the kitchen and bathrooms in this oceanfront condo. It's humid/hot for 6-8 months of the year. Current doors and cabinets are solid wood and made from a local tropical hardwood called Parota. Does anyone like this look? So far II don't think I like the busy/zebra like grain pattern and as this wood lightens it gets a bit orange. Another tropical hardwood used often is Primavera, but it is also busy and leans towards orange. The cabinet maker I'm talking with has explained (and the threads here on Houzz mostly agree) that solid wood slab style cabinets are not a good option because of warping, but he can use cabinet grade plywood with a wood veneer with Parota or Primavera. THREE questions... 1. can anyone suggest attractive wood options that will hold up in a humid environment? 2. The doors and closets and laundry room cabinets are also this same Parota. Would you change those out also, or can they coexist with the new cabinets? 3. A few people have suggested that I let go of my idea of custom cabinets and work with a reputable kitchen cabinet fabrication company (instead of a one-man cabinet maker/carpenter) opening options for all kinds of finishes. I'd enjoy hearing any thoughts, advice, guidance. Thank you!
First three pics are the kitchen/master bath/master closets. Next three pics are just a few examples sent to me by a friend that I like (but have no idea the wood types). I'd happily go with a lighter color wood as well.
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Comments (23)The register should blow towards the window, so that it mixes with the colder air. It may have been istalled backwards. Here's my take on VS, 410, SEER: Definitely go with the variable speed. There is not that much more to it. It has an expensive motor, but it uses about as much energy as a 100-watt light bulb. It runs so quiet you can't hear it. You have to put your hand in front of the register to tell if it is running. Not only that, but it will remove more humidity from the air in the summer, because the air spends more time over the coil during a cycle, and you can set your tstat to a warmer setting and still be comfortable. I would go with 410. I just bought 2400 pounds of R-22 to stock up for the beginning of summer, and I got a deal because I beat the rush and bought some of what little remains of last year's inventory. R-22 prices are going up, and soon will start to go up faster. R-410 prices are going down slowly, but as R-22 becomes scarce R-410 sellers will become more competitive. Five years from now you will be kicking yourself for getting an R-22 system. Caveat: Check to see if the dealer has some 410 experience and equipment, such as manifold gauges and micron gauges. I would't be in any big hurry to buy 18 SEER unless you have the money and don't mind parting with it. It's nice to have, but it's like buying a BMW. (900-dollar brake jobs.) But 14 or 15 SEER? No problem. It will pay for itself in 5 years or so, and then it will pay you. A heat pump will not do you any good in the winter in PA, and if you do not have a guard over the top (like Trane), you will have ice build-up on the fan and could burn up some components. But it is nice to have in the spring and fall. It is not nearly as necessary as in southern states, it is seldom installed in cold climates, and therefore when problems arise it may be difficult to find a service tech who knows much about fixing one! "Fancy" air filters: The particles you can't see are the ones that are the most harmful to your health. A near-HEPA quality filter, such as an Aprilaire 2200, or a 5000 (best according to Consumer Reports) will filter them out. It will also protect your furnace or air handler from caustic deposits over the years and prolong its life. Humidity is also an important issue. Not enough and the furniture and floors and every other porous item shrinks. Airborne particles stay suspended in the air. Mucous membranes dry out. Too much and things like mold and bacteria become a problem. I would consider getting a humidifier and a good bathroom fan....See Moreslab doors in humid florida?
