Pro Select Maple

Pro Select Maple

During the process of selecting the wood species you would like to use in your kitchen, another consideration that should come to play is the finish of the wood. Different wood species will take stain in a very different way. For example honey finish on Maple will look totally different than honey finish on Cherry. So be careful and make sure that you know what wood is used on the sample of the finish you are looking at, and selecting your kitchen from.

STAINING

It’s easy to darken woods by giving it a stain. A stain works by soaking into the wood and bringing an element of color to it. Keep in mind that it is difficult to try and lighten a dark wood. So it’s best to start with a wood containing hardly any color and work to darker levels from there. Staining will even out to an extent, the graining and variations in the wood.

There are different kinds of stain:

Wood Toned:

Lightly pigmented wood-toned finishes add color to the wood, while enhancing its natural beauty. Because these finishes are lightly pigmented, they last longer than a traditional clear finish.

Semi - Transparent:

Semi-transparent finishes allow both the natural grain and texture of the underlying wood to show through. These finishes offer better durability than clear and lightly toned products.

Solid Color:

Semi-transparent finishes allow both the natural grain and texture of the underlying wood to show through. These finishes offer better durability than clear and lightly toned products.

PAINTED OR OPAQUE FINISH

Many times paint or opaque finish is applied on Paint Grade Wood which means less consistent piece of wood. Since the paint will conceal the grain, imperfections in the wood will not show. There are some limitations that you should be aware of when ordering a painted wood door:

Due to expansion and contraction of wood there will be some hairline cracks at the stile and rail joints. In order to try and minimize the seam lines cracks, cabinet manufacturers use an MDF (medium density fiber – from the particleboard family) center panel.

A painted finish on miter door styles is not recommended, and sometimes unavailable.

Woods with open grain (as Oak) will not appear smooth with a painted or opaque finish.

GLAZING

A glaze color is applied to a stained or painted door and then hand wiped off. The glaze remains or hangs-up in any detail or profile of the door. This process is hand applied so it will vary and won’t be identical from piece to piece. No two kitchens will look identical when using a glaze finish.

DISTRESSING

Gouging, scratching or intentionally marking the finish of a wood surface to give the appearance of being antique. Cracking, wearing, worm holing, and rub thru are some of the techniques used to give the kitchen the look of aged furniture.

VENEER

Hardwood veneer is a thin piece of solid wood that is typically applied to plywood or particleboard with glue to give it strength. It cost less than solid wood, its uniform in finish and its grain is very consistent. Using wood veneer in cabinet doors provides consistency by minimizing its shrinking and expansion in climate changes which ultimately eliminates cracking and splitting. Also, a stain can be added to blend doors to the rest of the cabinet structure.

So as you can see, wood, finish and door style, all goes hand in hand in making the right decision. Each one is an important element in getting the style you are looking for in your new kitchen. Educate yourself and make sure you know the pro and cons of the different woods, how the variety of finishes effect the look of a certain wood, and what finish and door style combination gives you the look you absolutely love.

For more information, tips, and ideas, please visit www.kitchenDZiner.com.

About the Author:

Shuky is a kitchen designer working in South Florida for the last 15 years. Her long list of happy customers indicates the experience, knowledge of the business, and excellent customer service skills she brings to every project she works on. Please visit her on www.kitchenDZiner.com.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - The Finishing Touch