What type of wood is this?

7 years ago

Hi there! I'm trying to figure out what type of cabinets we have. I'm sure there's someone here who could tell me! Also, are they nice quality? Would you recommend painting them? The previous owner of our house works at a very high-end cabinet company, so I've always assumed they were nice cabinets and that painting them would be a mistake. I'd love some insight from someone who knows more than I do though!

Thanks in advance.

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PRO

Premier Cabinets of Virginia, LLC

7 years ago

Maple, shmaple! They're Birch. Look is similar, but the grain in the door panels is too wild for either red maple or silver maple. Also, the red hue on the additional pics from Monday suggest they are actually what's referred to as "pink birch." The other variant being "white birch." Or maybe a combination of both, given what the pictures show. Also, the shimmering quality of the wood (also known as chatoyancy) is characteristic of more highly-figured birch. Cabinet interiors are often a laminated surface, such as white melamine, that cleans and resists stains more effectively than natural wood. Sometimes the laminate can be a man-made wood-grain material that mimics the outer surface. When doors have glass, the typical cabinet has an interior that's the same as the exterior, and finished to match. In those cases, the interior topcoat will be the same catalyzed lacquer or conversion varnish as on the outside, to minimize stains and aid cleaning. As far as painting the exteriors, you'll have difficulty getting good adhesion between ANY paint and a surface coated with lacquer or conversion varnish, unless you sand, sand, and SAND! Forget the marketing hype that says otherwise. For any products that claim you don't have to sand your ass off first, take a pencil eraser to one of their supposed "new age solutions." Rub it back and forth on the same area 5 times, using the same pressure you'd use on a sheet of paper to erase a pencil line. And/or take a piece of 3M clear package tape (or even #810 Scotch tape). Press it onto the surface and rub it flat, 2 or 3 times. Strip it off like you'd pull a bandage off irritated skin. I'll bet in both cases, the new finish will not remain intact. FWIW, both of these tests approximate standardized abrasion tests accepted by the American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM) for coating adhesion. These new products may look OK. But I doubt they perform as well as they look when undisturbed.

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Comments (60)

