HOME > REFINISHING > CABINET FINISHING

Kitchens, bathrooms and laundry areas all have two things in common, we use them a lot and the finishes on the wood cabinets in them will eventually need to be removed and a new finish applied. While we do not have a Painting Contractor's License and therefore cannot come into your home to refinish your cabinets, we have helped many people with the sections they could remove and bring to us. We have even periodically had people bring all the cases to us! Typically though, it is the easily transportable parts that people bring in, the doors and drawers. Mostly people bring their cabinets to us for us to strip and for them to finish, but many understand that they will obtain a much better looking end result by having us finish the cabinets for them as well.

As with other finishing projects, cabinet finishing affords virtually limitless possibilities in terms of what can be done to achieve a specific appearance. A stained wood surface with a clear protective topcoat is the most common choice. However, stained finishes can also be glazed, toned, shaded, distressed, pore-filled, two toned, and more. A painted finish is another common finish choice. Painted finishes can also be glazed, toned, shaded, distressed, pore-filled, two toned and so on. So, if you bring your cabinets to us for finishing, bring your creative ideas along as well--and, you don't need to know what all those terms mean!

What about the case work? Most people have no need, desire or ability to remove the case work sections. There are a number of possibilities for handling them. First of all, we are happy to give you all the tips you need to have success stripping and finishing the case work as well as sell you the stains and finishes matching what we use here. Second, the cases don't always need to exactly match the doors and drawers. An intentional contrast can actually create a very desirable appearance. Thankfully, the case work is the easiest part of the job to do and we are happy to help you with fresh ideas if you need them.

One common concern is whether the new finishes will hold up well in these high use areas. We use only a top quality water based pre-catalyzed urethane finish on cabinets. Let us interpret that verbiage for you:

Water based means that the finishes are non- hazardous. Very few people detect any odor and it is a non-hazardous odor when it is detected--much like smelling an unscented soap. Water based also means environmentally safe. What water based does not mean is that the finish will be dissolved by contact with water in your home. Once the finish has cured, the finish is water resistant and washable.

Urethane means a higher resistance to damage from harsher liquids. It does not mean it cannot be damaged. Cooking oils, strong soaps, ammonia, alcohol and even water allowed to remain on the surface will degrade or damage almost any finish over time.

Pre-catalyzed means that all the advantages of water based and urethane are increased offering greater toughness and scratch resistance.

Here is a chart which presents the comparative advantages of doing cabinets yourself, using a painting contractor and using us.

	DO-IT-YOURSELF	PAINTING CONTRACTOR	CRAFTSMAN
Speed	Slowest. For most people this is a real big, time consuming project.	This is the fastest option. Painting contractors can typically have an entire kitchen done in a week.	We need two to three weeks to process a typical cabinet refinishing job. For strip only work, a week or less.
Cost	Least expensive, but beware of the hidden costs of inexperience and mistakes.	Most expensive because they come to the home and have special insurance requirements.	Moderate expense. You pay us to do the work but we do it in our shop while you do the transporting.
Quality of finish	Whatever you find at the local paint, hardware or home improvement store.	Most painting contractors use paint or a solvent based conversion varnish clear coat. Good but not best.	Top quality water based pre-catalyzed urethane finish as a clear coat or a top coat over paint.
Creative options	For the right person this can be a great creative outlet. Most people find that using a specialist opens up more possibilities.	Some painting contractors are artists and can offer creative options. Most can offer a great job but only on a basic finish.	We are artists and can execute whatever you can envision or help you by suggesting new creative options.
Guarantee	None	Usually very limited.	Ten year pro-rated against any failure of the finish itself.

We won't say we are the best choice in every circumstance, but it sure seems like we could be the best choice in many! If you think we might be a good choice for you, please give us a call.

TOP OF PAGE

CONTACT

All text and graphics Copyright 2001 - 2008 Craftsman Furniture Service