Most of us have a lot more idealism in us than we realize. This is not necessarily a bad thing.

However, at times it can be a severe liability. It can make us susceptible to sales tactics that recognize and exploit those idealisms. Generally, when you are about to make a major purchase like a car or a kitchen remodel, you want to shed any simplistic notions you may have and find out “the real deal” about whatever it is you are buying.

In this case, I’m talking about buying cabinetry. Should you insist upon your cabinets being made of bona fide solid wood or is it okay if they are made of plywood? What about particle board or MDF? Plastic? Foam? Cardboard? (Don’t laugh — I’ve seen it all) … finish (Nearly) All Woodwork Depends on Glue

For some people, the Holy Grail of cabinetry is to make new cabinets look like fine and antique furniture. Here’s one technique for doing that.

… finish Adding Furniture Base to Cabinets

I have a sixty-something cabinetmaker friend across town who has taught me quite a bit about wood. A few years ago he said “I’m not making any more white cabinets!”

In spite of his very best efforts, the wood joints would begin to show after as little as six months: just a hairline crack at the joint. But apparently, for some customers, that was a cause for wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Well, he hasn’t stopped making white cabinets, because people love white. But, … finish How Moisture and Time Affect Woodwork

Typical scenario: You walk through the new house admiring all of the trim work, especially that beautiful curved trim. You just love it. You buy the house. A year passes. The builder of the house quietly moves to a different continent.

One day you notice a small crack in one of those lovely pieces of curved trim. The next month you notice another crack in another piece. “Ye gods!” you exclaim, “Have those always been there? Is my house falling apart?”

Yes, it’s true. You are another victim of Bent n’ Broken Trim Syndrome. Here’s how it happens.

… finish Where to Look for Broken Trim in a New House/Project

Generally, no. They typically sell manufactured cabinets that might be built across the country or around the world. Other posts in my kitchen category explain why this is an economic necessity and why it doesn’t mean a compromise of quality.

Occasionally kitchen showrooms may commission a custom piece to complete a design, but generally they make much more money on the factory (pre-designed) woodwork.

In Spring of 2003, a deck builder stated to me that, here in Chattanooga, a cheap treated pine deck would cost $10 per square foot and a good one (structurally good, not necessarily fancy), would cost $15. I would multiply those numbers by 1.5 today to account for inflation and the rise in materials prices after the discontinuation of arsenic-treated lumber. Obviously, the synthetic deck materials would add to that.

We were preparing a 100 year old heart pine floor for refinishing and it was accidentally inundated with water. … finish Tips and Numbers from my old files

… then start your project in January.

No, I’m not kidding. … finish If you want it done in time for Christmas…

This past week, I had the privilege of consulting on a large, historic house built in the 1930’s. The house is built around the shell of on old trapper’s cabin which was a meeting place for Confederate recruits early in the Civil War.

Below is a picture of the cabin’s rooofline, now entirely within the attic of the newer structure.

… finish Roof Problems Usually Start in the Attic

From my perspective, pine seems to be on the decline as a construction material. I know of no one who uses pine studs for framing except for supporting LVLs and other intense point loads. Nearly all studs are either spruce or steel now. … finish Pine’s Decline for Construction and Woodworking

What does your kitchen have to do with Leonardo Davinci’s Mona Lisa?

Answer: If you opt for a quality set of cabinets, the “Art” of your kitchen will be mounted on the same material that has allowed the Mona Lisa to stand the test of time. … finish Your Kitchen and the Mona Lisa