An Overview of Cabinet Finishes

Information from Cory Manufacturing; reprinted with permission

When ordering cabinetry, you can choose natural, stained, or painted finishes. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind so you can choose the finish that’s right for you.

Natural finishes

A natural finish is meant to magnify, not mask or change, the natural characteristics of the wood. The grain and color variations of wood will be pronounced with a natural finish. Natural wood varies in color. These natural variations will be present throughout a set of cabinets. The effect of the variation in an entire kitchen may be different from what you visualize in viewing a smaller display or finish sample.

All surfaces are sealed and top-coated. No coloration or pigments are used with natural finishes, so they always show the greatest differences in color and grain that occur in real wood. When designing your kitchen, consider how natural variations within a set of cabinets can affect the overall appearance. Keep in mind that any single natural sample may not represent the full extent of the natural variation within that species.

Stained finishes

Solvent-based and water-based stains may be used depending upon the cabinet line you choose. There will be some color variation from the solvent-based to water-based stain colors, even though the colors may have the same name. It is important to see a sample of the actual finish being used on your project.

Stains are designed to complement, not hide, the natural beauty of wood grains. They add color and highlights to blend, not mute, the character of the chosen wood species. Highly transparent stain will enhance the natural characteristics in hardwoods. This type of staining, unlike a painted look, will also show the natural color and pattern variation that occurs with furniture-quality wood. Light colored stains will allow variations in grain and color to be more visible than with darker shades.

The natural variations of grain and texture in a given wood species will absorb stain differently, and these variations will be visible. These natural variations could be present throughout a kitchen. To minimize this variation, the manufacturer endeavors to select wood pieces that complement each other.

When selecting a natural or stained finish, make sure you see an actual sample of the finish system you are ordering. There are slight difference in how warm the finish can appear.

Painted finishes

Painted finishes may be solvent based or water based. The finish may be applied as several layers of colored primer followed by a clear topcoat, or as a single product that provides both color and protective topcoat. Please be sure to look at an accurate sample when making your color decision. Both of these systems are designed to ensure color consistency and, more importantly, durability for the use and environment to which they are exposed.

All woods continue losing or gaining moisture, which results in shrinkage or expansion. As a result, stress lines can appear in painted cabinetry at the corners of doors and at frame joints. These lines will be magnified by painted finishes, but do not affect the durability of the product. Using medium density fiberboard (MDF) as a center panel will mitigate some of the lines that can appear on painted wood doors. Stress lines in painted finished cabinets will not affect the stability of the cabinetry, the doors, or the finish in general.

Sheen

Sheen is measured as a percent and represents the amount of reflected light. One hundred sheen would be a perfect mirror; zero would have no reflectance. When a finish is freshly applied, the sheen appears more glossy than the published level. The gloss level will diminish to the published levels after approximately three months, depending on finish type and environmental exposure.

Environment

All finished wood cabinetry is affected by the temperature and, most importantly, the humidity of the environment within which it is installed or stored. To avoid dimensional changes or damage, finished wood cabinetry must be maintained in an environment between 25% and 50% relative humidity and a temperature range of 40 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. If cabinetry is to be stored prior to installation, the storage facility must be humidity and temperature controlled within these parameters. If stored on concrete, the cabinetry and all parts must be held off the concrete by 2x4’s to allow air flow, since concrete can easily transfer moisture to wood products.

Some examples of environments that may be prone to out-of-range humidity levels include homes with steam heat, homes with electric baseboard heat, homes without central air conditioning, homes without powered central humidification, and homes near a lake or ocean.

How finishes age

The colors of all products change over time, whether clothing, the finish on a car, or kitchen cabinets. Different colors and different woods react in their own way with exposure to light and air. Whites will tend to amber; clears will tend to cloud; cherry becomes darker and more red. Greens go to gray, reds lose their brilliance, and blues fade. Even with the best care and maintenance, new cabinetry will be a different color in five years relative to the day it was made.

Maintenance

Periodic cleaning with a light soapy water solution or Mohawk Plush Furniture Cleaner is recommended. Always use a very soft cloth, preferably microfiber, for needed cleaning. Never clean or wipe your cabinets with paper towels because of their abrasive qualities.