PRO
Leona Mozes Photography
7 years ago
If the door panels had an interesting grain match (such as a diamond or reverse-diamond match), I might consider leaving the natural wood exposed. However, in this case, I don't feel the random grain pattern is adding any visual interest to the piece. I think it would be far more interesting/fun if it were painted. Maybe add a cornice on top...change the hardware to a pull (instead of a knob). You could even add a layer of moldings within the door panels, or change the upper door panels to glass. Painting it would afford you so many more creative options. Look forward to knowing/seeing what the end result will be!
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@queenofsuccess - I'm getting a better picture now, so we are looking for something that would keep the design in the contemporary brackets, but with a good dollop of homely warmth right? How about if you had the cream tiles around the kitchen area only, so from the white cabinets to the island, then from the brown ladder units to the island too and around it, so that the stools are on tiles. Sort of like a pavement, that would clearly separate the clean kitchen area from a nice hardwood floor in the rest of the room? In this case I would choose the colour of the wooden floor to contrast with white kitchen and cream tiles, but also to work with the walnut ladder units. I know you said your husband would like something light and I can totally understand him there. Light colours would definitely make the room brighter. When it comes to warmth I would suggest a nice oak panel, something along the lines of this: It is quite a challenge to make your idea work flawlessly. We have white kitchen units with near white worktops, part of the floor in cream tiles, walnut kitchen units and you want a fairly light hardwood floor to bring warmth into the room. I think that the only way to solve it well, would be if you could provide as much information on the final decor you want to achieve, the size of the room, natural light sources (i.e. windows, doors etc.), so we can try to find a best fit that will blend in with everything and work for you. Why don't you e-mail me at office@blackoakbuilders.co.uk so we can start putting some mood boards together and collaborate on ideas a bit closer?
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Do you have a separate living room? If you do, rather than add a small sofa I'd be tempted to go for a long rectangular table and add a banquette seat one side so you've got a comfy seat to watch tv. I've just found a couple of pics showing wishbone chairs with banquettes so ignore colour/style. Rugs do look great under dining tables although personally I wouldn't have one re cleaning! If you did add a sheepskin on a chair you're bringing in texture that waŷ. Re wood, I'd either go for a similar grain or pick one of the tones in the oak . I think the door works with the floor but you would be able to lighten it if wanted
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PRO
Premier Cabinets of Virginia, LLC
7 years ago
Another possibility is the wood is Beech. Beech has grain that can be similar to birch and cherry. But beech has characteristic pores in the grain, where birch does not. Figure and color in both can be similar. But I'm confident cabinets are NOT maple.
PRO
Leona Mozes Photography
7 years ago
It really depends on the use of this cabinet. If it's being used for occasional storage, a light sanding, a primer and 2 finish coats will be adequate. However, if the unit will be accessed many times a day, for sure it's best to have it professionally refinished. I suppose it depends on how much time and money you want to invest in this piece.
proveninnocent
7 years ago
Ii've discovered gel wood stain. It is very easy to work with and makes anything look fabulous. I highly recommend it.
gtcircus
7 years ago
Hate to tell you all, I don't think that is maple, I think they are birch cabinets.
gtcircus
7 years ago
I agree beech or birch, not maple.
gtcircus
7 years ago
And I wouldn't spend the money to do anything to them, they are as cheap a cabinet as you can find and they will continue to fall apart. Save your time and money and get something that will hold up.
apple_pie_order
7 years ago
Ask the previous owner about the cabinets- what brand, wood species and finish, just as if you planned to buy more. They look like birch doors with furniture grade MDF boxes.
Samantha Domenget
7 years ago
Looks like maple cabinets
Bhujang Nayak
7 years ago
looks like white cedar.
ilovecontemporary
7 years ago
Definitely birch
ilovecontemporary
7 years ago
Knobs are in the best position as they are, paint away! They arent high end cabinets so you shouldnt be afraid to paint. But invest in having the painted at an autobody shop or cabinet refinisher. You want a proper paint job!
PRO
Business_Name_Placeholder
7 years ago
Wood is Birch not Maple, both hard woods great for cabinets and paint up well.
PRO
Janet H. Designs
7 years ago
I agree with Premier Cabinets of Virginia. Not maple....and probably Birch. It would be a shame to paint over them. The grain and finish are exceptionally beautiful.
ddavis427 thanked Janet H. Designs
PRO
Linda
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I love the cabinets and I wouldn't paint them white, but that is just my preference. Do whatever fits your house and your eye, just be sure to do a good quality job. Don't fall for any shortcuts, they just don't hold up. Dirt and dings show up much more on painted cabinets than on stained finishes so think about future upkeep as well
Marybeth Chillemi-Franklin
7 years ago
Maple and Birch are similar colors in their natural state but Birch does have a bit more visible grain to it. Painting would be significantly easier than stripping the clear coat to stain a different color. Shaker has never gone out of style and white painted shaker is 50% of my sales.
Deb Trethewey
7 years ago
Birch for sure....I would not recommend using gel stain. I have tried it for two different items and both chip!
susan8158
7 years ago
grain is too big for maple looks like birch
nirvanaav
7 years ago
Birch, rotary cut, 1/4" nominal thickness, plywood panels. Hard to tell what the door frames are, could be birch too, but also could be soft maple. Boxes are melamine. As others have mentioned painting over a catalyzed lacquer finish is very tricky and dependent on the product and process being used. Personally, I'm not a fan of any "painted" cabinets that were not manufactured that way. When you order "painted" cabinets from a manufacturer, they are almost always tinted lacquer, not paint.
eddie_t
7 years ago
Birch plywood is often used for kitchen cabinets, my vote is birch.
PRO
Sabin & Sullivan
7 years ago
I believe the doors are ash.
shedrivesatruck
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
The inside of my cupboards are birch, and it looks exactly like the wood in your photo. It's very smooth, and would be really easy to paint.
Tamy Markuz
7 years ago
That is not wood
PRO
StagingEdge
7 years ago
Plywood
Margaret Collins
7 years ago
The grain does not appear to have been
thoughtfully matched for a pleasing pattern, door to door, looks erratic! While I like beautiful wood it is like
piecing a dress or suit, the pattern should be matched. Depending upon the
condition of the cabinets I would recommend a process called NHance.
I have used this process on a full kitchen, a three section floor to
ceiling built-in cabinet/bookcase, a walk-up wet bar, two bathroom vanities and
a dining room table, chairs, server with great success. This is a
proprietary refinishing/painting chemical process. There is no sanding,
no smell and has a hard finish set using UV light (similar to the
ladies no chip nail polish technique). Some of the work is done in the
home and some done in their factory but when they are done the product is dry
no waiting time. The business is run as a distributorship so different owners depending
on where you live. They can be
found on the web NHance.com. I found them through my local Home Depot. Attached
are some before and after pictures. Highly recommend this process as opposed to
having them simply painted even if planning to use a professional painter.
PRO
Beth H. :
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Definitely not Maple.

