Use & Care

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Hairline cracks are unavoidable in wood cabinets, top-of-the-line or not. They occur wherever there's a joint between pieces of wood with grain running in different directions: for example, the joints between stiles and rails on the doors or the face frames that surround openings. The pieces expand and contract at different rates with changes in humidity, since wood movement is much more pronounced across the grain than with it. A painted finish, no matter how good or how carefully applied, just can't keep up.

Every species and grade of solid wood behaves this way, although cracks are more noticeable on light-colored cabinets than on dark ones. We try to warn clients about this in advance, saying that some cracking in the finish is likely. Still, maple is about the best wood you could have chosen for painted cabinets because of its stability.

The cracks will probably be more noticeable in winter than in summer because heat dries everything out. Your cabinet builder will be able to tell you options on how to help prevent this from happening by running a humidifier during inclement weather.

Dust is made up of small, airborne particles, which can build up and may scratch or dull the surface if not removed correctly.  Simply wipe the surface with a cloth dampened with a cleaning polish or mild detergent. 

Oil from fingerprints, cooking fumes, smoking residue and other contaminates accumulate on any surface.  None of these contaminates will harm your finish but should be periodically removed to restore the finish to its original luster.  Just wipe the surface with a cloth dampened with a polish that doesn't contain wax or mild detergent solutions.  Use of ammonia-based products and silicone oils may cause damage if used over a long period.  Clean only as often as needed to keep surface contaminants from building up on your cabinetry.

• After installation, cabinets should be cleaned thoroughly with a non-abrasive (mild) soap and water applied with a soft, lint-free cloth.  (We suggest Weiman Cabinet and Wood Clean and Shine)  Dry immediately and repeat this two or three times yearly.  Even though your cabinets have one of the most durable finishes available, they will not withstand repeated exposure to soap and water so please try to limit this. 
• Make sure to wipe off spills immediately.  Water will weaken and start to crack the finish.
• Polish your cabinets sparingly because polish builds up over time and will affect the natural beauty of your cabinetry.  Always use a good quality polish that does NOT contain wax or silicone.  
• In areas where grease buildup is a problem, use a water and vinegar solution.  This will remove the grease without leaving a residue behind.

This finish is durable, but spills should be cleaned properly.  Also excessive exposure to direct sunlight, high temperatures, and high humidity can cause damage to the finish and the wood itself. 

WARRANTY FOR CUSTOM CABINETRY MADE FROM REAL NATURAL WOOD  

Each species of wood has marked differences in the grain pattern and color.     Even in wood milled from one tree, you will see differences in the grain pattern and color from piece to piece which is beyond our control.  

Make sure to discuss and review the specific wood species you've selected to confirm your decision, based on the desired overall look.  

Our finishers hand apply each finish, every coat and layer, which naturally opens the door to variation.    Each door profile (inner rail route cuts, outer rail edge cuts and panel selection) accepts the stain or paint in its own way.  Make sure to review how the finish that you select will affect the overall look of the door profiles.     

The variations mentioned in the two above paragraphs are more evident in a sample door than a color chip only. 

In a room full of cabinetry, the variations will blend to create a visually pleasing effect.  

Installation of custom cabinetry is important to ensure a square and true level.  If cabinets are not installed properly by our expert installation crew, doors could appear uneven or warped, even if they are not.  Every homeowner should also expect their walls and floors to have variations of different scales. This is the reason you will notice we use shims to level out and square the cabinet.  However, with each season changing, homeowners should be prepared to complete minor adjustments, as the humidity and temperature change.    
  

We do in-house finishing, inside of our spray booths.  The product we use is not to be used in non-ventilated areas unless it is a small area, applied by thin coats with an artist's brush.  This is our process for minor/simple touch-ups.  On each install, we will provide the set of cabinets with a small jar filled with each color and caulking to match.  This is part of your general maintenance as a homeowner.        

For the larger, more damaged areas, we are happy to refinish as needed, within a reasonable time limit. Usually, this is within 5-7 years.  We do not warranty cabinetry that has water damage.  Natural wood and water are enemies.  This can be prevented by cleaning up spills and splatters within a reasonable amount of time, and drying until no longer wet or saturated.  We will continue to repair or refinish the water damage but there will be costs involved, based on the severity of the issue.    
  

As far as the hardware on your cabinetry – hinges, drawer slides, knobs/handles, etc...  the brands that we resource and provide/use also provide a lifetime warranty.  We strive to use only the best of well-known brands and this is the reason why.  If you have issues with the above mentioned items,  we will gladly replace them for you. *This will not include blower unit inserts that are installed by others or the light bulbs going bad, as this becomes the installers issue or could apply to the homeowner general maintenance.  

If the products are damaged due to evident abuse, we will also replace/repair them, 

with an additional cost that varies per product.