With proper care, your cabinetry will provide a lifetime of use and satisfaction. Proper care includes providing a wood friendly environment. Many of the internal environmental issues that affect human comfort, also contribute to a wood healthy environment. Specifically, controlled temperature and humidity with minimal changes from day to day and season to season will ensure your comfort and they will ensure the stability and life of your wood cabinetry.

Repeated short term exposure to excessive moisture such as splashing of surfaces from a sink or even a single longer term event such as flooding, WILL result in irreversible damage to wood cabinetry. Steam, from cook tops, crock pots and improperly sealed dishwasher doors, can cause problems as well. Moisture should be wiped from surfaces immediately, to minimize damage. If wood has a chance to absorb excess moisture, efforts should be made to dry out the wood including substrates, immediately. Avoid direct high heat, use fans and dehumidifiers, moisture absorbing cloth and compounds. Immediate attention reduces the amount of damage and reduces the likelihood of mold and mildew.

Wood expands as humidity increases and shrinks as humidity decreases. Solid wood will dimensionally change more across the grain than with the grain. As wood expands (swells) and contracts with changes in humidity, the finish at the joints will crack. This is not a reason for replacement.

Where humidity exposure is uneven, pieces may warp, cup or bow. Often, if the humidity level is returned to a normal level & maintained for a period of time, these issues will disappear. Extremely dry conditions can result in wood parts splitting and/or cracking in addition to shrinkage as described above. The optimal humidity level is 35% to 50% relative humidity. Extreme conditions (lower than 20% or higher than 80%) especially need to be avoided.

While most focus is on too damp or too humid conditions; too dry conditions can be equally damaging to cabinetry. Extreme dry conditions can lead to cracking in solid wood components. Under dry conditions, the insert panels in panel doors will shrink and the panel edges will be exposed. The exposed, unfinished panel edges will not match the finished surface of the rest of the panel and door. This is not a reason for replacement but is instead an indication that humidity levels are too low and need to be remedied.

Temperature variation can cause some of the same problems as humidity variation and the two are often interrelated. Temperature increases cause materials to expand. Temperature decreases cause materials to contract or shrink. Sudden temperature changes cause more dramatic material changes and are more likely to lead to cracking and splitting in solid wood. More likely to lead to warping, cupping, and bowing in any wood components.

Use dehumidifiers and/or air conditioners in summer to control excess humidity. Use a humidifier to keep the air from becoming too dry in winter. Maintain climate control during the off season of vacation homes to reduce the risk of damage. Prior to installation do not store cabinets in a garage, basement or other unheated or unconditioned space. Treat your cabinets like any fine piece of wood furniture and you will enjoy their beauty and natural look for many years. Remember, preventative maintenance is the best form of maintenance.

RTA Discount Cabinets provides a limited lifetime warranty to the original purchaser that its drawer slides and door hinges to be free of defects in material and workmanship under normal use for the lifetime of the product.

RTA Discount Cabinets warrants its cabinetry to be free of defects in material and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of the original purchase. This warranty is limited to the original residential owner and is not transferable. Natural Characteristics: Natural variations in wood (aging, wood knots, inherent growth characteristics) are part of the beauty of a natural wood product and are not a defect. Relative humidity levels of 40% to 55% inside the home are required to prevent permanent damage, low moisture may cause doors and joints to shrink and open. If Relative humidity levels and temperature range does not reach 40% to 55%, 17-24° inside the home this warranty will be void automatically.

Our warranty will be void in the following circumstance.

1. Natural Characteristics: Natural variations in wood (aging, wood knots, inherent growth characteristics) are part of the beauty of a natural product and are not a defect.
2. Relative humidity levels of 40% to 50% inside the home are required to prevent permanent damage, low moisture may cause doors and joints to shrink and open. If Relative humidity levels and temperatures range does not reach 40% to 50%, 17-24° inside the home this warranty will be void automatically.
3. Customer repairs or modifications on original product 
4. Defects, Damages or Claims after installation will not be warranted. All products must be inspected for damage prior to installation. 
5. Any damage caused by misuse, abuse, negligence, alteration, improper handling, storage or installation, non-residential use, wear and tear. Product is subjected to abnormal use, abuse, eg: Heating/Cooling vents are placed under or in front of a cabinet.
6. Product is installed in an environment without heat/cooling controls, eg warehouse, cottage etc.