Expert: Eileen Cronk - 4/22/2008

Question
We have moved into a 1999 built home.   The cabinets are the blonde color oak finish.  I cannot determine if they are wood, although I think they are wood and not laminate.

Questions: How can I tell for sure if they are wood?
and how can I successfully darken the color to something other than blonde to make the cabinets more updated?

Answer
Hi Susan
Nice to hear from you.
Everyone seems to be wanting to change their oak cabinets to something darker...its rampant LOL.
You can attempt this but its a huge amount of work stripping the finish off and then attempting to stain them dark.
It also involves experimenting with different types of stains as oak often does not absorb stain very well.
I don't know exactly why this is, but antique oak takes a stain very well but the newer oak does not.
The only way you can tell real wood from laminate is by sight.
Its very easy to spot real wood.
You could have solid wood doors with oak laminate cabinets but it will still be oak. Its oak veneer actually.
Susan if you think it could be other than this, get someone to ID the cabinets for you.
Hopefully you don't have that plastic fake stuff but I doubt it.
I am not trying to discourage you on this and if you want the complete info for doing a test door to see the result I'll be happy to send it. Its long and involved.
Kind Regards
Eileen