Cabinet Facts

Kitchen cabinets without the showroom talk

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All 36 articles from Cabinet Facts, newest first.

2026

Cabinet Materials Alder Plywood for Cabinets: Appearance, Finish and Buying Checks Learn what alder plywood looks like, how it takes stain, where it fits in kitchen cabinets, and which material details to require in a quote. Cabinet Buying Guides Full Overlay Cabinets vs Partial Overlay: What Changes? Compare full and partial overlay cabinets by visible frame, cost, hardware and clearances—and learn what to keep identical in competing quotes. Cabinet Finishes Hardwood Refinishing for Kitchen Cabinets: What to Check First Decide whether wood cabinets need touch-up, recoating or full refinishing—and what a quote should include before you approve the work. Cabinet Finishes Stained Red Oak Cabinets: Color, Grain and Sample Checks Choose stained red oak cabinets by undertone, grain and finished samples. Learn what to specify in a quote and what changes when restaining existing oak. Cabinet Finishes How to Get Rid of Wood Scratches on Kitchen Cabinets Choose the right cabinet scratch repair: gentle cleaning, a matching touch-up pen or a fill stick. Know when sanding or refinishing is the wrong move. Cabinet Materials Solid Oak Cabinets: What the Label Should Include Learn what solid oak means in a cabinet quote, how it differs from oak veneer, and which door, box, finish and warranty details to verify. Cabinet Finishes Stain Finish on Wood Cabinets: What to Specify Choose stained wood cabinets by species, finished samples and protective topcoat. Learn what to specify in a quote and check before restaining. Cabinet Buying Guides Plywood Cabinets: What a Worthwhile Upgrade Should Include Learn what plywood cabinets actually include, how to inspect backs, shelves and finishes, and when a plywood upgrade is worth paying for. Cabinet Veneers Can You Sand Veneer Wood? A Cabinet Prep Guide Yes—but lightly. Learn how to identify real veneer, choose sanding grit, and decide whether to scuff, strip, repair or replace cabinet faces. Plywood For Cabinets Birch vs Maple Plywood: Which Makes Sense for Cabinets? Compare birch and maple plywood for cabinet boxes, visible panels, paint and stain. Learn which construction details justify an upgrade. Cabinet Materials What Is Sande Plywood? Uses and Cabinet Buying Checks Sande plywood has a tropical hardwood face. Learn where it fits in kitchen cabinets and which core, finish, thickness and moisture details to check. Plywood For Cabinets Hickory Plywood for Cabinets: Core and Appearance Checks Compare hickory plywood cores, veneer grades, color matching and edge treatments before approving cabinet doors, shelves, exposed ends or a material upgrade. Cabinet Finishes Can You Paint on Top of Polyurethane? Cabinet Prep Guide Find out when polyurethane can stay on cabinets, how to clean and scuff it, which primer properties matter, and when an adhesion test should stop the job. Shaker Cabinets Inset Shaker Cabinets: Door, Frame, Material and Cost Choices Compare inset and overlay Shaker cabinets, then specify face frames, drawer fronts, paint or stain materials, and matched quotes before approving your order. Cabinet Materials Melamine Plywood for Cabinets: What the Label Really Means Compare melamine plywood cabinet specifications, distinguish TFL from HPL, and check core construction, finished edges, moisture limits, and upgrade quotes. Cabinet Materials Chipboard vs Plywood Cabinets: Which Box Is Better? Compare chipboard and plywood cabinet boxes for moisture, fasteners, shelves, testing and price, then learn what to require in a cabinet quote. Cabinet Door Styles What Is a Slab Door? Materials and Buying Checks Learn what defines a slab cabinet door, how MDF, veneer, laminate and solid-wood versions differ, and what to verify before approving a quote. Cabinet Buying Guides Cabinet With Inset Doors: What to Specify Before Buying Learn how inset cabinet doors differ from overlay doors, where fit and humidity matter, and what to require in the quote and final installation. Plywood For Cabinets Prefinished Plywood Cabinets: What the Term Leaves Out Learn what prefinished plywood means in a cabinet quote and which core, face, edge, thickness and finish details still need to be specified. Cabinet Materials Laminated Plywood Cabinets: What the Specification Must Say Compare HPL, TFL, wood veneer and prefinished plywood, then verify the core, backer, edges and finished thickness before approving cabinets. Cabinet Veneers Oak Veneer Cabinets: What to Specify Before Buying Compare oak species, veneer cuts, grain matching, cores, edges and finishes so cabinet quotes describe the same construction and appearance. Plywood For Cabinets ACX Plywood for Cabinets: What the Grade Does—and Does Not—Promise ACX plywood has one smooth face and a lower-grade back. Learn what the grade means and what to inspect before using it for cabinet boxes. Cabinet Buying Guides Canada 25% Surtax on Imported Kitchen Cabinets: Quote Guide Canada’s 25% cabinet surtax is not a blanket 25% increase on imported cabinets or kitchen renovations. Before accepting a tariff line, verify the goods,… Cabinet Materials Who Tests Cabinets for Formaldehyde? Label Guide Learn who certifies cabinet formaldehyde compliance, what TSCA Title VI labels promise, and why EPA’s 2026 review makes paperwork matter now. Cabinet Finishes Behr Grounded Kitchen Cabinets: Where the Color Works Preview Behr Grounded on MDF and wood-grain cabinets, then compare light, sheen, counters and hardware before choosing an island or full kitchen. Cabinet Buying Guides Cabinet Tariff at 50% in January 2027: Order Deadline See which fall cabinet orders may cross the scheduled tariff increase, how entry timing changes the rate, and what your dealer should confirm. Plywood For Cabinets Canadian Hardwood Plywood Tariff on Cabinet Boxes Identify which cabinet-box materials face the 50% Canadian plywood duty, estimate the upgrade impact, and compare MDF, particleboard, and other sources. Shaker Cabinets Three-Panel Shaker Doors Differ in Layout and Build Some products use three equal panels, while others use mixed proportions such as a large square upper panel with two longer panels below. Plywood For Cabinets How to Choose White Oak Veneer Plywood A real white oak face supplies the look, while the engineered core makes up most of the thickness and affects machining, fastening, weight and flatness. Painted Cabinets 4 White Painted Cabinet Crack Patterns and What to Do Cracking across flat surfaces, or cracking accompanied by peeling, swelling, or separation, deserves a deeper coating and substrate investigation. Cabinet Veneers Cabinet Veneer Listings Include Different Materials Search results can mix natural-wood sheets, printed film and narrow edge banding. Refacing also calls for sound boxes and a compatible material-and-adhesive system. Shaker Cabinets What Makes an MDF Shaker Panel Stainable? Bare MDF can be colored wood-toned but has no natural grain. An intact real-wood veneer may accept stain, so identify the visible face before sanding. Plywood For Cabinets Marine-Grade Plywood: A Panel for Wet-Dry Cycles Its adhesive bond is intended to tolerate demanding moisture exposure, but the wood veneers still absorb water. That is bond durability, not waterproofing. Cabinet Finishes Satin vs Semi-Gloss Polyurethane: Shine & Flaws Satin makes dust, fingerprints and scratches less conspicuous. Semi-gloss puts more emphasis on grain, but sheen labels vary between manufacturers. Cabinet Finishes Lacquer vs Enamel: Drying, Durability and Use For DIY in an occupied home, a waterborne cabinet enamel approved for brushing or rolling may be more practical than solvent lacquer requiring spray. Cabinet Door Styles Raised Panel Cabinet Doors Can Look Current A square-raised profile, paint or mid-tone stain, full-overlay doors, concealed hinges and simple hardware give the construction a current look.