It is... about the Brands....!

Sherwin-Williams AcromaPro lacquer, Target Coatings,Dewalt saws and cutting tools, DAP caulking, Bessey Clamps and Jigs, Rockler Woodworking....and of course us, ColorScapes....

We'll help you take on that painting and cabinet refinishing project, but we could not
do it without the support of our suppliers !

Save your house from dust and those lungs and back from the hard work of
cabinet refinishing...It's not as easy as you think !

Why Maple is the Best Cabinetry for Finishing....

Maple Cabinetry refinish in OC-17 Dove White...shot in Akvatopp 50 Sheen 

Waterborne Lacquer.

Maple hardwood is the best for finishing as there is no weeping oak tannins to 

consider or deal with not to mention grain variance on joined drawer fronts etc. 

Canadian Maple in Select 1 Species is free of bugholes, knots and sap and 

finishes beautifully.

KBIS Show...Orlando WinterBreak 2018

We are back at it after jetting down to Orlando
for 3 full days at the Kitchen and Bath Show.
Some really neat ideas were picked up to help
us elevate our craft further.

Some discussions were held regarding the sustainability
of MDF vs Solid Wood cabinetry and the high cost
of maintenance of the first generation CNC tools.

Waterborne lacquers are still at the forefront of cabinet
finishing technology , now and for the long-term.
Forget about that garbage Advance from Benjamin
Moore, it's still highly toxic to pets and animals
with over 4lbs of stoddard solvent in it's formulation !
Anyone using this stuff still is due for a trip to
a mesothelioma clinic soon and it shows you the lack
of understanding for working with a dangerous product
like that. No respect for the homeowners and applicators
if you ask me. :)

Go Greenguard and Greensure waterborne lacquer !
AcromaPro, Sherwin Williams, Katilac and Target Coatings
are still leading the way in this regard.

Learning to Spray Finish ?

I became a very good spray finisher after spending close to 20 years observing and working with clients in the wood refinishing market and OEM metal finishing industry.

We've assisted and educated on the following systems:

Plural component fast-set multifilm urethanes for water towers and jet aircraft, mil-spec coatings for defense (impingement binks 43p guns etc.)

Fast dry acrylic emulsion wood coatings with fast sandability and low VOC

Helicopter pad anti-slip / triage safety coatings for the OHA hospital grid

Polyester/TGIC Powders for OEM metal finishing....

Epoxy For transfer equipment/machine presses etc.

Navsea Spec Ballast Tank Immersion Linings for Boomer Class Submarines....
Ask us what the peak blast profile count is for a Navy nuclear sub ballast tank...it's classified lol !

The lesson ? There is a process to be followed for every coating application...

We've sprayed everything from simple cup guns to Bulldogs/King Air /Hydracats / Gusmer Plural Component Rigs. Ask us a question we'll answer it...

Need a Custom Glassed In Door ?

Need a custom glassed in door to match your existing profiles ?

Here's one prior to final sand and spray finishing cut with
A Rockler Bit...

Glass can be etch, clear, smoke or waterfall effect..you just have to pick !!!

Next Up...Maple Refinish

Our current project comes courtesy of NuStone/Granite Transformations from Oakville,  a leading countertop design and installation company.

Doors are solid raised panel maple and finish beautifully due to hardwood closed grain Canadian Maple (Select 1).

Pics to follow once complete !

Spray Finished in Shop / No dust in your home !

All of our doors are done correctly by finishing in shop with hardware removed to protect from overspray. This also negates any on-site sanding dust as many homeowners have dust allergies...especially from oak dust which is also mildly carcinogenic when airborne.

Believe it or not there are some guys who try to take the lazy ass route and paint on site while the doors are still attached...! Not the right way to refinish in our opinion...homeowners want their doors properly sanded off-site and the hardware kept clean of paint or lacquer. We don't provide lipstick work..we do it The Right Way ! Take a piece of duct tape to an unsanded door and see how fast the paint can come off on a tape pull off test...sanding makes for proper adhesion and is a certified AWI process method for correct wood finishing. Painting over jam, coffee drips and lysol makes for a cruddy job. All residues require complete degloss and removal prior to finishing.

Shipped Orders Via UPS or Tst Overland

Another bubble wrapped custom order outbound to two clients...one in Stoney Creek and 1 in River Oaks,Tx.

We cannot be everywhere at every job site at once so sometimes we default ship to clients. The carriers offer excellent prices and are very competitive to gain business so it's a very economical way for us to maximize our small manpower reach !

