James Zoppetti | Desirable Kitchens and Refacing - Part 8
Desirable Kitchens and Refacing logodesirable kitchens and refacing logo

Don’t you deserve a new kitchen?

“Gladly Servicing All of Western Pennsylvania”

Local Pittsburgh Cabinet Refacing Expert Since 2014!

412-515-0582

Author: James Zoppetti

James is the owner and expert at Desirable Kitchens and Refacing and has been breathing new life into kitchens for years.

What Components Make a Cabinet?

Cabinets are essential components of homes, offices, and other public spaces. They come in a variety of sizes, materials, and styles to suit many different needs. But what kitchen cabinet components make up your cabinets?

Kitchen Cabinet Components

Face Frames and Boxes

First, there is the face frame which forms the basic structure of the cabinet. This is usually made out of wood, such as particle board or plywood but may also be made from fiberboard or metal. The box houses the hardware and other interior components, which give it its functionality.

Cabinet Hardware

The hardware is the components that allow for the opening and closing of doors and drawers. This includes door hinges, drawer slides, handles, and knobs. The hardware can be made from metal, wood, or plastic and come in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit many different styles.

Kitchen Cabinet Toe Kicks

Kitchen cabinet toe kicks are the boards in the recessed space below the ground-level cabinets. This often-overlooked space allows the person using the kitchen to get close to the counter with less hunching over the work area. Kitchen cabinet toe kicks are also made from many types of materials. Sometimes they are solid wood; other times, they are MDF.  It is essential, since they are floor level where spills occur, that material used for toe kicks is water resistant.

Kitchen Cabinet Shelves

Next are the adjustable shelves, which provide storage space within the cabinet. These are usually made out of hardwood, particle board, or plywood material and must be securely attached to the interior walls of the cabinet for stability.

Cabinet Doors & Drawer Fronts

Finally, the door and drawer fronts complete and personalize many cabinets. They come in various materials such as wood, metal, glass, or laminate and can be customized to match a particular style or design.
These components combined make up a functional and aesthetically pleasing cabinet that is sure to meet any need. With the right cabinet components, a clever and creative design can spruce up any room.

Sound Dampening Bumpers

When you close your cabinet doors or drawers if you have hinges or sliders that ease the close, any noise created by the doors or drawer fronts hitting the faces will be reduced. One thing that most, if not all, kitchen cabinets have on their doors and drawers are sound-dampening bumpers on their corners. When you close your cabinets, this ensures that there is less noise, and it also protects the face frames from getting damaged depending on how they are finished.

Cabinet Installation Services in Pittsburgh

If you’re ready to refresh your kitchen with new cabinets or by refacing your existing cabinets, we can help! Contact Desirable Kitchens and Refacing today to learn more!

Latest Kitchen Cabinet Trends for 2023

When it comes to kitchen cabinets in 2023, the trend is toward more contemporary and modern designs.

Sleek lines and minimalistic shapes are popular, with a focus on functionality and convenience. Smart storage solutions are highly sought after, with features such as pull-out drawers and hidden compartments becoming increasingly common. Cabinet trends to look out for include:

Dark Wood Cabinets

In terms of materials, wood is still the most popular choice, particularly dark-stained wood. This is a great way to balance out the saturated colors in your interior while offering a classic style and comfy look.

Metals and Laminate

More people are opting for materials such as stainless steel and laminate. These materials are more durable than wood and require less maintenance. Additionally, they can be customized to achieve a variety of looks.

Bold and Neutral Tones

In terms of color schemes, a mix of neutral tones with bold accents is increasingly popular. Dark woods and metals create a modern look, while light woods and natural finishes provide a more traditional feel.

Whether you want to combine colors for a two-toned look or add a splash of color with bold tones like yellow, the possibilities are endless!

Unique Hardware

Cabinet accessories such as handles, knobs, and trims are becoming more prominent in kitchen designs. Hardware that adds personality to the space is highly desirable, with homeowners looking for options that reflect their unique style. Consider geometric knobs or tortoise pulls for a unique touch.

