What are the decisions to be made?

Decision #1: Wood Choice

We offer a full range of quality hardwood choices. Each wood choice has a slightly different price. Certain woods look better with different stains and we will guide you in this decision. Some very light stains look best on the highest grade of wood for each specie, which has a slight upcharge but the results are worth it. All hardwoods wear well and look great.

Cherry is the premium wood of choice for fine furniture and cabinetry. As a smooth grain wood like maple or birch its grain is distinctive. Its warm natural reddish color darkens with age to a deep reddish brown tone. It may contain some sap wood which is located to the backs of doors whenever possible. Dark spot gum pockets are a natural characteristics of cherry. Also available in clear grade.

Red Oak is the wood most commonly used today in kitchen cabinets that are stained. It is a coarse grain wood with distinctive grain patterns. It has no knots. Burl grain and fine pinhole knots give it character. Raw wood minor color variations are to be expected but they only show with lighter stain colors. Also available in select grade.

Maple is becoming more common in kitchens because of its beauty, especially when stained a lighter color. It is a smooth grain wood with distinctive grain patterns. It has no knots. Also available in select grade.

Ash color tones consist of a wide range of cream to light brown with some minor dark streaks. It is lighter and whiter than red oak, with its similar coarse grain texture. Also available in select grade which is recommended for light stain or natural finish.

Birch in natural grade is a mixture of sap and heartwood recommended for darker stains. Also available in select grade White Birch its color is pale yellowish as a closed grain wood like maple.

Select or clear are better grade wood options that have a slight additional cost, but are highly recommended for lighter stains or natural clear finish.

All real wood components, whether lumber or veneer or moldings, are carefully matched for grain and quality factors. It is not possible to guarantee exactness in this regard but the goal is consistency. Prices for each wood specie vary based on market demand and therefore any price quoted is subject to confirmation on the date of the order.

Decision #2: Stain Coloration

Whatever wood is used, the range of stain color options exist, even though some stains look best on certain woods. The lighter the coloration the more natural variations in the wood that will be seen. With the select or clear grade option these variations are minimized. The stain color and darkness is applied evenly for as consistent a look as possible. The surface finish is quality sprayed catalyzed varnish and always in satin gloss for a rich look. It is the most durable factory finish available. It is also a repairable finish. You will be provided with a matching touch-up kit should the unforeseen happen. The price implication is that all real wood stain color options are the same price for each grade.

On our Best Grade of doors and all of their wood choices you have a selection from among 18 stain colors. They range from light to dark, from reddish to brownish to others. You should be able to get close to the color and darkness you desire.

Light to medium: natural, pickle almond, pickle white, blush/white wash, honeysuckle, desert sand, harvest gold, nutmeg, cinnamon.

Medium to dark: fruitwood, pecan, cherry, colonial cherry, dark oak, mahogany, dark walnut, wild cherry, wineberry.

On our Better Grade of doors made only of Red Oak you are limited to the following stain color options.

Royal: This moderately dark stain has a deep dark brown with reddish accent coloration. It is commonly referred to as dark oak.

Harvest: This moderately light stain has a warm lighter brown with reddish accent coloration. It is commonly referred to as brown maple.

DECISION #1 & #2 OPTIONS

While the basic standard wood and stain coloration options have been presented as the most cost effective options available, we also present a fully customized finishing option for you. The wood choices can be any of those available. The stain coloration can be any major brand of wood stain and color to any darkness you want. The top coat finish will be quality custom sprayed acrylic lacquer in any gloss you want. We will be performing all of the finishing ourselves, just like we have for years. See our wide ranging wood and stain coloration samples. Using this Custom Finishing option you can get exactly what you want.

Decision #3: Door Type

The price implication is that the choice of door quality and type impacts your price more than any other factor. We will clearly present your options and their impact. In the end it is a matter of how many doors of what size you have for what the cost variance will be. We offer a variety of price levels based on these decisions.

The pre-finished standard square shaped raised panel door is our basic pricing assumption. All variations are made to or from it on a square footage or per door style basis for other door types.

Raised Panel Door: The most common type door used in Kansas City kitchens. It includes a four part lumber frame with quality mortise and tennon construction. The center panel is solid lumber in a raised pattern shape. They are fully sanded front and back and are made to exact +\- 1/16" sizes. This represents the best quality door type. Door styles to include fancy tops are discussed later.

Mitered Panel Door: Basically the same as the raised panel door above, but the lumber frame corner joints are like a picture frame. The mitered door type allows for the face of the lumber frame to have more of a furniture look. Mitered doors are available only in the Square Style, as explained later. A flat panel option also exists. This represents the best quality door type.

Flat Panel Door: Exactly the same as the raised panel door above, but the center panel is a flat ¼" matching veneered panel. This type door provides a cost alternative and a different look. This represents a better quality door type.

Modern Technology Door: Newly available is a door type made of Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF). It is extremely hard and moisture resistant. It is a single piece the size of the door, with the edge and the inner faux raised panel machine routed or shaped into the face of the panel.

The MDF material is then covered front and back with Rigid Thermo Foil (RTF) that is pressed into the shapes using computer controlled heat and vacuum pressure. Extremely scratch and moisture resistant it is approved by the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturer’s Association. Usually done in white or almond to look like paint, it is also available in various faux wood grains, all with matching sheet goods and moldings for the cabinet cases. It is modern technology at its best. This represents a good quality door type, especially if you want a solid color white or almond.

It is a dramatic improvement over painting of old cabinets with all of the paint adhesion problems that they have. No brush marks, no chipping, no discoloration.

When MDF doors are selected the case fronts and ends will be covered with matching RTF material made with the same special adhesive used for the real wood veneers. We use only the specially made matching RTF and do not use lesser quality vinyl.

