• Control Humidity
• Immediately Wipe Spills
• Use Touch Up Putty Sticks And Stain Pens
• Use Mild Soap And a Damp Cloth
• Blot A Paste Of Baking Soda And Water For Tough Stains

• Avoid Steam And Heat
• Avoid Direct Sunlight
• Avoid Excessive Water
• Avoid Harsh Chemicals
• Avoid Abrasive Cleaning Materials
• Don’t Cut Directly On Top Of Laminate Countertop

EFFECTS OF STRUCTURAL CHANGES IN YOUR NEW HOME

When your new house is being built, the structural members and various materials are fitted in place to suit the requirements which exist at the time of construction. Once the house is completed, it will start to settle.

The settling may cause structural changes in the house. Structural changes in the building may result in changes in your cabinets and/or countertops — cabinet doors may become misaligned, or caulked joints may separate.
Cabinet doors can be adjusted as per the instructions which follow.

AMBIENT ENVIRONMENT

Smoke, sunlight and humidity can be present and cause damage. High humidity can warp wood, low humidity can cause shrinkage or cracking; also, smoke and direct sunlight can discolour the finish.

The recommended average residential relative humidity level is between 35% and 45%. This range will provide the best comfort for your family, while helping to protect your kitchen cabinets, musical instruments, drywall, wooden furniture and other belongings or materials from the damaging effects of dryness or excessive moisture.

GENERAL – CABINETS AND DOORS
Use mild soap and a damp cloth to clean your cabinets. Avoid using harsh chemical cleaners such as bleach, ammonia, paint and gum removal solvents, or abrasive materials.

Excess water may damage your cabinets (causing discolouration, peeling or warping). Wipe up excess water immediately.

LARGE AND SMALL APPLIANCES –IMPACTS
Steam and heat can damage your cabinets. They can warp wood, discolour, delaminate components, peel the finish, leave spots and split joints. In cases of exposure to extreme heat, burn marks or fires could result.

Avoid exposing the upper cabinets to steam from kettles, coffee makers, bottle warmers, rice steamers etc.
Also, ensure that your stove top is flush with or above the adjacent countertop ends in order to prevent lifting or separation of the countertop edge. In the case of self-cleaning ovens, it is possible that the heat generated through the sides of the oven can cause damage. It is also possible that if pots boil over and liquid runs down the sides of the stove, the adjacent cabinet sides can sustain damage.

ALIGNMENT OF CABINET DOORS AND DRAWERS
Frendel standard warranty covers initial touch-ups and adjustment of hinges. It is the homeowner’s responsibility to readjust hinges to correct misalignment of doors and drawers caused by normal use. The diagrams below illustrate how to easily adjust your hinges using only a Phillips head screwdriver.

DOORS

DRAWERS

EFFECTS OF SUNLIGHT
Natural sunlight contains Ultra Violet (UV) light rays that may affect the appearance of cabinets. According to the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) standards, the actual results in a home will vary depending on these three factors:

Exposure to light (for example, direct from the south, east or west, or indirect from the north)

• The portion of the cabinet that receives the light (top, base, etc.)
• The wood itself. The finish does not change color, the wood itself will.
• Generally, Maple is more susceptible to changes than Oak because it is lighter.
• Maple’s natural colour variation is from nearly white to slightly reddish brown, whereas Oak varies from brown to very dark brown.

EXAMPLE OF UV EXPOSURE
The image shown here is a facsimile to illustrate the tested effect of 24, 175 and 400 hours of UV exposure equal to that experienced at noon, on a finished maple door.

WOOD GRAIN
It is quite common to observe slight colour variations in some areas of your kitchen. Wood is a natural material, and varying grains and different cuts of wood will accept the same finish in different ways. The angle of viewing and lighting also affects perception.

What you are actually observing is how the wood itself looks under a uniform coat of finish.

TOUCH UP MATERIALS
Kitchens are the focal point of both family activity and social occasions. There is a lot of traffic in the kitchen every day, and some wear and tear is inevitable.

Frendel Kitchens sells touch-up putty sticks and stain pens through the Kitchen and Bath Design Studio. Please email inquiry@frendel.com to order.

STAIN VARIANCES

WOOD GRAIN

Our cabinetry is crafted from natural wood, which inherently possesses unique grain patterns and variations. These
characteristics are a testament to the authenticity and beauty of natural wood, contributing to the distinctiveness of each piece.

