CHIPBOARD

[wavingfuriously]

Hi our new kichen has end panels and some in-between panels made in chip board. there's already been a water leak(now fixed) and we were shocked to see how quickly the chipboard soaked up water ! basically one whole unit had to be replaced and also an end panel. it just swelled, cracked, peeled away from the white coating ...horrid

I guess most modern kitchens have an amount of the stuff - has anyone cracked how to protect it ? just that even washing the floor the end panels will be exposed to water - anyone used varnish or pva glue or anything else ?!

thanks in advance

Chipboard is especially suitable for putting on a bonfire.

The best way to prevent it being damaged by water is to keep it dry.

It's a long time since I saw kitchen units that did not have adjustable tubular legs to keep the panels away from the floor. Plinth is made separate so it is quite easy to replace if damaged.

thanks piglet, i get that end panels can be replaced but there are a couple of plinths that are chipboard entirely within the units .. ho hum for reasons only best known to Wickes..

can you put up a photo?

Do you know anyone with a circular saw?

hi piglet
thanks for taking an interest. one plinth hidden by floor kickboard so can't photo.
why circular saw?
thanks for tip about hiding vacuum cleaner btw, we trashed our cheap vacuum hoovering up rubble ! saved the dyson

what is the difference between a plinth and a kickboard?

I was thinking of whizzing a strip off the bottom on the board touching the floor, and putting a water-resistant material, perhaps feet or plastic strip, to touch the floor.

aha

oops just missed ur reply Piglet ..going to mull over what you've said
the damage caused by a small slow leak overnight was just enormous !
so much for Wickes quality !!

We have end panels which reach the floor (alongside the dishwasher), and our joiner made a point of sealing the cut ends thoroughly before he installed it.

clever guy Cointreau, do you know what he used to seal them ?
A good kitchen fitter would know that from experience wouldn't he?
ta

I'm not entirely sure what he used!