Episode 2006
Don’t Get Burned: The Hidden Dangers of Custom Cabinet Finishes!
Custom cabinetry can be a real treasure trove of beauty for your home, but hold onto your tool belts, because Eric G's dishing out some truth bombs in this midweek update! One of the biggest pitfalls lurking in the world of custom cabinets is the finish — or lack thereof! Eric spills the beans on how some small custom shops might leave you high and dry with rough finishes that could make your beautiful new cabinets look like they were slapped together in a hurry. It’s essential to know that if your cabinet maker doesn’t handle the finish, that’s a major red flag waving in your face like it’s at a football game! So tune in as we navigate this cabinetry conundrum and arm you with the knowledge to avoid those costly mistakes before you hand over the bucks.
Let's dive right into the nitty-gritty of custom cabinetry, shall we? Eric G. lays down some serious wisdom in this midweek update, shining a light on one of the biggest pitfalls lurking in the shadows of custom cabinetry purchases. Picture this: you're all set to revamp your kitchen, dreaming of those sleek, stylish cabinets that will make your neighbors green with envy. But hold on! Before you whip out your wallet and hand over your hard-earned cash, Eric warns us about the not-so-glamorous side of ‘custom’. The term is as slippery as a greased pig at a county fair, and it can mean different things depending on where you are. From semi-custom to full-blown bespoke, the range of quality can be as wide as a Texas highway.
One of Eric's main points revolves around finishes—oh, the dreaded finishes! He’s seen it all in his years of experience, and he’s got the inside scoop on what to look for. Spoiler alert: if your cabinet maker can’t finish the cabinets or doesn’t have a solid partner to do it, that's a massive red flag! It’s like buying a car and being told you have to paint it yourself. No thanks! Eric breaks down the common issues with finishes, particularly from those small custom shops that might seem charming but can leave you with cabinets that look great until you touch them. He emphasizes that the finish is where many warranty claims arise, often due to poor-quality materials or careless work. So, if you’re in the market for custom cabinets, keep your eyes peeled and avoid those shady shops like the plague!
Finally, Eric wraps up with a call to action for all you home improvement enthusiasts. If you’re thinking about diving into the custom cabinetry pool, make sure you’re dealing with reputable craftsmanship. Do your homework, ask the right questions, and for heaven’s sake, don’t settle for anything less than a finish that’s going to stand the test of time. You deserve cabinets that not only look good but are built to last. Trust me, your future self will thank you!
Takeaways:
- When shopping for custom cabinetry, ensure the shop provides a proper finish; it's crucial!
- Be wary of custom cabinet makers who don't finish their products; it's a major red flag.
- A good cabinet finish is essential to avoid warranty claims; don't settle for less!
- If your cabinetry arrives unfinished, it's like buying a car without paint—what's the point?
- Custom cabinetry can vary wildly in quality; always check the finishes before purchasing.
- Never trust a cabinet maker who can't guarantee a solid, durable finish on their work!
Links referenced in this episode:
Companies mentioned in this episode:
- Monument Grills
To get your questions answered by Eric G give us a call in the studio at 833-239-4144 24/7 and Eric G will get back to you and answer your question and you might end up in a future episode of Around the House.
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Mentioned in this episode:
Monument Grill Omni-Pro Eminence Series 405
Eminence 405 enhances grilling efficiency with a smart App-synced full-color LED touch panel, a durable quality finish, and an upgraded heating system. Its sleek, modern ClearView® lid design represents the perfect blend of elegance and expert-level performance. To find out more visit: https://monumentgrills.com/collections/omni-eminence-series/products/eminence-405
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Transcript
Foreign.
Speaker B:The House with Eric G.
Speaker B:Your go to source for everything home improvement.
Speaker B:Whether you're a DIY enthusiast or just looking to make your space shine, Eric G.
Speaker B:Is here to guide you through the latest tips, tricks and trends.
Speaker B:So grab your toolbox, put on your thinking cap, and let's get to work right here on around the House with.
Speaker A:Eric G.
Speaker A:Welcome to the Round the House show, the next generation of home improvement.
Speaker A:I'm Eric G.
Speaker A:Thanks for joining me today.
Speaker A:This hour is brought to you by my friends at Monument Grills.
Speaker A:Check them out@monumentgrills.com for the latest in barbecue.
Speaker A:I was cooking on mine last night doing some chicken breast with man, it was great with some barbecue sauce.
Speaker A:I tell you what, if you want to get the crust on the outside of that protein that you're cooking, that thing is hot and it's got great control and I love it that I can control it with the app.
Speaker A:All that and more coming from Monument Grills out there.
Speaker A:I love those guys.
Speaker A:What a great barbecue for the value.
Speaker A:You can't get it better than Monument Grills.
Speaker A:Today I wanted to talk about something that I saw on Facebook and has been a common myth and a common problem really what you're seeing out there with cabinetry.
Speaker A:And this is one of the biggest red flags that I see if you're out shopping around for custom cabinetry.
Speaker A:Now, the one thing with custom cabinetry is the that in different parts of the country they do things differently.
Speaker A:You have your national manufacturers which are mostly a semi custom to a custom, depending on what you're looking at, the lower the price point, the less custom options generally.
Speaker A:And you're gonna get these from, oh, your cabinet dealers and those kind of things that you see out there.
Speaker A:Now there's all these little custom shops out there and I am one of the experts on the Ask a Cabinet Maker Facebook group that my buddy Corbin put together.
Speaker A:And here's the thing, here's one of the most common issues that I see.
Speaker A:It is these small custom cabinet shops.
Speaker A:Now when it comes to the word custom, as we've talked about in the past, that word is the wild west.
Speaker A:It means nothing for from quality standpoint, it usually means a small shop that is building the project to fit your kitchen.
