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Remodeling Design Dilemma Bathrooms

Help! Rift sawn oak cabinets: clear finish, stain or cerused?

Mary Lynn Crandall

6 years ago

Hi,

We are finalizing wood/finish choices for an order with Scherr's for two bathroom vanities. We live near the coast, and would like a light, natural, "coastal" look for the cabinets. We think we would like quarter or rift sawn white oak cabinets (haven't priced the difference yet from the plain sawn oak quote they gave me, not sure if it will be in the budget yet). We know that the wood color will change in 3-5 years, and we are wondering what to do about the finish.

I was told by a gentleman in the lumber supply that oil based polyurethanes WILL yellow the wood over time, and that can be a avoided with a non yellowing waterbased clear laquer. The finish that Scherr's uses is a Sherwin Williams acrylic catalyzed conversion clear coat, so I think we're good if we go with that option, although my understanding is that the wood will still change color over time, and I'm not sure it will still have the "look" we're going for after it does.

I guess the concern is if the color change be subtle and still work with the other finishes (tile/counter/flooring) in the bathrooms, OR if we should go with a stain color. I am remembering our 1980s oak kitchen, although I'm sure that was stained "golden", so it's not a good comparison.

If we go with stained, we would still want it to be a light stain, so I assume there would still be some change in color.

I also really like the cerused wood finish, but after reading about it here on Houzz, I have some concerns about application and durability. And I assume the wood will still change colors with this finish as well.

Any wood experts out there with finishing advice would be greatly appreciated. Also anyone that has white oak cabinets that they've had for awhile! Thank you!

Featured Answer

PRO

JAN MOYER

6 years ago

You aren't going to soak it! It's protected wood whether matte or gloss .

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Comments (10)

Olivia
6 years ago
Following! Similar situation. Victorian fireplace is now totally stripped and ready for finish but considering the same finish optios as you+ want to avoid gold!
User
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
So who do you plan to have do those expensive extreme specialty finishes? And why, if they can do the finishing, can they not build the cabinets too?
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Fori
6 years ago
I'd do a light stain for quarter sawn and no stain for rift sawn. Or...maybe light for the rift. Oak doesn't have the reputation for significant color change like cherry or walnut and I'm sure Scherr's does a professional finish.

This is a big investment so it's worth ordering samples.

(Don't do cerused on nice woods like these. I think even Restoration Hardware is finally over that look.)
Mary Lynn Crandall
Original Author
6 years ago
Hi,

Sophie, Scherr's will do the clear coat. They will also do any Sherwin Williams stain. By specialty finish, if you mean the ceruse finish, I am talking to a local cabinet refinisher about it. He does not build cabinets. But I don't think it's likely we will go that route, for a number of reasons.

Fori, thanks for weighing in. We will be ordering some sample doors. I have some white oak samples, so if we decide to stain, I may try some of the stains out before asking them to put them on sample doors. I feel the need to narrow the options down a bit first.

The clear finish that Scherr's uses comes in two sheens: dulled rubbed (flat) and medium rubbed (satin). Does anyone know if the flat finish would hold up as well as the satin, be as easy to clean? Does the sheen determine durability and cleanability as well as the shine level?

Thanks again!
PRO
JAN MOYER
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
There is no point to shine on rift sawn oak. Don't go beyond satin. Ask for a sample before you finish anything..........or spend the bucks to try what you want.
Mary Lynn Crandall
Original Author
6 years ago
I will be sure to do that, Jan. Do you know if the dull rubbed (flat) finish would be the same level of protection for durability?
Mary Lynn Crandall
Original Author
6 years ago
I wasn't sure if a flat finish gave the same protection as matte. Thanks for clarifying, Jan!
Casey Petersen
4 years ago
Could you update us on what you ended up choosing as a finish and how things turned out? Thank you-
Rita
4 years ago
I would like to know also for a kitchen island.

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