Heirloom Finishes

Our Heirloom finishes provide a unique, distinctive look. It is very likely that each door, drawer front and accessory item will differ somewhat in appearance. When all pieces are combined in an installed kitchen, Heirloom finishes make an attractive design statement.

The overall appearance of the Heirloom finish is achieved by combining three elements: a layer of Colourtone material, a glaze application and a combination of specific distressing techniques referred to as the Vintage Distressing Package. Although options exist as to which base color and glaze are chosen, each heirloom finish must contain each of these three elements.

These coatings are pigmented base coats that must be catalyzed prior to application. We utilize air-assisted, airless spray equipment to apply these coats.

Depending upon the specie of wood chosen and the type of grain present within the individual product, Heirloom finishes can range in appearance from opaque to semi-opaque, sometimes allowing the grain pattern in the wood to telegraph through the coating, enhancing the overall aged look.

Specific species and grades of wood are available with Heirloom finishes. Characteristics that are common to some species, such as pitch pockets in Cherry, will be present in the finished products. Call our office for a complete listing of specie, finish and glaze availability.

All Heirloom finishes receive a 15° topcoat.

Products coated with the Heirloom finish are placed on drying racks after the coating application process. As a result, small indentations or pin marks from these drying racks will appear on the back of Heirloom products. These indentations are not considered defects.

Minor flaws such as dust particles, dimples and lint may be more apparent with Heirloom finishes than with wiping stains. The presence of small amounts of dust and lint will be considered acceptable.

Because the coating material used in heirloom finishes contains a high amount of solids, certain characteristics such as joint fracturing will occur. Hairline cracks typically develop on the face, back, and edge profiles, and can occur during normal handling of the finished product. Joint fracturing is not considered a defect.

As with most finishes, Heirloom coatings will change over time due to exposure to light, pollution and chemicals. Additions or replacements to existing kitchens many not initially match finished products already in place.

Coatings containing high solids are susceptible to bridging between the framing and center panels. Bridging occurs when the coating material joins two separate surfaces together. This condition is common between multiple component products and is not considered defective. Over time, the natural expansion and contraction of wood may cause the bridging to fracture.

All of our products carry a one-year limited warranty against faulty workmanship and materials.

Customers interested in purchasing Heirloom finish and glaze material though the Duraguard^® program should reference specific Colourtone and glazing material in the Duraguard^® Systems information.

When purchasing multiple containers of loose Colourtone coating material, mix the contents of like finishes together before adding catalyst to achieve a consistent overall color.

Catalyst must be added to all Colourtone coating materials prior to application. The catalyzation process results in both a limited pot life and a recoat window. Mixture and application instruction will be provided with the purchase of loose Colourtone materials through the Duraguard^® program.

We assume no responsibility for incorrect application of Duraguard^® material by customers, which may result in poor adhesion, color match or other finish related failures.

We recommend that any topcoat other than Duraguard^® products be tested prior to application. We will not warrant products that fail due to non-compatible topcoat material.

As with any coating that utilizes a glazing material, certain characteristics of glaze applications will be apparent in overall finished appearance.

The characteristics and variations are as follows:                  

• Noticeable variations in glaze “hang” on edge profiles, panel raises, miter joints and applied mouldings.
• Absorption into end grain on framing and panel raises.
• Highlighting of machined areas, which normally do not appear in typical wiping stain applications.
• The presence of rag marks and blotches.
• Slight variations in the finished color from one product to another.

As with all high solid based coating materials, we do not recommend ordering plywood doors or other veneered products due to the inherent cracking and checking that naturally occurs in veneered products. Veneer checking will not be considered a finishing or material defect.

While the overall color of Heirloom finishes will be produced within a certain color range, the glazing and distressing techniques are designed to generate a great deal of variation in the finished appearance from one door to the next. While specific imperfections and characteristics may appear exaggerated from one product to the next, the overall look is intended to blend together, providing a unique appearance to your finished kitchen.