Forget about staining them. why anyone would even suggest that to a homeowner is ridiculous. Staining raw wood cabinets is hard enough, staining previously varnished birch/plywood cabinets is stupid. People think all you have to do is sand a little bit and wipe on some stain. uh, no. The only type of wood I would even attempt staining is on real, quality oak. (not the cheap, mdf, shiny oak-look). All of the work you would have to do just to get them down to raw wood, would be immense. Painting these cabinets is a ton of work. re-staining them is enough to get yourself committed.

Can you spare the money to reface your boxes? If you want to paint them, prepping them will take longer than actually painting them. you have to strip off that top finish very well, otherwise the paint will not adhere properly. And no, light sanding won't be enough. How much work do you want to put into them? I have painted 3 sets of kitchen cabinets and will never, ever do it again. Unless I had 10 helpers.

Save your money and go for new cabinets or new doors.
Kathy Koletzke
7 years ago
I too think it is birch. and if it is a birch plywood then sanding them down far enough to remove all previous stains will probably take you right through the applied birch layer to the under layer. Leave them alone and enjoy the grain or paint them and even if you paint be prepared to do major sanding to clean them up or your paint will not adhere properly.
brian126
7 years ago
I would stain them. The wood grain no matter the type is interesting. I do not like painted wood; in fact to me it brings down the value of a home.
Margaret Collins
7 years ago
Just had a home appraisal after redoing kitchen to white from the old fashioned "golden oak" once so popular. The agent kept admiring the kitchen especially the cabinets. Kept saying that the home value would be higher due to all the upgraded cabinets. The NHance process was less than 1/3 of the cost of a new kitchen. No smell, no sanding and work completed to finish in 4 days!! Hard finish which I can scrub with no marking or scratching!! I also am a cook, so when the spagetti sauce bubbles up and splashes on cabinets, wipes right off no staining, even after a day or two when I missed seeing it on a side cabinet. This is a wonderful process!!! Highly recommend it if you decide to go with a painted or stain finish. They also do stains and depending on the wood original color can take the color brighter or down (darker) depending on what is desired. It is the same process so you end up with a beautiful hard finish. Worth looking into for a free estimate and they will bring samples and also give recommendations. From the way I rave about this NHance product one would think I was the owner, I am not, nor do I own stock or get anything from doing this. I am so very awestruck by the process that I have used it 4 times. The cabinets I had done 8 years ago look as beautiful and new as those I had done last year!! I did a ton of research and looking at websites on decorating before I finally chose to go with bright white. Now they are showing two color kitchens one for uppers and something else for lowers. I really had FOBI -- fear of better idea. It took me a long time to make up my mind, but I could not be happier! With the white you can change color schemes in your room so easy any time by just picking out new colors!! Good Luck!!
leydenmargaret
7 years ago
I THINK THE WOOD - IS BEECH
Molly Matthews
7 years ago
Paint or replace them and don't worry about what kind of wood they are.
fabritique
7 years ago
I think they are birch. If you really don't like them, don't try to refinish them yourself; either get a professional or reface/replace the doors if the boxes are in good shape and you like the kitchen configuration. If you get pulls you can use the hole for the existing knob and drill another hole closer to the bottom of the top door, That would update the look for small money. I like the light wood look - airy and clean.
PRO
Change of Art®
7 years ago
Pretty sure they're birch. From the comments, it sounds like people aren't so fond of birch. I prefer a straight grain (vs rotary cut), but I really like birch!

