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Old timer told me to skip pre-finishing cabinet boxes. Was he crazy?
Guy named Pete with 40 years in the biz said never pre-finish the insides of cabinet boxes. Said it traps moisture and causes warping over time. I work in Denver where it's dry as hell so I figured he was wrong. Pre-finished a whole kitchen last month and now three doors are showing gaps. Pete's phone is disconnected so I can't even call him. Anyone else run into this debate with experienced guys?
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wendy1311mo ago
Oh man, that's rough. I'd say Pete was onto something but maybe not for the reason you think. Pre-finishing the boxes themselves isn't usually the problem, it's more about how the finish seals the wood. If you use a heavy oil-based poly or something that doesn't breathe, yeah, moisture can get trapped behind the cabinet face frames and cause the wood to expand differently than the doors. Denver's dry air might actually make it worse because the interior of the box stays more humid while the outside dries out fast. I've seen guys who pre-finish everything in humid climates get zero issues, but in dry spots like Denver the wood moves more and gaps show up quick. Next time try sealing just the edges of the panels and leave the back of the case good and raw so the wood can breathe. It's not a hard rule, just something to work around.
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avery_ross1mo ago
It's the same reason new houses settle and old ones don't.
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