The Kitchen Cabinets Are Just The Start

Suppose you are working on your kitchen cabinets and considering working on the rest of your kitchen. In that case, there are other enhancements that Pittsburgh homeowners and homeowners around the country are including in their kitchen remodeling projects that have become trendy, and for a good reason. If you are interested in minimizing upper cabinets, butcher block countertops for your island, and more; read about the latest kitchen design trends according to designers for 2023!

Ready to Upgrade Your Kitchen Cabinets? Call us Today!

Overall, it is clear that kitchen cabinet design trends in 2023 are focusing on contemporary and modern styles to create functional yet stylish spaces.

With a variety of materials, colors, and accessories available, homeowners have plenty of options to choose from when designing their perfect kitchen. If you’re looking for kitchen cabinets for your Pittsburgh home, we’ve got you covered!

Contact Desirable Kitchens and Refacing today to get started on your kitchen cabinet upgrade!

Do Refaced Cabinets Peel?

Refacing your kitchen cabinets is a great way to refresh the look of your kitchen without the cost and hassle of replacing all the cabinets. If your cabinets are outdated or worn, refacing can provide them with a brand-new look that you can enjoy for years to come.

You may be wondering if refaced cabinets can peel, and how long they last. First, lets take a quick look at the process, then we can go into how long the results can last.

Cabinet Refacing Process

Cabinet refacing is a process where the original doors and drawer fronts are removed from the cabinets and replaced. The cabinet boxes are reinforced and repaired as needed and are also refaced with veneers or refinished to match the new drawer fronts and cabinet doors.

This process provides you with cabinets that look brand new at a lower cost than a total cabinet replacement. If your cabinet boxes are still good, why replace them? You only have to change the part of your cabinets that is visible unless you have the space in your kitchen, and need bigger cabinets.

DIY Cabinet Refacing vs. Professional Refacing

While you may think you can save time and money refacing your cabinets yourself, the DIY techniques available are not always the most durable, and a lack of experience in the application of these techniques can produce results that do not last as long.

Many techniques include laminate cabinet refacing, which will peel and chip over time if the laminate sheets are installed in a way that excess hangs over the edge of cabinet door openings and gets caught on the door when it opens, or if the doors are not spaced correctly and the corners touch. Once the laminate begins to peel or chip, it’s downhill from there.

If you are looking for refacing techniques that last, it is best to trust the professionals at Desirable Kitchens and Refacing. Our experienced team has the tools, materials, and knowledge to reinforce your cabinets and reface them with a fresh look that will last for years to come.

How Long Will it Take to Reface My Cabinets?

The length of time to complete your cabinet refacing project will depend on a variety of factors, such as the size of your kitchen and how structurally sound your cabinet boxes are. If you have a larger kitchen with cabinets that require more repairs, then it will take longer to complete than a smaller kitchen with cabinets in good repair.

More ornate door styles can also take longer to finish, as well as if you opt for techniques such as antiquing. On average, you can expect your refacing project to take about five days.

How Long Will My Refaced Cabinets Last?

Using an established company with proven methods is the key to getting refaced kitchen cabinets that don’t look cheap and can last decades.

Low-End Cabinet Refacing

Some companies use a lower-end process that applies laminate to upgrade the look of the cabinet surfaces. At first, they might appear fine. However, over time, they’ll wear out, peel, chip, and fade. Laminate is also prone to water damage, which can cause them to swell and look bubbly when water gets behind the film. In addition, laminate will feel artificial when compared to hardwood doors and panels or a quality wood veneer that is expertly applied.

High-End Cabinet Refacing

With a high-end refacing process, we’ll remove the cabinet doors and drawer fronts and replace them with new, custom-made, solid wood doors. We also don’t cover cabinet boxes with cheap laminate. We’ll paint them or use a quality veneer to ensure the final product looks beautiful and also stands up to wear and tear.

Professional Cabinet Refacing Services

Our experienced team can help you refresh your old cabinets and give them new life! To learn more about our cabinet refacing services, contact us today to learn more!

How To Get Rid of Water Marks on Kitchen Cabinets

If you’ve noticed water marks on your wooden kitchen cabinets, don’t despair — they can be removed easily and quickly with common household items. Here’s how to do it:

Use a Paste Wax

This is a quick and simple fix for most cabinet types. Using a paste wax and a clean cloth, apply the wax to the watermarks as directed and polish the surface until it shines. Be sure to use furniture-quality paste wax such as Minwax 785004444 Paste Finishing Wax, Renaissance Wax Polish, or Natural Unscented Beeswax.