See us at Greenbuild Show Boston,Ma

It's that time of year for the Woodworking Machinery Show in Toronto and Greenbuild in Boston,Mass. Come see the latest products achieving Greensure designation and how you too, like us can provide services from a Non-Polluting Enterprise standpoint. (NPE).

Google Greenbuild and WMS Shows to find dates for travel and attendance registration.

Tell Em' What He's Won Bob....lol

Another effective refinish in custom waterborne lacquer with updated
VenMar Hood/Tile by Dominic, wood refinishing by Colorscapes !

Get rid of that 1980's look !!!

Another Steinway Finish underway....!

Primer :Akvasurf High Adhesion

Topcoat: Sw ProClassic 

Clear Finish: Akvaline Acrylic Fast Dry

212-40 Satin

45 hours labour !

New value of staircase = 15k

See ya later golden oak 1980's look !

Another masterpiece Steinway Piano Finish unfolding for a great client. We sand staircases like a Pinewood Derby Box Car prior to stain application and clearcoat. Ladies, You too can pretend you're Scarlett O'Hara coming home after a long day at work !!!

Pics of final project posted once all new hardwood plank floor is installed.

Oh yeah...we also got the kitchen project !!!

Gatwick Project Snowbound

Another effective transformation from single knob blonde maple to Sw7004 Snowbound in our custom lacquer process.

New 96mm hardware by Richelieu BP79096900.

Great thanks to Tim and Kristin !

River Oaks Houston...Hurricane Harvey ...Texas Sized !

We are helping the homeowners of Texas with new cabinetry builds, those who have been hit by Hurricane Harvey. U.S. prices of 65.00 per finished door any style....

Orders must be prepaid by wire transfer or U.S. money order for processing and delivery F.O.B. our shipping point. Its 225.00 for shipping 3 days travel time to Texas via TST LTL truckload.

Cabinetry colours unlimited in Select 1 Maple Shaker in either 2.25 or 3" Rail and  Stile joinery.

Choose colours online at sherwin-williams.com or ppgdulux.com.

New Channel Link Joined Cabinetry by Colorscapes...

Colour: Ben Moore Stone White
All doors and new drawer fronts by
Colorscapes Cabinetry. Bases built with
Our proprietary CLK joinery system, 60%
Faster than peg dowel built cabinet boxes
And 300% stronger to prevent shift and racking.

Kitchen as shown all new doors, hardware and bases 4890.00 All in !!! We blew away KrapMaid and Aristokraft by 71% on price.
Kraftmaid quote was 17,000.00 Aristokraft 22,700.00.

Broan lo-profile exhaust hood also installed
by Colorscapes !

We also painted 4 bedrooms for an amazing price of $1000.00 !!

Huge Kitchen in Progress...

We are currently assisting a homeowner with a 45 door kitchen in Stoney Creek.
Existing doors profiled to AWI standard and finished in our KCMA approved Greenguard/Greenbuild Gs-11 rated waterborne factory finished lacquer.

Great thanks to Domenic and Lina !

Back to School Specials - 15% Off !!!

Fast text or twitter us for quotes on kitchen cabinet refinishing, interior or exterior painting. 905-802-6099 or leave a message on our landline at 905-336-2324.

Get that project done before the kids head back to school !

905-802-6099

Another Grand Staircase/Balustrade Project

Custom Early American
Staircase and White Balustrade
Project for a high-end client
in Bel-Air Estates Oakville.

This family used to own
The Toronto Blue Jays until
selling to Interbrew S.A. and were
Instrumental in helping the Blue Jays become World Series champions in
92 and '93. !!

Great thanks to the Websters :)

Drop In Induction Cooktop by Bosch

Custom cooktop dropped in on top
Of Carrera Marble.

Scalloped utensil drawer box-joined
For additional strength/weight.

Get rid of that hideous old Moffat range !!!
Go modern with Bosch !

Cabinet refinishing in SW7551 Greek Villa
Finished in AcromaPro Akvatopp WB
Lacquer.

Great thx to Sherry and Ron for the project!

Cabinetry Shipped Direct with Hinges/Flatpacked

We keep it simple...3 standard

Styles in solid 3/4" Select

Maple with Euro Hinges.

Doors from 60.00 each to 120.00

for raised panel with edge treatment for that design gallery appearance.

Turnaround times of 4-5 weeks for full

Customization and Your choice of 18,000 colours from all the major paint manufacturers.

