The week, day by day
What happens in five to ten working days
A small kitchen runs the short end of each range, a large one the long end. Your dates are written on the estimate; a late hardware order or a repair we find can move them.
- 01
Step 1: Before day 1: The walkthrough
Kylie counts the doors and fronts, checks the boxes, tests the old finish and shows you sample doors.
You pick a color and sheen, and look at the test door in your own light.
You see the count written down, door by door.
- 02
Step 2: Day 1: The doors go to the studio
Everything comes off, labeled. The boxes are masked and the sink, stove and refrigerator stay usable.
You empty the cabinets the night before.
You see open, masked boxes where the doors were.
- 03
Step 3: Days 2 to 3: Prep and prime
Degrease, sand, fill and prime. Most of this is in the studio; the boxes are done in place.
You can cook around the masked boxes.
You see sanding dust only in the boxes' area, with fans running.
- 04
Step 4: Days 4 to 6: Lacquer in the studio
Doors are sprayed flat, both sides, with drying time between coats.
Nothing is asked of you.
You see the boxes still masked and the kitchen waiting.
- 05
Step 5: Days 7 to 8: Boxes in your kitchen
We spray the boxes and face frames in place. On the spray day we ask you to stay out of the kitchen.
You stay out of the kitchen on the spray day, and open a window.
You see the boxes take their new color.
- 06
Step 6: Days 9 to 10: Doors come home
Doors are hung on their own hinges, bumpers go on and we walk the kitchen together.
You walk the kitchen and sign off, or give us a list.
You see the doors back, with the finish still curing.
Cooking meanwhile
Your kitchen with no doors on
For the days the doors are away, the boxes stay and the kitchen keeps working.
The sink, the stove and the refrigerator stay usable. Counters are covered for the sanding and spray days and uncovered the rest of the time. We tell you in advance which one or two days are the ones to eat out.
Dishes and pans: empty the cabinets the night before day 1
Spray day: stay out of the kitchen, open a window
Evenings: tools put away and the work area closed off
After the week
The finish keeps curing
Ask for the product data sheet: it gives the cure dates for the finish we used. Our hand-over sheet writes them for your kitchen.
- 01
The first days
Open and close doors gently. Skip the hard scrubbing and the stickers.
- 02
The first weeks
Wipe with a soft cloth and mild cleaner. Keep pans and small appliances off the new finish until the sheet says they are fine.
- 03
Touch-ups
Chips are a call to us. We keep your color and sheen on file for touch-ups.