KITCHENS
Winter moisture and kitchen fittings
Stephanie Forbes
KSA & Sangengalo
Cold, damp, and poor ventilation can quietly damage kitchen materials before and after installation.
Winter in South Africa – especially in regions like the Western Cape – often brings a mix of cold temperatures, high humidity, and poor ventilation. These conditions can quietly stress kitchen materials in ways that may not be obvious until damage appears. These effects can be felt during manufacturing and after installation.
Damp can penetrate the board at a micro level...
Materials, storage, and manufacture
The drop in temperature and increased moisture affect raw materials and production processes. Manufacturers need to look at where their board products are being stored – if near an open door or an area where the exterior temperature and damp could have an immediate effect on the material, then it should be moved to a dry area with a consistent temperature.
Damp can penetrate the board at a micro level, weakening it and making it more susceptible to water damage as the pores of the board start to swell.
The cold air lowers the board’ s core temperature. This will impact how it responds to edging. If the manufacturer fails to increase the temperature of the glue pot on the edgeband machine to compensate for the colder ambient temperature and the cooler board, the edging adhesion may be compromised.
If the board is cut but not edged immediately, the cold and moisture can penetrate the raw edge. This means that, over time, there will be swelling on the glue line of the edging. Frustratingly, the evidence may only come to light several months after the goods have been installed.
The winter cold also has a huge impact on pre-manufactured fittings with painted finishes like Duco doors. In order to present a hard durable finish, painted doors need to cure. In winter, the time this takes increases dramatically, adding a week or more to delivery time. If the doors are processed too early, their hardness and durability is compromised and you may well see chipping, crazing, or bubbling in the paint down the line.
On site
Winter also impacts installation. The cold and rain can permeate the walls of a home. In a new build, this affects the time it takes for cement and paint to dry.
In older homes, existing damp issues can be exacerbated.
Walls need to have a maximum moisture reading of 15 % on a damp meter to be safe for installation.
96 winter 2026 | www. tobuild. co. za