Natural Wood Expectations
“In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they are still beautiful.”
- Alice Walker
It’s hard to believe, but the materials for your dream space had a life long before you. And it is that history that makes them perfect for your home. Before they took residence in your home, they lived in nature. And, in many ways, nature lived in them. This is evident in the grain of the wood, the pinholes, the knots, the burls and the eclectic coloration left behind by mineral deposits. If you look closely, you can read the story of their former life. As with all organic material, there are also things to expect as the wood adjusts to a new life in your home.
Start Exploring
Discover the selection of wood types available from KraftMaid and find out for yourself how wood and finish combine.
Joint Lines
Wood is in a constant state of expansion and contraction. This normal movement may cause some hairline cracks at the joints in the finish surface on cabinet doors and face frames. This is a natural occurrence and does not weaken or diminish the strength of the joints.
End Grain
End grain surfaces are softer in composition than other areas of the wood. As such, they absorb more stain and often appear darker. This is a natural reaction and potential variances cannot be prevented.
Mineral Streaks
In nature, mineral deposits may form in the wood as the tree extracts nutrients from the soil. Common in many wood types, these mineral deposits cause blackish-blue streaks in the grain. When a finish is applied to mineral streaks, it may appear lighter or darker than other areas of your cabinetry.
Telegraphing
The grain is the identifying feature of each wood type. This grain will “telegraph” or show through the stain. Open or coarse-grained wood (oak, hickory) will telegraph more than closed or fine-grained wood (maple, cherry).
Aging
Certain wood, such as cherry, will continue to mellow and darken over time. This brings warmth to lightly-stained cherry and increases depth below darker stains.