Do contractors stain the interior of new kitchen cabinets or just the exterior?

Question

Settling an argument with my wife. We got new cabinets and the contractor says he will not stain the interior. My wife says it should be stained, thats the way it is supposed to be done. I do not agree with her.

Answer 1

The contractor is required to fulfill the requirements and specifications of the contract. If it says in writing that the interior of the cabinets be stained, then they must be stained.

Otherwise it is up to the contractor. Normally contractors try to make their clients happy and will follow their demands, if reasonable ones. If the demands are unreasonable or expensive then the contractor will renegotiate that part of the contract for additional pay.

If the exterior of the cabinets are stained then there is no reason why the interior can't be stained as well, however this is not normally done. After all few of your guests see the inside of the your cabinets. It can be made a requirement, but the contractor is entitled to charge more for doing it. If he has time constraints or another job lined up, or some other condition that prevents him from doing the job now then he might refuse, but normally if you pay him he will do the work.

If you wife wants the inside of her cabinets stained then let her do it herself. The process is a little messy, but not a difficult one. Wood stain can be purchased in any home supply store and some mega stores like Wal Mart. Matching the right stain might be difficult, but if there is some variance then staining the exterior only shouldn't make any difference. Just treat the stain like oil paint when it comes to cleaning up and using the brushes.

Answer 2

If you purchased unfinished cabinets they are more than likely very cheaply made and need to be protected on the inside with either paint, or polyurethane.

It is not customary for contractors to use these kind of cabinets in the first place but typically I would not stain the inside. but just put some kind of sealer material there. Even a waterproof primer would help.

Answer 3

Most interiors are not finished the same as the face frames and doors. Finishing is expensive and most customers do not want to pay for it. It is not the contractor, it is the manufacturer unless you are getting very expensive custom made cabinets.

Answer 4

It is up to you what you want to pay the contractor to do. If you have a contract, you can put it in the contract that the inside is to be stained, and if you want to pay for it, more likely than not, they will stain it for you. Ultimately it is a choice of your personal preferance.

Answer 5

They are not usually stained. Often finished with a clear coat, though. (I wouldn't want the insides to be darkened at all personally).
BTW: I am a licensed Interior Designer if it helps lend credence for your arguement.