Home Improvement & House Remodeling. Room Addition, Kitchen & Bathroom Remodeling

home / home remodeling guide / kitchen remodeling / kitchen remodeling: solid wood cabinetry 101s

For a FREE Estimate Call (800) 724-9946

Kitchen Remodeling:
Solid Wood Cabinetry 101

By Allen Shapiro

When referring to solid wood, home improvement companies describe cabinets in which all visible parts of the cabinets are made of natural wood. Due to attributes such as modern, beautiful, and durable, solid wood cabinets are very popular yet more expensive.

Price varies based on factors such as wood type and availability. While domestic types of wood such as oak are usually available and priced lower, imported wood such as mahogany is less available and more expensive.

As manufacturers try to keep wood’s natural shade when designing and manufacturing cabinets, the desired color of a cabinet may sometimes determine the preferred type of woos. For example: a wise designer will prefer pine for darker, warmer cabinets.

Hardwood and Softwood

Wood is divided into two main categories, hardwood and softwood. The determination is based on one factor: loosing leaves. While hardwood is made of trees that lose their leaves in the winter, softwood is made of trees that do not lose their leaves.

Wood is never flawless, it always has spots, shades, or variances and every species has some identifiable patterns, colors, patina, and finish. Shades may vary within the same wood. For example: wood, made of the center of a tree will always be darker than the wood, made of the surface of the tree.

Maintenance

Generally, there is no maintenance routine that can prevent wood from changing over time. Common changes are:

1. Color changes over time when exposed to light
2. Darkening of knots, pinholes, and other wood patterns

Modern finishing methods are developed to try and slow the process and reduce its effect over time but are never proven to stop the process completely. To rejuvenate solid wood cabinets, many remodeling companies Use a color stain, trying to produce different colors.

Allen Shapiro is a senior project manager for Remodeling California Inc., a leader in the Home Improvement industry. For more information about Kitchen Remodeling, feel free to Email Allen Shapiro or call (800) 724-9946.