Soft spot in the kitchen floor near the sink
Urgency
4/5
Honest verdict: this one's worth a pro$400–$2,000Typical repair cost
Likely causes, most common first
- Slow dishwasher or sink-drain leak soaking the subfloor for months
- Failed supply connection under the cabinet wicking along the floor
- In older homes: decades of minor spills finally winning
Do this right now
- Empty the sink cabinet and check for moisture/swelling right now
- Run the dishwasher and watch its connections with a flashlight
- Stop and dry anything active — fans on it today
DIY or call a pro?
Soft means the subfloor is already compromised — this is a find-the-leak, cut-out-the-rot, rebuild-the-layers job. Waiting grows it under the cabinets, and then it's a kitchen project instead of a floor patch.