If you decide you'd prefer a painted finish, be prepared for LOTS of prep work. Raw birch takes paint beautifully – but you'll be dealing with a factory finish that's designed to take a beating. Odds are, it won't come off easily. I haven't researched the NHance process, but it sounds interesting. If it fits in your budget, definitely let a pro handle the mess!
ddavis427 thanked Change of Art®
ubpb
7 years ago
They are exactly like my kitchen cabinets that we had built by a local cabinet shop 15 years ago. BIRCH. I love the grain but had considered painting them off white when we put in new countertops this year. A wise salesman stopped me. saying natural wood will come back into style and once you paint them, it's done. Personally, I like them.
csforsythe
7 years ago
Looks like the birch plywood my husband has used on some projects.
ddavis427
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks for the help, everybody. I like the natural wood because it ties in really well with the rest of the house (if you're curious, there was a Houzz feature done on our house: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/my-houzz-northwest-couple-make-a-rural-homestead-their-own-stsetivw-vs~46567359 )

We redid the floor tile and backsplash in the kitchen and the cabinets go nicely. I think I'll look into the suggestion of new pulls though. Appreciate the input!!
mixedbarbara
7 years ago
The doors on these cabinets are definitely BIRCH! I agree with the person from Virginia, I think it was. My dad was a woodworker/cabinet maker. He made all the cupboards in the kitchen of my childhood home and the grain and maple, but lighter color wood is BIRCH! I would leave the natural wood as Birch is expensive and beautiful and if you paint it, you will lose the interest!
allaboutfurniture
7 years ago
Could be maple or birch.
PRO
Steven Foster Construction
7 years ago
They're Birch. Birch is often used in lue of Maple. Birch is more common and has more options as to size of styles / rails etc. The door is Birch plywood and the rails are solid. The boxes are melamine with mdf core ( medium density fiberboard ) common for middle grade cabinets... I'd take the advice of Premier Cabinets or if you do paint pay the price and get a highly skilled painter. Just be ready to pay what it will take to do the job right or you'll be sorry later.

AGeneralContractor.com Best of houzz 2014 & 2016.... So. Ca.
eddie_t
7 years ago
Love your house! I think you made a good decision to keep the birch look. You can always change your mind in the future and there are many sites with repainting info.
wshaw007
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Hi, I'm no expert but we have maple floors, a birch wardrobe, & beech kitchen cabinets. Here are pics of all three. Hope it helps! (Of the three, I think your swirly grain looks more like birch)

Beech kitchen cabs:

maple floors:

Birch wardrobe:
Andree Clement
7 years ago
the wood is yellow birch.
Connie Hembree
7 years ago
It looks like Alder
suellenh
7 years ago
I hope the oval shaped knobs only look crooked because of their shape and that a round knob would work better. Paint or not...you live with them and only you can decide...
PRO
Hamlin Building Center
7 years ago
Hello DDavis427,

One small note on the hardware; you could leave the existing hole and put in pulls/handles. Either a 3" or 96mm hole spacing looks like it would work. That would put the bottom/top of the handle right about where you'd want it for looks.

Just a thought...

Thanks,

Jonathan
ashattuck5
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
The wood grain and light color appears to be birch which has been popular for cabinet making for years. May not be I am no expert but I did grow up with birch cabinets in my parents house. They were and still are beautiful simple cabinets.
cshelberg0513
7 years ago
based on interior photos, just live with until you can afford cabinets with wood box with quality doors.
Liz Christensen
7 years ago
Hi, I too think this is Birch. I have Birch cabinets in my Kitchen, and they look very alike. We use lots of Birch in Furniture and cabinets in Scandinavia. I would not paint them, Birch is very beautiful .
yvesun
7 years ago
The cupboards are Maple.

What type of wood is this?

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