There are two versions of the MDF/RTF door available.

The better quality version is made with five full passes through the computerized machine that makes it. It results in square inside corners that look as if they were mitered. The basic good quality version is made with only two passes and the inside corners will have a slightly rounded shape.

The standard matte colors available are white, almond, natural maple, light oak, and Sanibel which is much like a white wash on Maple. When MDF and RTF are chosen the Decision #1 and #2 options for real wood and stain colorations are replaced with the decision regarding which RTF color. MDF/RTF doors represent a good quality door type.

It is also true, as will be explained later, that various door styles are all the same price with no up charge for a fancy top panel.

Drawer Front Type: All drawer fronts and false fronts are priced the same as the Door Type selected. In each case it will be a slab front that has the four edges shaped to match the same outside edge pattern as chosen for the doors, and in some cases the raised panel shape.

The new drawer fronts are retrofitted to your existing drawer boxes after modifying them by cutting away any overhang from the old front. There are no price implications beyond other decisions about the doors.

Decision #4: Door Style

The door style has to do with the appearance of shape in the door. It is common for the lower base cabinet doors to all be a square door. Given that assumption, it is only for upper doors and any taller or pantry doors that this decision is applicable. Upper doors with a special style are fancy top doors. The style impacts the design and can change the look of the kitchen from contemporary to traditional. The basic square style decision is available for all door types listed above. The other options are listed below with an "X".

The cost implication per door, only for the particular doors involved, is:

• Any door over 46" tall will require a center rail and have an upcharge.

• Any door with a fancy top selected will have an upcharge.

• Any door with a fancy top repeated on the bottom of the door will have an extra upcharge.

• Any Mitered Series door is available only in the Square style and has no upcharge.

• Any MDF/RTF Series #6 or #2 door can have a Colonial or Radius faux panel top and has no upcharge.

DECISION #5: Edge Shape and Handles

The outside four edges of all doors and drawers are all shaped the same. Your current doors and drawers may overlap the opening from ¼ to ½ inch and may have a lip. Your new doors and drawer fronts will have a ½" overhang on all frame edges. The doors and drawers will all be mounted with an overlay hinge. It makes the doors appear thicker and richer than the older lip style and is universally used today.

In some edge selections the outside edge has a reverse bevel or finger lip that allows the door or drawer to be used without any handle or knob hardware with their related costs to install. On a square edge a finger slot can be put into the edge for access.

While the cost and general look factor should be considered, we generally encourage the use of handles. The use of a handle or knob protects the wood and finish from damage by fingernails, rings, and food grime. It also makes opening the door or drawer more convenient. The cost implication is that a handle or a finger slot have slight upcharges. A reverse bevel edge has no handle and no upcharge.

Decision #6: Cabinet Cases

The Fronts: The framework to which doors are attached is the face frame. It will be covered with matching real wood veneer or matching material to the MDF RTF foil selected. It is applied to the face frame in the same grain directions as the frame is now made. The coverage is only to the fronts and does not wrap the inside. It is pre-finished to match the doors. It is specially made for the purpose by 3M with a unique adhesive just for mounting on wood. It is stronger than contact cement. The Fronts: The framework to which doors are attached is the face frame. It will be covered with matching real wood veneer or matching material to the MDF RTF foil selected. It is applied to the face frame in the same grain directions as the frame is now made. The coverage is only to the fronts and does not wrap the inside. It is pre-finished to match the doors. It is specially made for the purpose by 3M with a unique adhesive just for mounting on wood. It is stronger than contact cement.

It is assumed when two doors are hinged back to back that the face frame has a width of at least 2".

The Case End Panels: The ends of the cabinets that show, like the cabinet ends on either side of the sink window, to include wall and base cabinets are covered with the same material as the fronts. Oven and pantry cabinet sides and tops that show are a special item. The Case End Panels: The ends of the cabinets that show, like the cabinet ends on either side of the sink window, to include wall and base cabinets are covered with the same material as the fronts. Oven and pantry cabinet sides and tops that show are a special item.

The Wall Case Bottoms: The bottoms of the wall cabinets that can be seen from the dinette table or elsewhere can also be covered as a special item. When done, they are covered with ¼" matching plywood. The Wall Case Bottoms: The bottoms of the wall cabinets that can be seen from the dinette table or elsewhere can also be covered as a special item. When done, they are covered with ¼" matching plywood.

Islands and Peninsulas: The flat areas of special surfaces can also be covered either with matching veneer or plywood as a special item. Islands and Peninsulas: The flat areas of special surfaces can also be covered either with matching veneer or plywood as a special item.

The cost implications to all of the above are that the price does not vary for real wood veneer or RTF foil matching
material. They are priced based on quantity and size. Any special fitting requirements are price separately.

Decision #7: Cabinet Trims

The molding at the top of the cabinets against the ceiling or soffet is the crown mold. The molding at the floor in the toe kick area is the toe plate and base shoe. The molding at the vertical joints next to the wall at the end of cabinets is the scribe molding.

All existing moldings of these types will be removed and replaced with moldings of matching material that will cover any removal area on the adjoining surfaces, as possible.

The cost implications for moldings are that the price does not vary for real wood or RTF foil matching material. They are priced based on quantity and size, after considering any special fitting requirements. Specialty moldings like plate rails are resolved as special items.

Decision #8: Who Will Perform the Kitchen Refacing?

We will approach this project however you wish. We will come to your home once you have placed the basic order and take all risks for proper fit and installation by our own staff. We use only the absolute best of technique, tools, and materials. We are willing to provide the total result as a turn key operation

We are also willing to provide a full "kit" for you to perform all in-home work yourselves. It does not require special tooling. It does require careful attention and time, and especially the knowledge about what works and is required.

We would like to perform your Kitchen Reface for you!