Speaker A:Whatever size needs to happen, they'll make it.
Speaker A:Now of course, there's limitations and materials and there's all of that.
Speaker A:But the biggest problem we run into is the finish.
Speaker A:Now, by far on the Ask a Cabinet Maker page, from what I see, the biggest issue is these small custom Cabinet shops and their finishes, they're really rough at times.
Speaker A:Now all you guys out there, before you load my email up, there are plenty of great custom shops that have their finished game down.
Speaker A:They've got it dialed in.
Speaker A:They build a beautiful product.
Speaker A:But it's the other ones that I'm concerned about that are going to take 15, 20, 30, 50, $100,000 from you for a cabinet package.
Speaker A:And you get garbage.
Speaker A:And that's what I'm worried about.
Speaker A:So here are the things that I look at.
Speaker A:Here are my warning signs that I see when it comes to cabinet finishes.
Speaker A:And these are big ones.
Speaker A:First off, if your custom cabinet maker does not finish them or is doesn't have the ability that they work with a company that'll pre finish them for you, that is a no go to me.
Speaker A:That is a do not pass code.
Speaker A:Do not collect $200.
Speaker A:I will not buy cabinets from a company ever that just does the cabinets no finish.
Speaker A:That's like going down to your Chevy dealership and buying a car and it shows up in raw metal and you got to ship it to the body sh to have it finished or you're going to go home in your garage and paint it, which is much more likely to have the end result.
Speaker A:It makes no sense.
Speaker A:Now I get it.
Speaker A:If you want to spray a finish out and have it so you don't see the seams, but guess what?
Speaker A:You're going to see the seams because wood expands and contracts.
Speaker A:And the problem is so many of the finishers out there that finish in the field, they're using latex paint.
Speaker A:It's the trim paint they pick up at their home center.
Speaker A:It's the trim paint they pick up.
Speaker A:That is not a real cabinet paint.
Speaker A:You want something like some of the 2k urethanes.
Speaker A:You do not want a lacquer.
Speaker A:You don't want some latex enamel.
Speaker A:That's off the paint store.
Speaker A:If they aren't going to the commercial finish department at like your Sherwin Williams or one of General Finishes or some of these other big companies, I would not use it.
Speaker A:You don't want wall paint as your cabinet paint.
Speaker A:If you want to see some, what happens with that?
Speaker A:It just gets.
Speaker A:It's not durable, it's not durable at all.
Speaker A:And if they can't stain it, you got the wrong company.
Speaker A:So stay away from companies when you're shopping for custom cabinetry.
Speaker A:If they say we don't finish it, you've got the wrong shop.
Speaker A:Now here's why, especially with a stain, anytime you're finishing something on a job site, you're going to have contamination, you're going to have dust, you're going to have dirt.
Speaker A:The bigger problem is you're now sending cabinetry out to a job site.
Speaker A:There could be pretty high humidity by the time the cabinets are getting delivered.
Speaker A:Maybe the tile floors have just been installed.
Speaker A:Maybe there's some painting done, there's some drywall work.
Speaker A:You've got high humidity in many cases.
Speaker A:And then you've got raw cabinetry, which is going to soak up any oil from people's hands.
Speaker A:This is not something I want ever on a job site, because you're not going to be sanding it down like you would a hardwood floor.
Speaker A:There's a reason why when the hardwood guys come in to do it, they want everybody out of the job site.
Speaker A:They want to get it as best they can.
Speaker A:And they're doing one surface the floor.
Speaker A:With cabinetry.
Speaker A:I want those face frames to be finished around the edge of the face frame.
Speaker A:I want these to be finished correctly.
Speaker A:You can't get a good finish on a cabinet if you install it, put it all together, and then finish it on the job site.
Speaker A:Not going to be as durable as a factory finish.
Speaker A:No way.
Speaker A:So be very careful, guys.
Speaker A:When it comes to finishes, this is the part where that are usually the biggest warranty claim issues with cabinetry.
Speaker A:Warped doors, faulty finishes.
Speaker A:And I guarantee you, if you send out cabinetry and have somebody paint it, somebody finish it, the cabinet guy is, I didn't put the finish on it.
Speaker A:Don't talk to me.
Speaker A:They've eliminated half of their finish issues and probably don't want to have to deal with the stuff of.
Speaker A:There's a huge expense in running a paint room, paying for a finisher, dealing with environmental regulations and dealing with all that stuff.
Speaker A:They never have to worry about picking out stain colors.
Speaker A:So if you're having to do that before you sign and put an order in, that cabinet should have a finish on it.
Speaker A:It should have a door style selected.
Speaker A:You should have it signed, approved, ready to rock.
Speaker A:Those are the things that need to happen.
Speaker A:So don't get caught up in the finish game.
Speaker A:If you're out there with that, if you're looking at it, run to the hills, my friends.
Speaker A:Run to the hills.
Speaker A:Find another custom shop that will do it correctly.
Speaker A:If they're not doing the finish, I promise you, you have the wrong company doing your cabinetry.
Speaker A:If you want to find out more about us, head over to aroundthehousonline.com if there's something that you're trying to figure out there in the world of remodeling, if you're a contractor, if you're a homeowner, you're stuck on something.
Speaker A:Give me a ring over there.
Speaker A:You can just actually send me a message aroundthe house online.com and we'll have some stuff.
Speaker A:We got some great show coming up this weekend.
Speaker A:I'm really looking forward to it.
Speaker A:We got a great interview.
Speaker A:I can't wait to share with you and so much more.
Speaker A:I got to get after it, guys.
Speaker A:It is a busy workday for me here today.
Speaker A:I got a lot to get done, so I'll leave you at that.
Speaker A:I'm Eric G.
Speaker A:Thanks for tuning in to around the House.
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