Ever notice how doors in older homes around Indian Springs start sticking when summer rolls around? That is Oklahoma humidity at work, and it does the exact same thing to kitchen cabinets if you do not plan for it.
Wood breathes. It expands when the air gets thick with moisture, and it shrinks when our winter winds dry everything out. When you are planning a kitchen remodel here in Broken Arrow, the timing of your Kitchen Remodeler installation matters a whole lot more than most homeowners realize.
Why Oklahoma Weather Dictates Cabinet Timing
We see massive swings around here. Spring brings torrential downpours and humid air, while July and August bake the region with dry heat until the air conditioning units run twenty-four-seven. If you bring solid wood cabinets into a job site that has not been climate-controlled, you are asking for trouble.
Alpha Kitchen Solutions always insists that the HVAC system is up and running before a single box gets mounted to the drywall. If the house is wide open to the Oklahoma spring air while you are getting drywall mud sanded and paint applied, that moisture goes straight into the wood. Six months later, your kitchen cabinets will not close right, and joints start separating.
Scheduling Your Remodel Around the Seasons
Fall and early winter are actually prime times for interior remodeling in Green Country. The humidity drops, the extreme heat backs off, and your house is not fighting as hard to maintain a stable indoor climate. Spring can work too, but you have to be extra careful about moisture levels in the house during installation.
- Keep your indoor humidity between 35% and 50% year-round
- Run bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans religiously
- Give new wood a few days to acclimate to your home's specific environment before hanging it up
Protecting Your Investment Long-Term
Cabinets are not cheap. Once they are installed in your Broken Arrow home, you want them to look sharp for 15 to 20 years or more. The biggest mistake people make is placing heavy appliances on countertops before the base units are fully leveled and secured against shifting subfloors. Homes settle in this part of the country, especially with our clay-heavy soil shifting underneath the foundation during dry spells.
Keep an eye on your hardware, too. Tighten up hinges once a year because the natural vibration from daily cooking will loosen them up over time. A little preventative maintenance goes a long way toward keeping your Kitchen Remodeler work looking solid.