2 month old kitchen - warped units - is this normal?

[Reastie]

We have a 2 month old painted wood kitchen. We were told beforehand it might crack etc a bit as the nature of wood is it expands etc to heat and whatever. That was fine as we want to repaint it in the future (hoping it lasts a long time) and didn't mind the look of the units slightly cracked.

We hadn't, however, thought about the warping of units. We have 4 doors which, when you look for it, you can see they aren't fully level with the carcasses IYKWIM. One door (the one under the sink) is at the point where you have to give it a good push it to close and give it a good pull to open properly.

Just wondered

a) is this to be expected and normal with wooden kitchens
b) is it the kitchen company or the fitters fault the cupboard under the sink struggles to close properly (should the bespoke kitchen people have allowed more space or did the fitters fit it too tight?)
c) is it likely to get much worse given it's only been 2 months in and it's already happened this much.

This is not acceptable. You should expect hairline/very fine cracks not warped doors which don't open/close properly. I'd be going back to them.

What is going to warp, will have warped by now. This is usually due to the wood not being properly seasoned (dried).

The problem with the cupboard under the sink is most probably due to bad fitting and can be adjusted.

I would complain asap.

Gosh, I would complain too.
Take photos for evidence.

I should say, it's just the cupboard under the sink I'm really bothered by, but the difficulty is we aren't sure whether to complain to the kitchen company (we have had a few complaints already and I think are eye rolling at us being awkward, which isn't the case, we just want what we asked for and a decent quality....they have NOT been very good about dealing with them) or the builders (who so far have been fine).

Is it a kitchen company problem or fitters problem?

If the builders have been fine I would ask their opinion. Did they fit the kitchen? They'll soon tell you if they think it's the kitchen company's fault.

Let the Kitchen Co eye roll all they like, a new kitchen is a big investment & they have a responsibility to sell you a product that it for for purpose.
Out of nosiness interest which company is it?

does anyone drape wet washing around your home, or is there any other source of damp?

We have an airer in the kitchen on the ceiling to dry washing. No other obvious dampness but dh leaves the washing up cloth half draped over the sink half over the front of the unit (not touching the cupboard door in front of it, it's wrung out but still a bit damp).

I just know they will play each other off against each other so I need to know whose problem it was!

If they won't agree who's responsible when you approach them separately - arrange a site visit at a specific time and get both parties there (supplier and installer) - then neither will want to loose face in front of the other and you will get a resolution one way or another - and if at all possible (ie you have one as a friend ) have a solicitor present at the same time !!!! You'd be amazed how well this approach can work !!!!! :-)

NB .. If they say it's because you have a damp kitchen - did they comply with regs and install an extractor - if not - they should have ! Kitchens are inherently going to generate some damp vapor from cooking - and a cabinet that has been painted should easily be able to cope with this ! Think, before the meeting, of any excuses they have used in the past - or that you think they will come up with - and prepare in your head a good response to each point !

One good idea.

I've discovered the washing machine door is also struggling to close properly. These are in different rooms (had big wall of units in dining room too) so can't use damp room as excuse but maybe could use dampness (ie next to sink/washing machine are watery/damp areas) as excuse? The unit above and next to washing machine won't close using soft close also, it needs to be pressed shut but isn't hard to shut IYKWIM.

I can't believe we've had so many problems with this dratted expensive kitchen. Next one we get will be ikea. At least you partially expect problems with a cheap kitchen!

it's unlikely that the joinery co used wet wood, and it's likely that the movement is due to increased localised humidity. An extractor fan in a humid room is good for controlling it, at negligible cost, provided it is kept switched on while the room is humid.

It is possible to plane down swollen wooden doors to make them fit, and it is possible to brace the backs to keep them straighter, but I don't think the kitchen co is responsible for the moisture from the two sources you mention. I suspect the damp cloth, if habitual, will be responsible the the one cabinet with a bad problem. I have seen a single cabinet door warp like a banana, because a compost bin of moist vegetable and fruit waste was kept in that cabinet. As it is the sink unit there is also a chance of excess humidity inside due to a leak, but you would probably see condensation on the cold pipe or back wall if so.