High Gloss Slab Kitchen Cabinets in Tampa Bay and Southwest Florida

High gloss kitchen cabinets: pros and cons

High gloss reflects light, so it brightens a kitchen and makes color look rich. A slab door has no frame or recess, so the face wipes in one pass and the lines stay clean beside the metal pulls on this page. Gloss is a finish, not a material: laminate makers offer it alongside matte options, so two glossy doors can be built in different ways.

Cons

Gloss shows fingerprints, grease and fine scratches more than a matte face, and it mirrors windows and lights. Because the build decides how a door scratches, repairs and handles heat, ask the door maker:

• What is the face made of, and can light scratches be repaired?
• How are the edges and the back covered? The Composite Panel Association notes that moisture can reach an MDF core from behind.
• What does the care sheet say about heat and steam near the range and dishwasher?

Care: what gloss shows and how to clean it

Gloss rewards a quick, gentle wipe. Use a damp microfiber or soft cloth, then dry. A laminate maker’s care sheet says steel wool and abrasive pads damage the face, acidic or abrasive cleaners can too, and even high-pressure laminate can be scratched in normal use.

If you are considering push-to-open hardware, remember that you press the face of the door, so gloss will show it. Pulls keep hands off the surface, so marks collect on the pull instead of the door face.

Where it works in a Florida home

High gloss suits kitchens where light is controlled and cooking heat stays away from the doors. A wide window or sliding door can throw reflections across glossy fronts, so view full-size samples at the hours you cook and under the bulbs you will use. If the room gets strong sun, ask the door maker for fade data on your exact color. Keep glossy fronts away from direct heat and steam, which care sheets for film-faced doors warn about. Salt air and coastal humidity are a separate issue, covered in our guide to humid and coastal kitchens.

Prefer the same flat shape without the shine? See matte slab doors. Want a frame? See slim shaker. The shaker vs. slab guide compares gloss and matte, and the trade-offs of both, in detail. If you are also changing the layout, see planning cabinets, stone and layout together.

Keep reading

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