18,000 choices of colour you say ? even IKEA can't do that !!!

We make only solid Maple cabinetry from Canadian Select 1 Maple ...we do not think MDF belongs in any fine residential home.

Google 4 Biggs Ave...why it pays to refinish !!!

https://youtu.be/MUhBcMlEWiE9
Watch the video on 4 Biggs Ave Ancaster by UrbanGroup realty....

Refinish budget was less than 4500.00 for 2 staircases and a full kitchen !

Call us for faster service 905-336-2324

Nothing is faster than a secure landline !
905-336-2324.








Crappy moisture deformed
Board...mdf....! A picture says
A thousand words...this was once
A birch veneered IKEA door front.

Built in Kona Closet

Custom Kona Stained Built-In
Closet Shelving for a repeat client. Select 1
Maple 3/4" thick. Stacked crown also in
Solid Maple ( we do not use MDF!!!).

Clear Coated in Akvaline 212-40
For maximum moisture and scuff
Resistance.

Great thanks to Veronica and Steve W.

Floors and Custom Barn Hung Doors....

Want a finish that resists the dropping of a bowling ball...? We've been using Fabulon for years for our floor refinishing projects.
Made in Fort Erie by Sherwin Williams, Fabulon is legendary and in constant use by bowling lanes for its ease of application by squeegee and superfast dry times !

https://www.thestar.com/life/homes/diy/2010/05/14/famous_wood_coating_a_76yearold_canadian_tradition.html

Custom refinish of balcony rail,floor and barn door. Hanging hardware from Hafele Burlington.

Great thanks to Lorne and Vicki !

our 11th Cloud White Kitchen !

Client contacted us because previous 90's look
Burgundy/Cherry Wine was looking dated
and worn. After several hours spent stripping
and custom sanding/priming and topcoating
we think we came up with a nice result !
Unique swirl glass T1-T4 doors give a nice
look to cabinet doors above sink.

Modern Cup Handle Hardware by Amerock
on drawer fronts.

Great thanks to Angela P. for the project !

Windsor Raised Panel Reface with Glass Lite Uppers

Our 57th Dove White refinish/reface project
in Hamilton,ON. !

Client requested 17 new raised panel Windsor
3/4" thick maple doors and 12 mini-cabinet upper
doors with 2 x 2 grills/muntin bars.

Clients finished tile backer themselves and added
a slimline Vissani Hood.

The unfinished beam shows that there was formerly
a wall there and now it is gone and the kitchen is
much larger as a result (older area of Hamilton
with small original floor plan kitchen).


Great thanks to Alicia and Steve D.

Our Green Policy Charter

As an industry coatings veteran with over 27 years of experience
both behind a brush, but also in a trade show booth or out in the
field, it always amazes me when a potential client is NOT AWARE
of the dangers of solvented coatings that contain benzene, stoddard
solvents and MEK (methyl ethyl ketone).

We do NOT apply or believe in any commercial usage of the following:

• Amino Alkyd Conversion Lacquers - yellow quickly, flash combustible
• Oil based polyurethane Floor Coatings - check the Web for cases of worksite 
• explosions and exposure injuries
• Oil based or Hybrid Trim Paints - did you know 1 gallon contains 5lbs of solvent ?
• Do you want to huff and breathe this in while it off-gases as it cures ???

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Anyone spraying solvented lacquers is what we call a "militant throwback"
someone who thinks that because it is a post catalyzed finish that uses
MEK as its flash solvent to cure is a good thing ? That it cleans and lasts longer ?
The risks of using these products is ridiculous and the sole reason most oil-based
paints have been removed from the market for consumer sale.

Read on below....

http://nationalpost.com/news/toronto/chemical-explosion-in-north-toronto-kills-man-who-was-renovating-apartment-police-say/wcm/bef4f684-2d3a-4d2e-a3c6-2caffd9d44d7

Acrylics are the present, and the future of coatings, they are safer, less or NO VOC
and can be cleaned up with water. There is no reason for any kitchen refinisher
to continue using dangerous solvented lacquers. IT IS NOT WORTH the RISK.
Mesothelioma is a fast-killer once diagnosed in anyone spraying MEK based
lacquers or paints.

DO NOT ask us to apply solvented, flash combustible clear coats or lacquers,
it will never happen.

Tie it all Together, Newly Refinished Cabinetry, Counter and Sink !

Great clients help us tie it all together, updating
that grainy old cinnamon or butter pecan
cabinetry to modern off-white (OC-62),
new hardware and counter/sink by client.

