Bathroom Vanity counter top swelling and dissolving

[Sagecoachdriver]

My bathroom vanity counter top has begun swelling at the front underside edge underneath and is dissolving leaving particles on the floor. I don't know how water would get under there to cause the swelling, but it has. It only a matter of time when I will need to replace the top. I haven't checked with FR to see if the still have them in stock.Has anyone out there had a similar issue with the vanity top? I suppose I could make one with laminate. Photos to follow later today.

[RedLdr1]

Is the bathroom sink mounted over or under the counter top? I've seen under mounted sinks cause the problem you're describing due to poor sealing.

[Sagecoachdriver]

Here are photos

[Wandering]

Yes mine is doing the same. Kitchen sink and sink inserts as well. Kinda frustrating but I’m inclined to replace with some kind of solid surface.

[ES_FR]

Sagecoachdriver,

We would be happy to assist you with your 2016 Forester. Because your ongoing satisfaction is very important to us, we invite you to contact Kary Katzenberger in our Customer service department through the following personalized and direct link: http://www.forestriverinc.com/Direct...78559932768256.

This direct link is provided for your convenience in order that we may resolve your concerns as quickly as possible. We will strive to respond to you within 24 hours of receiving your correspondence.

Respectfully,
Forest River

[Sagecoachdriver]

Originally Posted by ES_FR

Sagecoachdriver,

We would be happy to assist you with your 2016 Forester. Because your ongoing satisfaction is very important to us, we invite you to contact Kary Katzenberger in our Customer service department through the following personalized and direct link: http://www.forestriverinc.com/Direct...78559932768256.

This direct link is provided for your convenience in order that we may resolve your concerns as quickly as possible. We will strive to respond to you within 24 hours of receiving your correspondence.

Respectfully,
Forest River

Thanks, I have chatted with Kary in the past and was going to send him and email. He has been very helpful!

[Kirk S]

Newer laminate counter tops wrap around and under the entire front edge instead of stopping at the bottom front for this reason exactly.
Several of our older tops in our sticks & bricks homes have had this issue.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by Sagecoachdriver

My bathroom vanity counter top has begun swelling at the front underside edge underneath and is dissolving leaving particles on the floor. I don't know how water would get under there to cause the swelling, but it has. It only a matter of time when I will need to replace the top. I haven't checked with FR to see if the still have them in stock.Has anyone out there had a similar issue with the vanity top? I suppose I could make one with laminate. Photos to follow later today.

When a lot of water gets on the vanity top some will run over the edge and at the bottom the surface tension of the water will cause it to "curl" around the bottom edge. It then gets into the unsealed particle board.

Before replacing try this:

Get the area really dry. Set a heater up so it blows warm air over the area for a day or so (far away that it doesn't overheat laminate).

Take a sanding block with some medium grit sandpaper and sand off the swollen wood so it's level with the surrounding wood and even with the lower edge of the laminate.

Apply some clear Varathane or other good water resistant wood finish to the area. First coat should soak into the dry wood so keep applying as it's sucked into the wood until your brush strokes stay "wet".

Let dry.



Another product besides Varathane that will work well is Minwax Wood Hardener. Stuff is real thin, is sucked into wood that's been damaged like this, and forms a resin reinforced wood product out of the more sawdust like area you have. Can then be coated with Varathane or a paint of your choice. Warning, the Minwax product is rather volatile and you want lots of ventilation or you'll end up feeling like a glue or paint sniffer.


To help prevent future issues, just put a towel folded lengthwise along this area of the vanity while using. You'll want to keep the water from flowing down the front of the cabinet and sitting on the floor as well.

BTW, I have the same issue with water at my sink. Sink and counter edge are small and it's hard to not get some "splash" when washing hands/face.

[brucemc]

I was sorely disappointed in the material FR used for the countertops. I had swelling in the kitchen countertop last summer, I got angry.
So I fixed it:

with new Corian.
Kitchen:
We had a 2000 Four Winds prior to our 2016 Sunseeker. That unit currently belongs to a friends, and it has never had countertop issues. MDF should never have been used for countertop material.

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by brucemc

I was sorely disappointed in the material FR used for the countertops. I had swelling in the kitchen countertop last summer, I got angry.
So I fixed it:
We had a 2000 Four Winds prior to our 2016 Sunseeker. That unit currently belongs to a friends, and it has never had countertop issues. MDF should never have been used for countertop material.

It's a often a chipboard (like OSB) rather than MDF, as it is in the OP's photographs. I just replaced a 1965 vanity in my stix-and-brix that was doing that, with cultured marble.

In 1995 I renovated the kitchen there. The new "Formica" melamine resin countertops had the same material. Following the advice in the dishwasher installation guide I used several coats of Deft, a bartop finish, on the underside before setting the dishwasher in place.

[brucemc]

Mine was certainly not OSB (Oriented Strand Board) nor particle board - it was MDF. The counter top in the OP's picture looks just like mine did, though theirs are swollen much like my kitchen countertop was.

[Larry-NC]

Originally Posted by brucemc

Mine was certainly not OSB (Oriented Strand Board) nor particle board - it was MDF. The counter top in the OP's picture looks just like mine did, though theirs are swollen much like my kitchen countertop was.

Definitely should have been sealed. I wonder why that was omitted.

[Sagecoachdriver]

Originally Posted by ES_FR

Sagecoachdriver,

We would be happy to assist you with your 2016 Forester. Because your ongoing satisfaction is very important to us, we invite you to contact Kary Katzenberger in our Customer service department through the following personalized and direct link: http://www.forestriverinc.com/Direct...78559932768256.

This direct link is provided for your convenience in order that we may resolve your concerns as quickly as possible. We will strive to respond to you within 24 hours of receiving your correspondence.

Respectfully,
Forest River

t

Still waiting for the reply.

[Sagecoachdriver]

To date, I have not received a reply to my email to Kary. ES_FR, can you look into it please?

[bclemens]

Sometimes those direct contact links go to goofy places. Has anyone reached out?

I can confirm that the top is mdf. Pretty common. In the old days, it was a high pressure laminate top and water would get into the T-molding and/or banded edge. This new "Thermo-Form" counter looks better and no exposed seams.

TitanMike has the repair right...my only suggestion,...sanding, could be a mess with MDF. If it were me, I would use hand wood planer or razor blade to shave that area. Then seal as he mentions.

[Sagecoachdriver]

Originally Posted by bclemens

Sometimes those direct contact links go to goofy places. Has anyone reached out?

I can confirm that the top is mdf. Pretty common. In the old days, it was a high pressure laminate top and water would get into the T-molding and/or banded edge. This new "Thermo-Form" counter looks better and no exposed seams.

TitanMike has the repair right...my only suggestion,...sanding, could be a mess with MDF. If it were me, I would use hand wood planer or razor blade to shave that area. Then seal as he mentions.

Yes, Kary answered my direct email the other day requesting some information. Awaiting further reply now. Thanks

[bclemens]

Perfect.