You're definitely onto something with vent placement. I've seen plenty of kitchens where airflow was an afterthought, and it's always a headache later. Good call moving vents closer to moisture-prone spots—small adjustments like that make all the difference in the long run.
While I agree that vent placement can be important, I'd caution against assuming it's always the primary culprit behind moisture issues. I've seen plenty of kitchens where the vents were perfectly placed, yet moisture and airflow problems persisted because of other overlooked factors—like inadequate insulation or even the type of materials chosen for cabinetry and countertops.
For instance, I recently worked on a project where the homeowner was convinced that repositioning vents closer to the sink and dishwasher would solve their humidity issues. After making those adjustments, they still had trouble. Turns out, the real issue was actually their choice of cabinetry material. They'd opted for a cheaper MDF-based cabinet that absorbed moisture easily, exacerbating humidity problems no matter how well-placed the vents were. Once we switched to a more moisture-resistant material, the problem practically disappeared.
So while vent placement is definitely worth considering, it's equally important to look at your kitchen as a whole system. Sometimes small adjustments help, but other times they're just band-aids covering deeper issues. I'd recommend checking insulation quality, cabinet materials, and even how well your appliances are vented internally. It's surprising how often these factors get overlooked in favor of simpler fixes.
Just my two cents based on experience—sometimes the obvious solution isn't always the most effective one.
Had a similar issue a while back when we redid our kitchen. We thought venting was the main problem too, but after messing around with it for weeks, we realized our countertop material was actually trapping moisture underneath. Switched it out for something less porous and the difference was night and day. Sometimes it's the stuff you'd least expect causing all the headaches... kitchens are tricky like that.
Interesting, never thought about countertop material causing moisture issues... always assumed it was just plumbing or venting. Out of curiosity, what material did you end up switching to? We're planning a kitchen update soon, and I'd rather avoid surprise headaches (and extra expenses) if possible. Kitchens really do seem to have their own sneaky ways of complicating things, don't they?
"Out of curiosity, what material did you end up switching to?"
We ended up going with quartz countertops after dealing with moisture issues from our old laminate ones. Quartz is non-porous, so it doesn't absorb water or humidity like laminate or butcher block can. Installation was straightforward, and maintenance has been minimal—just wiping down regularly. Definitely pricier upfront, but considering the headaches we avoided, I'd say it's worth it. Kitchens really do have their sneaky quirks... learned that the hard way myself.
