Merillat Round Table » wood cabinets

A Day in the Life of Your Cabinets

Merillat Marketing — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 14:41:08 +0000

Let’s face it; the majority of homeowners spend more time in the kitchen than any other room in the house! We cook, eat, work and play in the kitchen every day. When planning a new kitchen design, it’s important to remember it weathers its fair share of damages with its endless supply of spills, bumps, drips, greasy fingerprints, dirty dishes, and foot traffic. Kitchen cabinets, counter tops, appliances and floors are all prone to a lot of this wear.

Your kitchen cabinets will be the most visible and functional part of your kitchen providing both storage and style. Given its prominence, it’s no wonder that kitchen design experts advise spending 50 percent of your design budget on your cabinetry. Kitchen cabinets and drawers should have the durability to withstand not only the kitchen’s heat, mess, bumps and scratches, but also the act of frequent opening and closing.

The materials your cabinets are made of will affect its durability and longevity, so consider your options carefully before making a selection. Durable wood cabinets including birch, cherry, hickory, maple, oak, and pine, are popular choices, as is long lasting and affordable laminate. To ensure the long life of your new kitchen, it is best not to cut corners in cabinet construction.

The materials used in the construction of Merillat cabinetry, like those listed above, are made to stand up to the harsh treatment they receive, resisting scratches, bumps, stains, bangs and dents. And they look great too! A beautiful array of finishes, multiple glazing options and top-of-the-line technology are all incorporated in our cabinetry products.

UV Light and Your Cabinets

Merillat Marketing — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:00:48 +0000

The effects of UV light on wood cabinetry.

Although it’s not something you might think about, did you know that ultra violet (UV) light rays found in natural sunlight could affect the appearance of your wood cabinets over time? Here at Merillat, we’ve already thought of it! In addition to finishes that enhance strength and durability, smoothness, and general protection, Merillat applies UV inhibitors to all wood cabinetry as part of our finishing process. The finish on your cabinets will not change, but the wood may, depending on its natural characteristics. Factors that impact UV exposure include the amount and direction of light exposure and the portion of the cabinet that receives light.

We’ve tested our wood species and finishes so that you’ll be able to determine the approximate effect that UV rays may have on the cabinetry in your home. The tests we use follow the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) standards for quartz ultra violet light (QUV). The actual results in your home will vary depending on these three factors:

Exposure to light (for example, direct from the south, east or west, or indirect from the north).
The portion of the cabinet that receives the light (top, base, etc.).
The wood itself. While the finish does not change in color, the wood itself will.

Examples of UV Exposure

Below are examples of wood cabinets in several finishes and the effects of sunlight on the unfinished and finished products. These images demonstrate the tested effect of 24, 175 and 400 hours of UV exposure equal to that experienced at noon. The differences are quite noticeable!

The effect of UV light on Merillat hickory wood cabinets in Cider and Natural finishes.

The effect of UV light on Merillat cherry wood cabinets in the Cider finish.

To ensure that you are pleased with the long term look of your cabinetry, be sure to discuss the unique characteristics of each wood species and the natural daylight exposure of your room with your kitchen design specialist before making your selection. UV exposure on Cherry wood species will yield the quickest changes. While it is difficult to protect cabinets from the effects of UV, please keep in mind that this is the natural aging of wood and it also affects other furniture, flooring, and wall coverings.

How to Clean Your Wood Cabinets Properly

Merillat Marketing — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:00:03 +0000

It doesn’t take long before greasy fingerprints, food smudges, and buildup leave your wood kitchen cabinets looking grimy and dull. It’s easy to maintain and restore their luster in just a few simple steps. The main culprit is grease so you’ll want to clean your cabinets with products that fight grease but don’t create added buildup to make them look and feel sticky and oily.

Here are a few simple steps to help maintain and keep your wood cabinets in tip-top shape:

Dusting: Dust cabinets frequently with a soft lint-free cloth. You can dampen the cloth slightly with water or a spray-type dust remover.

Spills & General Cleaning: Clean spills immediately. Use a clean cloth and mild soap if necessary. Wipe dry with a clean soft cloth.

Cleaning: There are a number of products available for your wood cleaning needs. We recommend Guardsman. Their products are available at many stores nationwide including Bed Bath & Beyond, Wal-Mart and Ace Hardware.

Polishing: We recommend that you wash and polish cabinets once or twice each year. Use a light coat of quality furniture polish. Avoid spray type polishes containing petroleum solvents, as they are flammable and toxic if swallowed.

Don’t: Use detergents, soap pads or steel wool on your cabinetry. These harsh abrasives will mar the wood finish. Additionally, we recommend that you avoid the use of paste wax and polishes that contain silicone; the wax buildup is difficult to remove and will leave a residue that attracts dust.