Comments (15)Veneered slab doors over cabinet grade partical board, MDF or plywood should be just fine. That's what you most commonly will find in most cabinet lines. Or solid wood pieced ones ones with battens on the rear would be fine, although subject to expansion and contraction more than the veneer. Solid wood slabs from pieces that are carefully matched with reversing graincan be fine, but those will be the most expensive and the most custom. I would not trust solid wood pieced doors from a production cabinet line unless they had battens on the rear to stabilize them. As with any wood, it will expand and contract in the presence of varying moisture levels. That may leave you with rubbing in summer and some gapping in winter. If you've owned homes with wood floors, you'll be familiar with the syndrome. If you want to minimize these issues, your best bet is to run a humdifier in the winter and always use your AC in the summer....See MoreWhich is a better kitchen cabinet option for a family with little kids
Comments (26)I'd say(probably repeating some posts)..in order of preference -stain -good quality thermofoil -painted Some people are harder on things than others, age doesn't matter. My teenage son moves around and things stay the same. And everything's on its place. My older daughter is a storm coming-she has many redeeming qualities, but yes, she moves-and all the house seems to move with her:) My husband is a natural -whatever can be scratched will be scratched, whatever can be spilled will be spilled, whatever knife or fork can bump into these cabinets, they will, and as he's a night owl I won't find it until the morning..he'll think he cleaned too, but I'd have to redo it with less chance to successfully remediate. On another hand-I'm grateful to have an amazing husband who helps me with cooking so much. So i bite my tongue for the most part. Also different kids have different motor skills. I knew two little girls (two and a half year each). Both very sweet and not unruly at all. One inherited her father's genes probably(he was a gymnast) Never I saw a child moving and jumping so.. precisely. She had crazy skills. she was like a monkey. I don't know how she figured distance between her and the object. She fell only once during a course of a year. Another little girl was somehow naturally clumsy..she would stumble upon things or just fall, up to several times a day sometimes. Luckily her sunny personaity prevented her from being constantly upset about it..but yes, she needed to be watched over much more. For her own good. She was more accident-prone kid....See MoreHumid FLA, concrete slab--best floor choice type. Don't want tile
Comments (51)Lisa--Does no one in Florida open their windows and just let the fresh air in during the cooler times? Frankly, that is one of the reasons I was thinking LVT might be a good solution. Unless it's really hot and humid, we are pretty much let the fresh air in type of people. But, I also did some more thinking about the LVT that I was planning to install--Flooret--which features extremely large planks with enhanced bevels. I've now reinforced my earlier thought that I don't like the enhanced bevel (with each separate plank emphasized) look that seems to currently be popular in both engineered hardwood and LVT. I much prefer the look that one gets with real tongue and groove, on-site finished floors. A more regular, smoother surface constancy in look that is the way the old-fashioned 100-year-old oak and maple floors in our primary home present. Now that Christmas is over I may go back to the flooring stores to take a look at my options. For the main floor, IF I could find some timeless-looking porcelain tile that I liked a whole lot and that isn't a trendy design (sorry, but I think wood look porcelain is super trendy) and whose installation cost isn't a killer I could maybe maybe consider that. But, it's my understanding that hard tile is quite an expensive install. I like Marmoleum, but it doesn't have the look I want. And, last time around when we did some remodeling I investigated it and found it to be very pricey. And, I think I am going to give my realtor a call to get some feedback about what she hears from buyers in the area. Thanks all....See More
Indie Rhythm
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoIndie Rhythm
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoThank you all so much. Please continue sharing! I'd like to hear more thoughts on cabinets, floors, and/or anything else you'd like to throw out there. You are starting to sway me to embrace the Parota. I had a different vision before of a very contemporary space - but struggled to see how it would integrate with the rest of the place. Started feeling major “project creep” coming on and thinking I’d need to redo the bathroom vanities and more. Parota is by far the easiest option and integrates well with the rest of the condo. If I do that, my two biggest decisions left are cabinet style and flooring.
Stay with current design (solid wood)? Or flat slab style (cabinet grade plywood with Parota veneer)?
Assuming Parota cabinets, any opinions on flooring type/color/layout? Porcelain and honed marble very popular in this area. My inclination would be with the busy wood grain to keep everything else cleaner/simpler/and on the lighter side --floors, counters and backsplash relatively close in color. Current floor is 20x20 ceramic tiles that are nearly white (they show everything). Contractor has suggested not going larger than 20x20 because I’d like the same tiles to extend from inside to the outside balcony and larger than that is difficult for drainage.
Planning on stainless appliances, counters leaning towards Neolith (but considering Caesarstone and granite still an option), new paint, improved lighting, three 12-14” glass pendants over the 10’ x 44” island, and if it’s not too much would like to use SICIS glass mosaic tiles for the backsplash. New decor for living/dining area. (And agree with Auroras suggestion about the toe kick not being the floor tile!)
These cryptic hand-drawn initial draft pics of set up probably doesn't help with the question, but just in case I'll attach. Thanks in advance for sharing your ideas.
Aurora Tee (Zone 6a)
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoIndie Rhythm
5 years ago
Chessie