Under-Sink Cabinet Water Damage Photo Checklist

Under-sink leaks often start behind trash bags, cleaning bottles, or a cabinet liner, then leave a swollen base panel after the area looks dry. This checklist covers the open cabinet view, drain hardware, stain edges, moisture notes, and repeat photos after repair or drying.

Clear the cabinet in two passes

Shoot the open cabinet straight on before moving trash bags, cleaners, shelf liners, or storage bins that block the back wall.
Move the loose items to the floor, then take the same straight-on shot with the cabinet base, rear panel, and side walls exposed.
Label the sink location in your note, such as kitchen sink left cabinet or primary bath vanity, before another sink cabinet gets mixed into the set.

Frame the stain edges and swollen wood

Close up on the darkest tide line where the cabinet base meets the rear wall or toe kick.
Photograph any raised particleboard seam from a low angle so the lifted edge and shadow line are visible.
Place a coin, ruler, or strip of painter's tape beside the soft spot if you need scale for a swollen corner or peeling laminate.

Capture the drain and supply hardware

Center the P-trap, slip nuts, disposal flange, dishwasher hose, and sink drain tailpiece in one plumbing overview photo.
Take separate close-ups of the hot and cold shutoff valves, including mineral crust, rust marks, or water beads around the stems.
Run the faucet briefly if it is safe to do so, then photograph the trap bend and valve connections again while the cabinet is still open.

Write notes tied to visible triggers

Note the first time you saw water, a damp liner, a musty smell, or a soft cabinet base under that specific sink.
Record observed triggers in plain language, such as drips while the faucet runs, wetness after the dishwasher drains, or moisture near the sprayer hose.
Describe the stain by its location and spread across the panel, not by naming the pipe or appliance you think caused it.

Repeat the same shots after changes

Re-shoot the straight-on cabinet view after a towel, bucket, fan, or valve shutoff is added.
Compare the same tape-marked stain edge after 24 hours, after a dishwasher cycle, or after the panel dries.
In door.lease, file the wide cabinet shot and the trap close-up under one maintenance entry so the person opening the request sees both context and hardware.

Use this guide as documentation support, not legal advice. Local rules, lease terms, platform policies, and professional guidance may affect how a record should be used.

Common questions

What should I photograph first under a sink cabinet?

Start with the cabinet as found, before moving bottles or trash bags. Then clear the cabinet and photograph the base panel, rear wall, side walls, P-trap, supply valves, and any stain edge.

How do I show that an under-sink cabinet panel is swollen?

Use a low side angle on the raised seam, then add a close-up with a coin, ruler, or tape strip beside the lifted particleboard. A straight-on photo alone can hide the thickness change.

Should I include plumbing photos with cabinet water damage?

Yes. Include the P-trap, shutoff valves, supply lines, disposal connection, sprayer hose, and dishwasher hose if present. The cabinet stain and the nearby hardware belong in the same photo set.

What should I write in the maintenance note?

Write what you observed: where the stain sits, whether the base felt wet or soft, when you first noticed it, and what was running at the time, such as the faucet or dishwasher.