The life of bathroom furniture depends on seven technical details, from carcase material to edge sealing.
A bathroom cabinet works in the toughest environment in the home: hot-shower steam, basin splashes and constant high humidity in poorly ventilated rooms. Placing an ordinary kitchen cabinet in the bathroom often results in swollen door edges and carcase within two or three years. This guide summarises seven technical criteria to ask about when buying a bathroom cabinet.
1. Carcase material
Marine plywood and HDF-based moisture-resistant boards absorb far less water than standard chipboard. The manufacturer should state the board's thickness swelling (EN 317 test); a good value is below 8% in 24 hours.
2. Edge sealing
The first place water enters is the cut edge. Double-coat epoxy or PUR-glued edge banding determines the quality of sealing. Edge banding should be 2 mm thick and continuous on every edge.
3. Surface finish
HPL (compact laminate), water-repellent matt lacquer and moisture-balancing wood veneer lacquers suit bathrooms. Plain melamine is recommended only when edge sealing is perfect.
4. Fitting metals
Hinges and runners must be stainless steel or have a high corrosion-resistant coating. For salty air (Aegean and Mediterranean coasts) fittings that have passed a 480-hour salt-spray test are recommended.
5. Floor clearance
Wall-hung cabinets should leave at least 15 cm of clearance from the floor so that standing water does not touch the cabinet and cleaning is easier. In floor-standing models the feet should be stainless and adjustable.
6. Ventilation and lighting
Even the best cabinet is damaged in a closed, unventilated bathroom used for an hour a day. A window or an extractor of more than 25 m³/h should be treated as essential. LED lighting is preferable because it emits no heat.
7. Warranty scope
The warranty document should mention 'moisture and water damage' separately. Evrena bathroom cabinets carry a ten-year carcase warranty and seven years against moisture swelling. You can see sample cabinets in our showrooms with water tests and get a recommendation for your bathroom at the free survey.
Care recommendations
Wipe the bathroom cabinet weekly with a damp microfibre cloth and avoid abrasive or acidic cleaners. Do not leave splashed water for long, and keep drawer edges and worktop joints dry in particular. Leaving the door open for ten minutes after a shower or running the extractor extends the cabinet's life considerably.
Lubricating drawer runners and tightening hinge screws once a year is enough. If you see blackening or cracking in the silicone joints do not delay renewing them; water gets in most often through these points.