Expert: Jamie Yocono - 6/10/2008

Question
I had custom kitchen cabinets installed. Soon after ward in areas that where around the kitchen sink and exposed to water the wood finish and color came off in some parts of the cabinet. I also noticed this occurred where the steam from the dishwasher when it was opened would hit the cabinet. What is wrong with the finish, why is this occurring and is this usual. Thank you for your help

Answer
Hi Suzanne,

Weird, I just answered a similar question a couple of days ago. I am going to cut and paste that answer here, tweaking it a bit so it fits your situation.

Here goes...

Your cabinets are a perfect reason for using penetrating finishes instead of surface finishes. A penetrating finish will soak into the wood, and won't chip off. Unlike a surface finish!

Unfortunately, some cabinet companies try to save money by spraying on cheap finishes, and the elements can ruin them quickly. Moisture might be the single biggest enemy to wood.

So I think it's a combination of a cheap finish, and then moisture breaking it down. No, it's not unusual, and I would bet that nearly 30% of the questions I answer here are about ruined finishes. Also - some people might disagree, but I think water based finishes are not as durable as oil based finishes. Sort of how latex paint seems a little less durable than oil based paint. So it's possible that your cabinets were finished with a water based finish.

Honestly, I think as time goes on, your cabinets will continue to lose their finish. So I think the best way to correct them would be to strip them and refinish. I know that's probably what you don't feel like hearing, but it's just the way it is. Sorry.

You need to strip them, luckily, the finish will probably come off fairly easily. Stripping is MUCH easier than sanding.

About buying stripper: I've always heard that the ingredient that is the powerful stripping agent is heavy, so when you are shopping for a can of stripper and having a hard time deciding which to buy, pick up the cans and see which is heaviest. Buy the heaviest one for the money. It will be the most powerful.

You probably aren't going to need to do much sanding. Brush the stripper on, let it sit and dissolve the old finish. You can probably use one of those 3M scrubber pads for wiping the gunk off. Wipe and rinse the scrubbing pad often. Then, when the finish is gone, wipe the doors/drawer faces clean.  If the can recommends a certain thing to rinse them with, I would follow their direction. You just want to remove all that stripper residue.

Can I suggest using Watco as a finish? It's a Danish Oil, and you can buy it in various shades. You can apply it with a rag, sanding it in lightly wherever you have rough spots. It's available in clear, but also a whole spectrum of colors - Cherry, Walnut, whatever.

I like to wet sand the oil into the wood, so even though your drawers/doors are smooth, I would still do it. It helps it absorb better. Also- you don't need a dust free environment, so it's easy to use. You could strip everything one weekend, and a few days later, oil. Just make sure the wood is dry when you oil

I just posted a video on my woodworking blog about applying Watco. Honestly, it's a simple to use finish, and I've used it on my cabinets for years. Three coats is what you'll need. And then once a year, maybe an additional maintenance coat. I use that Orange-Glo cleaner for weekly touch-ups.

My blog is: www.wooditis.blogspot.com.  Scroll down for a post from Friday, May 23. That is the one with the 4 short videos on applying Watco.

OK, I hope this helps. Watch my video, see if Watco interests you at all. You can buy it anywhere - Lowes, HD or Ace. I would think a quart would be enough, unless your kitchen is really big.

Write back if you need help, or if you just need a little moral support.  :)  

Jamie Yocono
www.wooditis.com
Las Vegas, NV