- This topic has 3 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 1 month, 3 weeks ago by
.
-
Posts
-
-
Hi – could you explain the difference in the finishing method for your Barker and City line? I’m particularly interested in the durability of the paint finish between them – building a kitchen to stand up to lots of kids and cooking. Also, is there a significant difference in terms of the durability of the interiors/interior veneer? Thanks!
-
The finishing method used on our cabinet doors is exactly the same for both the City and Barker lines. Barker was recently upgraded to our new finishing line, which incorporates a fully hands off, multi stage automated process.
This system includes universal sanding using a Robatech three stage sander, high pressure air blades to remove fine particles, a four head spray cabinet, and a 12 minute curing oven that bakes the finish at the precise temperature specified by Sherwin Williams chemists for optimal adhesion. The process continues with a heated air blast to remove surface moisture from the oven stage, followed by a high intensity, multi stage infrared curing station.
Because this finish line is fully automated, there is no opportunity for human contact between stages. This eliminates inconsistencies and errors commonly associated with hand spraying. In practical terms, we feed a raw wood door into one end of the line and remove a fully finished door from the other. This process is repeated multiple times per door for each coat of finish applied, resulting in an exceptionally durable finish using modern equipment and advanced Sherwin Williams paints and clearcoats.
As a side note, it took nearly a full year to dial in this finishing system. We tested numerous products, including imported Italian finishes and various North American paints and stains. We ultimately selected Sherwin Williams finishes not only because they met our quality standards, but because the adhesion was so strong that the paint could not be removed, even with solvents, once cured. The primer and paint system effectively becomes permanent on the first coat.
The result is a multi million dollar finishing line that is fully operational for 2026 across all four of our cabinet lines, including both City and Barker Cabinets.
Regarding cabinet case interiors, the interiors feature a UV baked finish over maple veneer for Barker Cabinets and birch veneer for City Cabinets. Both use the same process and offer identical durability. There is no harder or more durable interior cabinet finish currently available on the market.
Overall, durability between City and Barker Cabinets is essentially the same, as they use the same doors, the same finishing process, and the same interior cabinet case finishes.
-
Thank you so much, this is incredibly helpful.
-
Also, be sure to order a sample of the wood and finish you are considering. Try to intentionally stress or abuse the sample to evaluate the durability of the wood and paint combination. It is truly the best way to understand the durability firsthand.
-
