KraftMaid is rumored to have changed ownership in 2019 and has been having some problems lately based on recent reviews. Even if defects surface in 5 years or sooner, don't totally count on KraftMaid to own up to them and cover it for you based on recent reviews. I would quiz the Amish company about what their finish process is like. If they offer a 2-part catalytic conversion varnish finish, then that's what you want. You basically won't need them to be around in 5 or 25 years if they use a 2-part post-catalyzed conversion varnish because it will last. Also some of the newer 2-part waterborne finishes like from Milesi can also be excellent. What you don't want is a 1-part finish of any kind in terms of durability. It's likely your Amish company produces better quality than KraftMaid, but you'll need to read up on standards of construction and what to look for to be sure.

Thank you Silverlined. This is very reassuring information. I actually just met with the cabinet dealer today and I did happen to ask about the finish process. I don't know a lot about that process but it sounds like the dealer did mention a multi-part process with several coats. I think we will go with the amish brand as the dealer seemed to imply their quality was better thank Kraftmaid and they've been selling them for over 15 years.

A multi-step finishing process is one thing. A two-part (2K) finish is another. You can and should still do multiple coats with a 2K (two-part) post-catalyzed conversion varnish. Durability between a one-part coating which is pre-mixed and comes straight out of the can versus a two-part which is mixed on site with the addition of a hardening, catalyzing agent is worlds apart.

I agree with Live_Wire_Oak, and would add one more awful statistic about the Amish. Puppy mills per state are Amish-run from between 97% of puppy mills in Indiana to 22% in other states like North Carolina. If you want to be sickened, go online and google “Amish” and “puppy mills”. And don’t think that your Amish cabinet company isn’t involved. The Amish community is extremely insular, and they are all involved in some manner, even if it’s by turning a blind eye to the horrific acts committed by their Amish neighbors toward dogs and puppies.

I just had Kraftmaid Vantage cabinets installed and am very happy with the look and quality. Everything was shipped on time and was correct and undamaged. The experience exceeded my expectations, but I did have a knowledgable and super helpful dealer. Good luck with your project.

~ Jen

Where can I read about these Amish business practices. Everything I see is positive ...puppy mills aside.

I have a small secretary in my kitchen that is Amish made and fantastic, and they’ve put up lots of fencing for me and that job is outstanding. I would love to have more of their furniture.

kirbybunny7 those look gorgeous, I like the color of the stain.

My kitchen cabinets were made by a small Amish shop. They will be 9 years old this fall and the finish is still perfect.

They also made my laundry room cabinets which are 11 years old and no problems with the finish on them either.

I will absolutely and confidently state that English cooking sucks.

And coatings have entire R&D departments working on improving existing products and formulating better ones. However, the cabs are indoors, so it’s not as if they are exposed to many extremes. Now for an outside kitchen, maybe you need a super superior finish. But to just hang out indoors?

I just had KraftMaid cabinets installed and am really disappointed with the product. And I bought mine through a dealer, which is supposed to be a better product. There are a lot of paint blemishes, miss cut doors, and drawer that was drilled wrong and is crooked. And a lot of these things are clearly visible, not small details. It’s like they had no quality control. I would not buy them again.

Hi Karen Rose, I'm sorry to hear that. Hopefully they will be able to provide a solution for you.

Silverlined, you initially mentioned about the finishing process and what I should look for. We're looking to get white painted cabinets. I've been able to obtain some specs on the finish process from Kemp Cabinets. They state:

"Kemp Cabinets feature a multi-step finishing process...A catalytic varnish topcoat is applied to finished surfaces to provide long-lasting protection, and the topcoat is oven cured for durability. We use Valspar finishes that are designed to enhance and protect the natural beauty of wood."

Based on this, do you think the finish process is on par with the other manufacturers or not?

@Karen Rose Thanks so much for that recent feedback on KraftMaid. I am so very sorry for your experience. i would encourage you to pursue warranty fulfillment on all of those items to see if some improvements could be made. It would not be out of the question that you'd want to recoat your cabinetry in 7 to 10 years, but you should ask for warranty service now for as much as you can. I've heard of whole kitchens being replaced for free for this type of thing, not from KraftMaid necessarily, but from companies that offer similar warranty terms as KraftMaid does.

@Wes Hunt It sounds to me like they are using a pre-catalyzed conversion varnish that is a one-part finish. If they were using two-part, post-catalyzed conversion varnish, they would have additional bragging rights to that and almost certainly would have specified that in their description. The oven curing is simply to save them time versus air drying and does not add substantially to the durability (pros here at Houzz will dispute that last point, but based on my own research including talking to various suppliers that do it both ways, I cannot find any hard evidence that the oven drying adds durability). The one-part pre-cat varnish is better than plain lacquer, but in my opinion, it's not going to be as durable for you as a two-part, post-catalyzed conversion varnish where the hardener is added just before use. If you research the pros and cons of pre-cat vs. post-cat, you'll find some people who claim that they are relatively similar in durability, but almost all of the mass cabinetry manufacturers are using post-cat. The pre-cat doesn't go bad as quickly and thus is more ideal for smaller shops that cannot afford to waste a lot of coating material that must be used immediately after mixing. The pre-cat also simplifies the process as it avoids the pitfalls you can run into with post-cat where the mix proportions might get off and affect the finish. So, if Kemp is a smaller manufacturer, I can definitely see why they are using a one-part pre-cat, not that I agree with that decision in terms of superior quality, however.

One piece of information that may really help you out with your decision is finding out how long Kemp guarantees its finish. If they guarantee if for a lifetime, then that indicates their confidence in their process. If they guarantee it for 3 years, I'd say spread your net wider and look at some other options. With Kemp being local to you, that's a big advantage that can save you money on transportation, so it's possible this could be a good option for you.

One last word about the Valspar brand: I don't know much about this nor have I heard much about the longevity of it, so do some research if you can to find out more. I'd be more comfortable if they were using a brand like Sayerlack (a high-tech Italian coating available through Sherwin Williams), Milesi (again a high-tech Italian brand that is becoming more widely accessible in the USA as we speak), Renner (a UK brand), or ICA-Ilva (a long-time favorite of high-end cabinetry builders). Any one of those latter brands I mentioned, if sprayed in a 2-part (2K) formulation, would give you the longest-lasting white coating you could possibly find in today's market.

@Wes Hunt I've found that people already established in the business aren't usually too open to the latest research on coatings technologies, sadly enough. There are a few builders out there who are continually innovating, but for many, they stick with what they've used in the past. It wouldn't hurt to talk to them about 2-part post-cat and see what they say. Again, get their coating warranty in writing, and that will reveal the secret on how long they expect it to last for you.

What do puppy mills have to do with the quality of cabinetry? This just made me laugh. Two totally different topics, completely unrelated to the other.

I have Amish-made cabinets in my laundry room and family room, both are gorgeous and I'm pleased with the product. I agree with @eam44 and would ask for references. If the customer allows, I'd ask to see their kitchen. Do your homework before deciding.