Cabinets for Florida: humidity, salt and storms

Why does Florida humidity matter for cabinets?

Humid air adds moisture to every cabinet box, door and finish. UF/IFAS Extension says “Florida is warm and humid” and that mildew and bacteria may attack organic materials. Choose a sealed box, keep the room dry and wipe up spills fast. The goal is to keep water out of the core.

Florida’s rain is steady and seasonal. The NOAA 1991-2020 normals for Tampa International Airport show August at 9.03 inches of rain on average. January averages 2.65 inches. June through September each average more than 6 inches.

The US EPA states the rule plainly: “The key to mold control is moisture control.” For cabinets, that means three habits:

• Keep indoor relative humidity below 70%, and ideally between 45% and 60%, as UF/IFAS Extension recommends.
• Wipe up spills and splashes near sinks, dishwashers and refrigerators.
• Follow the maker’s care sheet. The indoor care sheet warns that stronger products may damage or discolor a finish and may void the warranty.

Innovation Cabinetry’s indoor catalog is straightforward about wood: it says “wood expands and contracts,” and that this can open a joint line in painted finishes. That is normal wood behavior, and humidity swings make it more visible.

For indoor rooms, Innovation Cabinetry’s EliteCraft cabinets have a 3/4 in. plywood box, and Urban cabinets have a 3/4 in. white plywood box with a TFL finish. Both carry a 10-year limited warranty. See the indoor cabinet collections.

What does salt air do to cabinet hardware and metal?

Salt can pit and rust metal near the coast. The risk falls on hinges, legs, pulls and screws more than on the box. NEMA Enclosures says sea spray chlorides can cause pitting and rusting of stainless steel unless the grade resists them. Ask which grade each part uses.

Stainless steel is not one material. NEMA Enclosures explains that “chlorides in airborne sea spray, rain, and dry salt particles carried by wind may cause pitting and rusting of stainless steels, unless a sufficiently corrosion resistant grade is chosen.”

Here is what Innovation Cabinetry publishes about its metal parts:

• Endura: 304 stainless steel 6-way adjustable soft-close hinges and rust-resistant 304 stainless steel legs.
• Maverick Garageworx: heavy-duty stainless steel adjustable legs, and aluminum pulls the brochure calls rust resistant.

The brochures and datasheets we reviewed give no salt-spray test results for these parts. If your home is on the water or in a salt-air zone, ask your dealer how the hardware holds up and how to care for it.

What should I know about outdoor kitchens on a lanai or summer kitchen?

Florida homes often put the cooking space outside, on a lanai, in a summer kitchen or by the pool. These spaces get humidity, rain and heat. Use cabinets made for outdoor use. Endura is Innovation Cabinetry’s outdoor kitchen collection, built from 3/4 in. marine-grade HDPE.

HDPE takes on very little water, so it suits damp and humid air. The Endura brochure says its HDPE is UV and weather-resistant and will never rot, delaminate or splinter. Endura comes in five door styles: Club, Moderno, Oxford, Regent and Sedona.

A covered lanai blocks direct rain. It does not block humid air or blown spray. Plan the layout, drainage and clearances with your installer. The outdoor kitchen cabinet guide covers materials, layout, care and the Endura warranty.

What should I know about outdoor cabinets and hurricane season?

Prepare before the season starts. NOAA says the Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30. No cabinet is hurricane proof, and Innovation Cabinetry makes no such claim. Secure loose items, plan for shutoffs and ask local officials about rules for your site.

Tampa Bay knows the stakes. The National Weather Service in Tampa Bay says “Hurricanes Helene and Milton were two of the most impactful storms for the West Coast of Florida in the last one hundred years.” The National Hurricane Center reports that within Tampa Bay, “maximum storm surge inundation of 5 to 7 ft AGL occurred” during Hurricane Helene.

What does that mean for cabinets?

• Surge and flood water reach low parts of a home first. Plan what you store near the floor.
• Wind moves loose items. UF/IFAS Extension advises storing outdoor furniture and other items inside if they could be blown away or cause damage.
• Rules vary. Anchoring, gas lines and electrical work depend on your city and county.

This page gives general information. Confirm every storm and code question with your installer and your local building department.

Does the Florida Building Code cover cabinets?

Florida uses one statewide building code. We did not find a section that sets a rule for kitchen cabinets, and we do not call any cabinet code compliant or hurricane rated. The code does apply to the structure around your cabinets, including outdoor structures, gas and electrical work.

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation describes the code this way: “The current Code is a single statewide code based on national model codes and consensus standards, amended for Florida specific needs for the design and construction of buildings.”

The Florida Building Commission site lists the Florida Building Code, 8th Edition (2023), as effective December 31, 2023. A newer edition may apply when you read this, so ask which one governs your project. Your local building department decides how the code applies. Ask it before you build an outdoor kitchen, run a gas line or add a hood vent. The Endura installation guide also says to check local building codes first.

What should I check in my Florida home before I order cabinets?

Check the room first, then the cabinet. Measure indoor humidity, look for leaks and sealing gaps, and decide what the room asks of the cabinets. Then name the line, the hardware and the warranty with your dealer. A short checklist keeps the order on track.

1. Measure humidity. UF/IFAS Extension recommends indoor relative humidity below 70%, ideally 45% to 60%. A humidity monitor tells you where you stand.
2. Check the seals. UF/IFAS Extension says windows and doors should be weather sealed to keep moisture out.
3. Choose the line for the room. Indoor, outdoor and garage cabinets use different materials, as the table above shows.
4. Ask about hardware. Near salt water, ask which grade of stainless steel the hinges and legs use.
5. Read the warranty for that line. Terms differ: 10 years indoors, limited lifetime for Endura, 5 years for Maverick.
6. Confirm local rules. Ask your building department about outdoor kitchens, gas lines and anchoring.
7. Buy through a dealer. Your dealer can show samples and explain lead times and delivery.

Which cabinets suit which room in Florida?

Match the line to the room, not to a trend. Use plywood-box cabinets indoors, HDPE outdoors and sealed board in the garage. Each Innovation Cabinetry line has its own material and warranty, so name the line when you ask a dealer. The table above compares them.

Indoor rooms. EliteCraft and Urban suit kitchens, baths and other indoor rooms. Keep indoor humidity in the range UF/IFAS Extension recommends.

Outdoor kitchens. Endura is the outdoor line. Its warranty is limited lifetime, with 5 years on hinges and legs.

Garages. Maverick Garageworx uses 3/4 in. TFL furniture board, Invisa-Edge banding and stainless steel adjustable legs. Its warranty is 5 years. See the garage cabinet guide for the full specs.

Where is Innovation Cabinetry based?

Innovation Cabinetry is a cabinet company in Tampa, Florida. Its headquarters is at 7030 Anderson Rd, Tampa, FL 33634, phone 888.206.1088. Its warehouse is at 9252 E. Columbus Drive, Tampa, FL 33619, phone 833.428.1216. It was “Founded in 2005.” See the Tampa page.

Innovation Cabinetry says it began as a retail cabinet provider in Clearwater, Florida. It later set up a central Tampa distribution warehouse. The company sells through authorized dealers, not directly to homeowners.

Who sells Innovation Cabinetry in Florida, and where do builders start?

Homeowners buy from an authorized Innovation Cabinetry dealer, not from the company directly. Use the dealer finder to see who serves your area. Builders and developers can start with the multi-family cabinet page, which covers the Profile line for production builders.

Trade buyers who want to sell the lines can use the become a dealer page.

Next step

Read the outdoor kitchen cabinet guide or the garage cabinet guide for your project. Then find a dealer near you.