Finishing the cabinets involves a very important process of making the wood or laminate cabinets beautiful and durable, as well as functional. It is the use of protective paints or measures that provide more beauty to the appearance of the cabinet, durability and ability to withstand moisture and daily wear. A finished cabinet may change your place, bringing fashion and worth and shielding the wood from the ground. The selection of finishes is overwhelming considering the numerous selections offered by the stains, paints, clear coats, and laminates. This guide will take you through all the information about cabinet finishing to help you select the right finish for your kitchen, bathroom or on your own custom cabinets.
Understanding Cabinet Finishing and Its Importance
The finishing of the cabinet is the process of giving the surface treatment to the raw material used in the cabinet to ensure that it is protected and that it achieves its final appearance.
Regardless of having wooden or laminate cabinets, finishing has some crucial functions:
- Enhances aesthetic quality through the addition of color to the grain or by giving a smooth, uniform look.
- Protect the guard against scratches, stains, and humidity and UV-destruction.
- Makes clean-up and maintenance.
- Extends the life of the cabinet and gets rid of the possibilities of warping, cracking or fading.
- Enhance the resale value and attractiveness in general of the kitchen or bathroom.
Unless cabinets are finished, they can easily wear out, especially in high-traffic areas or in areas with high humidity, and hence finishing is not only significant but a form of decoration.
Choosing the Right Cabinet Finishes
When choosing the most appropriate cabinet finish, it is important to take into account the following major factors:
Design Style
Do you want your place to look modern, rustic, traditional or transitional?
High-gloss paint and natural stains are used to finish sleek contemporary and rustic or traditional wood-based kitchens, respectively.
Color Options
The available range of cabinet finishes is wide-ranging between natural wood colors and highly saturated colors. The top finish may either be to beautify your wood cabinet, which is a natural feature or to offer a smooth painted finish according to your design requirements.
Durability
The choice of finishes should be based on the amount of wear the cabinets will experience. Moisture-resistant, durable finishes are also necessary in a busy kitchen or bathroom where the moisture level is high.
Refinishing vs Getting New Cabinets
When you are weary of your battered, out-of-fashion, or just plain old cabinets, you can either refinish them or get new ones, and this choice has consequences on your budget, schedule, and overall room design in your kitchen.
Refinishing Cabinets
- An affordable way of refurbishing old cabinets and updating them.
- Sands surfaces, puts on stain or paint and applies protective coatings.
- Keeps the original cabinet quality and structure but provides them with a new, fresh appearance.
- The least amount of waste and disruption is reduced as opposed to complete replacement.
Cabinet Finishes for Wood Cabinets
Wood cabinets respond well to several finishing methods each offering a unique look and protection level:
Clear Coat Finishes
Clear coat finishes are needed as shields to wood cabinets once stained and on natural wood surfaces. These Cabinet finishes prevent moisture, scratches and daily wear on the wood. The most popular versions of clear coat are polyurethane, lacquer and varnish, which provide various degrees of protection and shine. Clear coats do not interfere with the natural grain and depth of the wood, but rather they expose the personality of the wood, as well as making it long-lasting.
Stains for Wood Cabinets
Stains do not sit on top but penetrate the wood fibers and therefore add color as well as bring into view the natural grain and texture of the wood. There is a large choice of stains, with light, natural colors such as oak and dark, strong colors such as espresso. As the stains do not offer enough protection to the surface, a topcoat clear finish is required to ensure that the wood is not damaged, damp or loses its color.
Painted Cabinet Finishes
The finishes on painted cabinets provide absolutely distinct aesthetics in the form of solid and uniform colors with different sheens. The following is an in-depth examination of the commonly used painted finishes:
Semi-Gloss Finishes
These give it a moderate gloss that balances between functionality and beauty. Semi-gloss is convenient to wash, it does not absorb moisture easily, and can be used in the kitchen cabinets where the surfaces are to be wiped quite often.
Satin Finishes
Satin finishes have a low finish, and look smooth and elegant; smaller flaws are also concealed by the satin finishes as opposed to higher gloss finishes. Its durability and subtle shine make it a go-to for many kitchens.
Matte Finishes
With little or no shine, matte finishes produce an up-to-date and elegant look, which seems subtle and natural. Nevertheless, this finish is not as resistant to stains and marks as well and needs frequent maintenance.
High-Gloss Finishes
The finishes have a mirror texture, which reflects light perfectly, which is perfect in smooth and modern designs. They are extremely washable. They tend to highlight scratches and fingerprints more easily; thus, they need to be carefully taken care of.
Laminate Cabinet Finishes
Laminate cabinet finishes are composed of a thin, solid plastic coating stuck to the surface of the cabinet. The finishes are admired due to their utility and flexibility:
- Add Color and Finish: Laminate is also available in infinite colors and designs that can be an imitation of other materials, such as wood or stone, or could be boldly painted.
- Better Strength: Laminate is also highly resistant to moisture, stains, scratches and heat, and so it can be used in a high-traffic kitchen and bathroom.
- Simple to Install: Installation is also less work and takes less time than painted or stained wood since laminate cabinets are usually pre-finished, and thus time and labor are saved.
Selecting the Right Finish
A combination of all of these choices presents an extensive variety of choices related to the customization of cabinets to both form and particular functions like resistance to moisture or convenient washing. With dreams of your design, use patterns, and the way you want to maintain your furniture, the choice of a suitable finish is determined.
Wood Cabinet Staining and Protective Coatings
Wood cabinets normally have their finishing process begin with staining which brings out the natural grain of the wood and adds color to the wood.
After staining:
- Put a moisture and spillproof coating like polyurethane to prevent humidity.
- Apply a heavy-duty protective cabinet coating to prevent scratches, UV and wear.
Paint vs Stain Cabinets: Which Is Better?
In choosing to paint or to stain your cabinets, you have to think about the appearance you desire and the amount of natural wood you want to show through.
Painted Cabinets
- Give a solid and consistent color, which may either be bold or faint.
- Good with modern, traditional or eclectic styles where a smooth, consistent finish is required.
- Fully covers the grain of the wood, giving it a smooth and polished look.
- Comes in a big variety of color choices to suit any decor.
Stained Cabinets
- Even more, just be able to show the beauty of the wood so that the grain and the texture are allowed to shine through.
- Add color and retain the special nature of the wood.
- Usually used in the classic, rustic or natural design styles.
- Needs a topcoat to be protective and durable.
Moisture Resistance Finish for Cabinets
Kitchens and bathrooms require finishes that are able to survive moisture.
Look for finishes labeled:
- Moisture-resistant or water-resistant.
- coatings based on polyurethane or acrylic.
- Finishes that provide resistance against warping or discoloration over a long-term period.
Conclusion
Cabinet finishing is not an extra step; it is the service that will save your investment, help your style vision, and keep your cabinetry alive. The decision to use a durable finish with a clear coating or a fancy painted finish, the knowledge of what cabinet finishing is and why it is important puts you in the decision position. To have the expert consultation, custom designs, and quality finishes, leave your cabinetry dream to Custom Cabinets of Texas to make it come true with perfect finishes that last.
FAQ’s
Cabinets have a lifespan of 10-15 years on average, depending on the usage and maintenance of the cabinets.
Laminate cabinets can neither be stained nor painted, nor can new laminate surfaces be applied.
Matte finishes are more prone to staining and can be subjected to more cleaning as compared to satin or semi-gloss.
Polyurethane and acrylic finishes are better at resisting moisture.
Yes, refinishing or painting, and also a cheaper way of updating the color of the cabinet without completely replacing it, is by painting or staining it.