Make Your Own Water Stain Remover

A strange but effective combination is to use regular mayonnaise and wood ash. This mixture can be massaged over the watermarks and left on for one or two hours. After that, wipe it away until it is cleaned and polished.

More stubborn marks may require you to heat the area with a blow dryer while rubbing the mixture on the stain. Non-gel toothpaste is another option. Use a toothbrush to apply the paste and gently rub the area to loosen the stain, wiping it clean.

Denatured Alcohol and Cotton for Stubborn MArks

If the marks have faded, but still stand out, consider using denatured alcohol. This solution is for cabinets that do not have a shellac finish. With a 100% cotton cloth, quickly wipe the stain with denatured alcohol.

This must be done carefully and only using a dampened cloth. Your strokes should be done against the wood grain and when you are finished, buff the area with a wax polish.

Those are some of the methods you can use to get water damage off of your kitchen cabinets. If you have scratches you want to fix on your kitchen cabinets, we have solutions for that as well!

Can’t Remove The Water Marks? Consider Cabinet Refacing

If the watermarks are still noticeable after all of your efforts, consider having them professionally refaced. This will help to restore the cabinets’ original appearance and make sure there are no lingering stains from water or other liquids. Refacing your kitchen cabinets will also give you a chance to upgrade features like hardware, doors, and drawers, which can add to the overall look and feel of your kitchen.

During the refacing process, we will first remove and haul away the old cabinet pieces, such as the doors, drawer fronts, trim, etc. As long as your cabinets are structurally sound, we will sand the frames, sides, and any exposed surfaces to prepare them for refacing.

Once they have been sanded, we will install the new cabinet components, free of stains and watermarks. These components include custom doors and drawer fronts, new hinges, new hardware, and new matching trim, valances, etc.

Contact our expert team today at Desirable Kitchens and Refacing today to learn more!

How do Cabinet Doors Get Loose?

Cabinet doors are opened and closed daily as you grab dishes, glasses, and food, which can eventually lead to them becoming loose and sag.

When your cabinet doors no longer close as they used to, it’s time to figure out how to adjust the cabinet hinges back to their original functionality. Before you can do that, you need to determine why the cabinet doors are loose.

Common Ways Your Cabinet Doors Can Become Loose

One way they can become loose is the hinge screws on the cabinet, and the door can loosen over time. In other cases, the hinge holes can become stripped, making them too big for the screws. Additionally, the cabinet door may be too heavy for the current hardware, causing it to sag or become loose. It may also be that you are putting too much of your weight on the cabinet door while it is open.

How Can I Repair Loose Cabinet Hinges?

To repair loose cabinet hinges, you need to start by opening the cabinet door and then use a screwdriver to tighten and adjust the screws that hold the hinges on.

Close the cabinet door to check the alignment and tension of the hinges. You may need to continue adjusting the screw on the cabinet and the door until it is tightened and closes correctly.

What Do I Do If The Cabinet Door is Sagging?

If your cabinet door is sagging, you may need to replace the current hardware with new hinges that can fully support the weight of the cabinet door.

After you have put the cabinet doors back on, you need to keep the hinges clean and the screws tight for the best performance. Avoid aggressively opening your cabinet doors or putting weight on the hinges while you are looking inside.

What Can I Do If the Hinge Holes are Stripped?

If the holes are stripped, you will first need to remove the hinges from your cabinet. Take wooden toothpicks and dip them in wood glue. Stuff these toothpicks into the holes. Be sure to stuff the holes with as many toothpicks as you can.

Once the holes are filled with toothpicks, break off the excess toothpicks to make them flush with the cabinet. Allow the glue to dry, and then reattach the door and screw the hardware back in.

You can also replace just the kitchen cabinet doors! Or get your cabinets refaced!

Looking for a Way to Refresh Your Cabinets? We Can Help!

At Desirable Kitchens and Refacing, we can reface your cabinets and give them new life! Our experienced team will work with you to learn your style and goals and help you refresh your cabinets without the need to replace them! Contact us today to learn more!

You can also read about other common issues with kitchen cabinets