It is common to observe slight color variations in some areas of your kitchen. Wood is a natural material, and varying grains and different cuts of wood will accept the same finish in different ways. The angle of viewing and lighting also affects perception. While we strive for uniformity in appearance, the natural variations in wood grain are beyond our control and are considered a normal aspect of working with natural materials.

At Frendel, we adhere to strict standards to ensure all doors receive a consistent finish. Our standard operating procedures include:
• Material Selection: Careful selection of wood to ensure quality and consistency.
• Surface Preparation: Thorough sanding and cleaning to prepare the wood for finishing.
• Application of Finish: Uniform and consistent application of stains, sealers and topcoats on our finishing lines.
• Quality Checks: Inspections at each stage of the process to maintain established standards.

It is quite common to observe slight colour variations in some areas of your kitchen. Wood is a natural material, and varying grains and different cuts of wood will accept the same finish in different ways. The angle of viewing and lighting also affects perception.

What you are observing is how the wood itself looks under a uniform coat of finish.

PAINT VARIANCES

Frendel’s painted cabinetry doors are finished using high-quality materials and industry standard processes. As with all painted cabinetry products, subtle variations in tone, finish distribution, and minor surface inconsistencies may occur. These are typical of factory-applied painted finishes and do not affect product performance or durability.

Visual appearance may shift depending on lighting, viewing angles, and surrounding materials. These variations fall within accepted industry tolerances and are not considered defects in workmanship or finish quality.

The Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association (KCMA) and related industry bodies recognize that minor imperfections are inherent in painted finishes. While a high-quality result is always the standard at Frendel, a flawless finish—such as those seen on metal or plastic—is not representative of painted cabinetry.

Use this guide to purchase replacement bulbs for your Frendel-supplied exhaust fan unit.

Note that adapter sockets are also available at Amazon to convert the European base sockets on our Italian exhaust fans to more readily available North American chandelier bulbs.

Prospective home buyers are advised to provide their builder with appliance specifications at time of purchase to ensure that the appliances are accommodated in the kitchen design.

Gas Slide-in Stoves and In-Counter Cook tops must not have laminated countertop backsplash per Ontario Building Code.

Prep for Slide-in Stoves and In-Counter Cook tops will be performed by the Customer Care Department only after the appliance is on the premises to allow verification of actual measurements.

It is the homeowner’s responsibility to contact Customer Care at service@frendel.com to arrange an appliance prep appointment. Allow up to 3-5 working days for the appointment after the day of contact.

GENERAL CARE OF LAMINATE COUNTERTOPS

• Avoid dropping heavy objects on them. Laminate countertops are pretty tough, but the laminate itself can be damaged by a particularly nasty drop. Take care when lifting heavy items onto the counters or over them.
• Never place hot pots or dishes directly from the oven or burner on an unprotected laminate surface; such extreme heat can cause cracking or blistering. As a rule, a maintained temperature of 285°F can discolor a laminate. Contact adhesives typically can be reactivated or soften at around 200°F, which will allow the laminate to pull loose.
• Avoid cuts. Make sure not to cut directly on the surface of laminate counters. Use cutting boards, stones or plates instead to protect the finish and surface of the counters. This practice is required for just about every countertop out there. Using the right cutting
  techniques not only protects the counters, it also protects the knives.
• Never let water or any other liquid sit on the surface of the countertop. Although the laminate is water resistant, it is not waterproof. After cleaning or wiping down the counter, it is equally important to wipe it down with a cloth to dry the surface. Any joints or finished ends are highly susceptible to water damage as they are a point of entry. Avoid locating coffee makers, steamers on the joints of countertops will result in an uneven joint, as the water will have caused the substrate material to expand creating an undulating surface.
• Don’t use harsh chemicals. Harsh chemicals that have acid in the mix do not go well with laminates. Avoid using drain unclogging agents, metal cleaners, ceramic cleaners rust and lime removers and even vinegar and water on or near these counters. Wipe up any spills immediately with water, and dry thoroughly afterwards.

LAMINATE COUNTER CLEANING RECOMMENDATIONS

• Simple cleaning. Wipe up these counters with a clean, soft cloth for basic, everyday cleaning. This will help remove surface dust and dirt without damaging the finish.
• Tough stains. Mild household cleaners generally work very well on getting stains out. Avoid using harsh abrasive cleansers. Do not use abrasive sponges or steel wool on laminates. For really bad stains, create a paste out of baking soda and water. Blot this up rather than scrubbing and scraping. Take care to wipe up spills as quickly as possible as laminates may become permanently stained.