The Benefits of Polyurethane Finish on Kitchen Cabinet Doors: A Guide for Homeowners

Ben Moore Light Pewter Inset Kitchen Cabinets - Newtown CT

Understanding the types of finishes available for kitchen cabinets can significantly impact their longevity, appearance, and maintenance level. At Ackley Cabinet, our manufacturer proudly uses the Alcea 2 component polyurethane finish for paint and top coat over stain. In this post, we will dive into the benefits of a polyurethane finish on kitchen cabinet doors and why we believe it is an ideal choice for your home.

Enhanced Durability

One of the foremost benefits of a polyurethane finish is its durability. Kitchen cabinets are subjected to various forms of wear and tear, from spills and splashes to frequent handling. Polyurethane acts as a protective coating, helping to minimize the appearance of scratches, dents, and general wear. This hard-wearing finish is particularly suitable for families or high-traffic kitchens, ensuring that your cabinet doors maintain their integrity and appearance over time.

Moisture Resistance

Kitchens are environments prone to moisture, from boiling pots to splashing sinks. Polyurethane is inherently moisture-resistant, making it an excellent choice for protecting wood and MDF surfaces from water damage. By forming a protective layer, it significantly reduces the likelihood of water from seeping into the wood, which can cause swelling, warping, or mold growth. This characteristic is particularly beneficial for maintaining the structural integrity and aesthetic of your kitchen cabinet front and doors.

Easy Maintenance

Kitchen cabinets require regular cleaning, and a polyurethane finish simplifies this task. Its smooth surface allows for easy wiping and cleaning, without the need for harsh chemicals or rigorous scrubbing. Spills and stains can be effortlessly wiped away, keeping your cabinets looking fresh and clean. This ease of maintenance not only saves time, but also helps in preserving the finish and appearance of your cabinet doors for longer periods.

Summary

A 2 component polyurethane finish offers a combination of durability, moisture resistance, and easy maintenance - making it an excellent choice for your new kitchen cabinet doors. If you’d like to see this finish on our sample doors in person, give us a call today to schedule a complimentary design visit!

How Do I Update My Kitchen Cabinets? Reface, Refinish or Remodel?

Researching Your Options for Your Kitchen Project

If you’re like most homeowners, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of options for updating or upgrading your kitchen space. Whether you are considering painting, refinishing, refurbishing or completely remodeling, check out the below article by Houzz before you get started to see if we can help you with your kitchen goals.

Thinking About Adding a New Island to Your Kitchen? Read these Tips!

Thinking About Adding a New Island to Your Kitchen? Read these Tips!

Kitchen Islands (both small and large) not only add storage capacity, but also increase counter-top space for the rest of the kitchen. With the amount of choices and options out there, read more to find out if your kitchen is an ideal candidate for a new island!

New Kitchen Cabinet Colors and Driftwood Grey Stains - 2018

Are you ready for some COLOR, we sure are! We are still only in Q1 of 2018, but we have already noticed a sea change in the industry toward bold pops of color as well as nature inspired tones in kitchen cabinetry. White and Off-white shades paired with a shaker style inset cabinet door will most likely remain the classic choice in our geographic area, but we are very excited to see clients embracing some new colors in their kitchen remodel choices.

Displayed above is one of our new sample swatches in Fossil Gray for our clients who are considering a greige cabinet paint color, but want some extra definition to make the door style pop!

Driftwood Trend for Kitchen Cabinets

Driftwood has also been a style that has been gaining popularity this year. Below is a recent kitchen project we completed in Darien CT. Our client selected one of our newly released Driftwood stains with Pewter Grey glazing on Quarter Sawn White Oak. We also extended the existing cabinetry to the ceiling for a formal look. Paired with the sleekness of stainless steel, this kitchen was completely transformed all without a rip-out/replacement and while saving all other surfaces.

Give us a call today or contact us to take a look at these trending new stains and paints in the comfort of your own home! 

Organization vs Storage: Ideas for Tackling Narrow Kitchen Cabinet Spaces!

Stuffed Upper Cabinet

Are you tired of losing items in the back of your narrow cabinets or having to empty an entire shelf to find something?

If you are like many of us, those narrow upper and lower cabinets tend to get stuffed full of items as they are often too tight to fit roll-out shelving or dividers.

Most standard kitchens will have at least 1-2 of these types of cabinet spaces, leading to a very common clutter situation (see photo).

Check out the below idea to help you clean up and organize for a more usable space.


Storage Baskets with Handles!

If your cabinets are standard depth (~12”) with adjustable shelves, then one great storage idea is using baskets with handles to wrangle up all your loose items.

They can be clear, decorative wicker or white plastic (shown below) and can easily be found at many department or major home goods stores.

Before Cabinet Organization
Cabinet Organization

The 3 Main Benefits:

  1.  Easily and quickly retrieve all items off of a shelf at once (especially for those tall upper cabinets)
  2.  Helps to organize the space into categories or types
  3.  Contains any mess or leaks to a washable container
Pantry Organization

With this approach, you may find some storage capacity will be reduced, however you can certainly make up the difference in time and saved money. While a kitchen remodeling project will certainly force you to empty and sort through all your items, why not start the declutter and organization process today!