Kitchens in the north of Tenerife

Kitchens in north Tenerife have to live with a damper climate than in the south. In La Orotava, Puerto de la Cruz, Los Realejos, Icod and Tacoronte, low cloud, rain and walls that are slow to dry are common, and many homes are traditional Canarian houses with thick walls and timber ceilings. That determines which materials to use and how to approach ventilation.

Materials that cope with humidity

The key is that no board is left exposed to water or steam without protection. In the units under the sink, beside the dishwasher and under the hob, we use moisture-resistant boards with edges sealed on every side, because water almost always gets in through a badly finished edge or an unprotected drill hole.

The hardware matters too. Quality hinges and drawer runners resist rust better in damp conditions and keep their adjustment. For the worktop, quartz, granite and porcelain do not absorb water; you can compare them on our worktops page.

Treated wood for a damp environment

Wood suits the character of many houses in the north, but it needs the right treatment to withstand the humidity. A protective varnish or oil, properly applied to every face of the piece, including the hidden ones, stops the wood from warping or staining.

It is also worth choosing carefully where the wood goes. On doors, open shelves and wall units it works very well; around the sink it is usually combined with laminates or stone worktops that cope with water without maintenance. If this style appeals to you, look at the key points of rustic kitchens.

Ventilation and condensation

A well-ventilated kitchen is the best protection against mould and bad smells. The cooker hood should vent outside wherever possible and have enough power for the size of the kitchen; in an old house, the route of the extraction outlet is worked out before the design is finalised. The guide to cooker hoods explains how to choose one.

In addition, units fixed against cold external walls can collect condensation behind them. Leaving a small air gap, not covering existing vents and keeping wall units from sitting tight against an unventilated ceiling avoids a good part of the problems in winter.

Renovations in traditional Canarian houses

In a casa terrera (a traditional single-storey Canarian house) or an old house on several floors, the kitchen has to adapt to the house. The walls are rarely square, the ceilings may have exposed timber and the window openings have their own sizes, so we measure in detail and deal with anything out of square using made-to-measure fillers and trims.

Before fitting, the condition of the walls has to be checked: if there is rising damp or water ingress, it is treated first, because no unit will last on a wall that never dries. When the kitchen moves to a new position or the services need renewing, the job becomes a full kitchen renovation, and if the property is listed it is worth looking at the kitchen renovation permit before you start.