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Just need some advice on what to expect. I had my kitchen cabinets refaced by custom builders in ’93 at a cost of just over $5000. A few (?) yrs. later I noticed what looked like a slight yellowing. NOW whatever they used as a coating (lacquer? shellac?) is REALLY yellow, and at least one of the cabinets that’s in bright sunlight (although not direct sunlight), the whole thing has yellowed – wood edging and all, and in some parts it looks green. It’s particularly bad on the corners where they ironed on (?) the veneer edging and then coated it – looks like golden yellow stripes from top to bottom, and against the whitewashed maple it looks really terrible. Most, but not all, of the cabinets have a yellow cast to them.
They actually did a real nice job otherwise, considering some of the things I asked them to do, (like cut off the end cabinet and make it into a moveable island, taking some wood items back to the shop to stain for me, etc.) and I’ve recommended them a couple of times. But……should they be responsible for the yellowing/greening after this length of time?
There’s nothing at all in the one-page contract about any guarantees, that I see (only about workmanship-like manner stuff). Would it be unreasonable of me to contact them and ask them to correct it? Seems like that would mean stripping the coating off, and I don’t know if they’d say I had to pay for it. Of course, I don’t think I should have to, but that’s why I’m asking what to expect.
Anyone have any suggestions/help/comments? Please and thank you.
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My first thoughts are what is the finish andWHAT ARE YOU CLEANING IT WITH! (no I am not blaming you). Dont hesitate to call your contractor and ask if someone will talk to you. They should be able to tell you what the finnish is. If they do not answer your questions call the finish retailor or manufacturer. Did they replace the old doors or jusr refinish them? If they replaced them are they having the same problem.
*In general terms, you should be aware that all solvent based finishes (including laquer, which is most likely what you have on your cabinets), will yellow or 'amber' over time. Some are formulated to do this less than others, and in some cases you can put a U.V inhibitor in the finish which will help to protect against the U.V light, which is causing the problem. Trouble is, these inhibitors are consumables; they get used up, and then the normal yellowing occurs. Waterbased finishes do not yellow, at least not so you would notice, so if you end up getting the doors redone, you might want to keep that in mind; they also look more clear and'water white' over light finishes like whitewashed maple. The refacer should probably have warned you about this, but (hard to say without seeing it, of course), chances are this is just a normal thing.Some refacers (emphasis on some) use products chosen for ease of use, rather than useful things like non-yellowing properties and chemical resistance. They may even have used a nitrocellulose laquer (the old fashioned type) which looks great and is easy to use, but it yellows a lot and isn't very resistant. For a modern kitchen finish, you should be looking for a pre-catalysed laquer at the minimum, a good waterbased laquer, or a post-catalysed laquer (best properties but hardest to use, so you have to know your stuff to get a good result).
*Rick & Adrian: Thanks for your help. Actually, I only clean the cabinets MAYBE once a month, if that, with pretty diluted soapy water, rinse well, and wipe dry. Nothing in the way of commercial spray cleaners. I don't understand why ANY place would use a finish coat that does what it's doing to my cabinets. I'd think they'd realize a few yrs. down the road when the stuff turned yellow and green that most likely they'd have an irate ex-customer to deal with.They removed the existing doors and made custom ones, which they did in their shop, and then brought them here and installed them. So the finish was put on at their shop, but one lone guy came at the end of the job with a small qt.-size can of "whatever" and, using a small paintbrush, just "painted" the stuff on along the "seams." Hence the yellow top-to-bottom streak. It's much darker that the yellow color of the cabinet faces.I guess my initial question was: Should they refinish it? And should I have to pay for it? I don't think, reasonably, anyone would expect to have to refinish something that's only 6 yrs. old, without the company fearing for their reputation. Sounds akin to making a beautiful piece of furniture out of rare wood, and then painting it. Ruins the whole thing, don't you think?Anyway, I appreciate your thoughts, as well as anyone else who'd be willing to advise on this, although being so "low on the totem pole" here, I don't think I'll get much response.
*do find out what the finish is. It could be a new product that didnt work and the manufacturer may pay at least partial cost for damage.
*Yeah, like Rick says, talk to them. It's a tough call sometimes: nothing stays new forever (but it sounds like this is beyond the normal in your case), it could be a faulty product, maybe they made a bad choice in the application. If you came to me, I would be willing to go a long way to keep you happy, and if it's my goof, I'll fix it. A lot of refacers are franchise setups, and I've looked at some of the info that goes with them. They often seem to use inappropriate, low quality materials. Maybe your outfit is a lot of steps above this, I don't know and I don't want to accuse them of anything. See what they say.