Kitchen water damage in Selden, NY is harder to dry than most rooms because the water hides behind cabinet boxes, under toe kicks and inside the wall that holds the sink lines. A small leak can run for days before the cabinet door sticks.
Kitchen water damage restoration is the removal of water from cabinets, counters, flooring, subfloor and walls in a kitchen, followed by controlled drying and the repair of whatever cannot be saved.
What is wet in a kitchen after a leak
Cabinet boxes and toe kicks
Water collects in the lowest cabinet and wicks into the base, where it cannot be seen from the front.
Subfloor under the cabinets
Flooring is often installed around cabinets, so the subfloor beneath them stays wet after the visible floor dries.
The sink wall
Supply lines and drains run inside the wall, and drywall there absorbs water from the bottom up.
Ceiling below
A kitchen over a finished basement can drip into the ceiling under it.
Where kitchen leaks start
The common sources are the sink supply lines, the drain trap, the dishwasher inlet and door seal, and the refrigerator ice-maker line. If a dishwasher or fridge is the source, the shut-off steps are on our appliance leak page. A burst line behind a wall is covered under burst pipe water damage.
Suburban building in Selden took off in the early 1950s, so a kitchen that has not been updated since may still have original galvanized or copper supply pipes under the sink. Older lines corrode at joints, which means a pinhole leak can spray inside a cabinet for a long time unseen. Check the cabinet floor with a flashlight and your palm once a month.
Cabinets: dry or replace
| Cabinet type | Likely outcome | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Solid wood or plywood boxes | Often dried in place | They tolerate short wetting and hold their shape |
| Particleboard or MDF boxes | Usually replaced | The core swells and crumbles when wet |
| Laminate or veneer faces | Case by case | Edges lift and the glue lets go |
| Stone or solid-surface counters | Usually kept | They are not harmed, but the cabinets beneath may be |
| Laminate counters on particleboard | Often replaced | The core swells under the surface |
We remove toe-kick panels and drill small ventilation holes where needed so air movers can dry the cavity. The goal is to save what can be saved and to say plainly what cannot.
How drying works around fixed cabinets
Moisture meters and a thermal imaging camera map the wet zone through the floor, the toe kick and the lower wall. Air movers aimed under the cabinets and LGR dehumidifiers in the room carry out the water. We keep readings at each visit so you can see the drop. The method is explained in detail under structural drying.
Vinyl, tile and laminate over a wet subfloor often have to come up. Hardwood floors that run into the kitchen can sometimes be dried, but only if cupping has not locked in. A house built before 1980 may have old flooring layers that need testing before demolition.
How long you should wait before calling
Do not wait for the cabinet to look bad. EPA guidance is to dry wet materials within 24 to 48 hours, and a hidden leak under a sink already cost days before you found it. If you have a wet cabinet bottom, close the shut-off valve and call. We offer same-day response when crews are free.
What decides the cost
- The water category, from a clean supply line to a drain overflow
- How much of the floor, cabinet run and wall is wet
- Cabinet and counter materials that have to be removed
- Drying days and equipment count
- Rebuild scope, including cabinets, drywall, paint and flooring
Call (934) 223-1875 and we will explain scope and price before work starts. We are a restoration company, not a plumber or cabinet shop, so a licensed plumber should fix the leak itself.
Insurance, in general
A sudden pipe or appliance failure is often covered, while a slow drip under a sink that went ignored often is not. Ask your insurer what applies to you, and read your policy. We record photos, moisture readings and a written scope you can attach to your own claim. We also serve Mount Sinai with the same documentation.
Keep it safe until the crew is there
Kitchen safety
Close the shut-off valve under the sink or at the main. Stay away from the stove, outlets and any wet appliance cord. Cut power at the breaker only if the panel is dry and safe to reach. If you smell gas, leave and call 911 or the utility first. Empty the wet cabinet and photograph it before anything is thrown out.
Questions we hear in Selden
Can I keep my kitchen cabinets after a leak?
Often yes if they are solid wood or plywood and the leak is caught quickly. Particleboard boxes swell and usually must be replaced.
Why do you remove the toe kick?
The toe kick hides the open space under the cabinet where water collects. Removing it lets air reach that space and lets us read moisture directly.
How long does a kitchen take to dry?
Many jobs run about three to five days of equipment time, but cabinet cavities and subfloor can take longer. We test until readings match dry reference spots.
Do I need to empty the cabinets?
Yes, on the wet side. Take photos first, then lift items out and set them on a dry surface.
The sink supply line leaked but the floor looks dry. Do I still need you?
Possibly. Water can sit under cabinets or inside the wall. A moisture reading takes a few minutes and tells you whether drying is needed.
Ready to talk it through?
Call (934) 223-1875