They just added 35 grand in equity to their
home easily for just under $2,000.00.

Shaker Bath Vanity with 8 operable doors/drawer fronts

Small bathroom vanity sprayed up in
Cloud White CC-40 in Akvatopp S/G Sheen.

Check out the Richelieu Crystal Handles.

$575.00 Built in Select Maple and
Routed in Shaker Ogee Profile
Finished in WB Lacquer and delivered
in 5 business days.

Luxe Black Hexagon Tile by X-Factor Tile Group
Burlington,ON.

Rental Project for Client: Slab Doors in SW6232 Gray

Door colour: SW 6232 Misty (Gray)
Finish: Akvatopp S/G WB Lacquer


Simple Slab Doors with Lipped Profiles
are an excellent choice when rehabbing
a rental accomodation. Why put high-end
raised panel doors in small rental unit
and risk cost and damage by tenants ?

Give em' the inexpensive but modern looking slab
doors...! At $55.00 each in Select 1 Maple
from Columbia Forest Products what a bargain !
Shaped right here in our Burlington Shop !

The Best Strippers come from Quebec LOL !!!.

Can you imagine trying to strip and refinish cabinetry doors
on-site in a client's home ? It cannot be done...the mess would
be unreal....

People ask me, hey Barry, who has the best strippers?
I said, they ALL come from QUEBEC lol....

Heirloom and Circa 1850 are Canadian made in La Belle Provence....

Take a close look at the removal process for Cherrywine Lacquer
to convert to a nice white...and the rack photo is just the primer coat ?

There isn't a blocking primer that can sand better or adhere like
AcromaPro's Akvasurf. It is hands down...THE BEST !

Each door takes approximately 1 hour to strip, sand, clean with
our proprietary neutralizer and prime with Akvasurf blocking primer from
AcromaPro.

Current Project: Strip and Refinish Aged Cherrywine Conversion Varnished Doors

We are currently in shop with close to 167 doors from 4 clients
with a very challenging one with aged conversion varnished
Cherrywine Finish starting to show it's age (10 yrs ).

Homeowner contacted us because they knew we would follow
AWI refinishing standards to provide a nice refinish result !

Pics to follow once complete.....

About our Custom Aluminum Doors for Accent/ Glass

Depending on size and what profile you like here
is a basic quotation on a standard 16" w by 30" tall
anodized aluminum accent door pre drilled for Blum
soft close hinge with Jet Black insert glass in standard 4mm
pane thickness.

$185.00 each, 15.00 dollars to install/mount.
(This may change as Richelieu is planning a price
increase by September).

We do not make our own aluminum profiles yet
as the demand is not quite there, but we could if
we had to by contacting Extrudex, a leading supplier
of anodized window and door frames to the commercial
window industry. They were also an account of mine
many years ago !

Extrudex can make anything in aluminum...!


Take a look at the service station bar we made for a client
late last fall. Cabinets were spray finished in Polystar
MLC Waterbased Lacquer in Raccoon Fur from Benjamin Moore.
Wall paint colour: Benjamin Moore "Million Dollar Red".
Hardware Handles: Richelieu Bar Handles 96mm spacing (RONA).

Chercover Dr, Burlington Orchard Project

This project was unique as the homeowner
removed 1 bedroom above the kitchen to
go to a vaulted ceiling for a more open
feeling (Bachly Construction). We were
asked to come up with something unique
ourselves with custom lighted upper box
cabinets, a custom height island to fit
with modern wrought iron stools and
of course again, custom sized to fit
cabinetry above the fridge !
Hardware handles purposely mounted in
A3/A4 position a little higher than normal
to change up the look. (Note: both homeowners
are very tall ! )

Floors by Flooring Warehouse in Hamilton,
Mannington Antique Maple hand-scraped 12mm.

This referral came from a well-respected kitchen
cabinet company in Oakville that could not consider
the timelines involved due to previous bookings.
Sometimes a small local cabinetmaking company
can come to the rescue and respond quickly to the
clients' needs !  The lesson...?

GOING BIG DOES NOT ALWAYS
PAY OFF...!!!

Our 601st kitchen in progress....!!!

We are currently assisting a client with a staging makeover
in the Orchard subdivison on our 601st kitchen project,
a huge milestone for our company !

What's hot right now is built-up mantles and
corner bar/wet bars for alternate rooms other
than the kitchen.

Cabinet Technician Position - Now Hiring !

We are looking for a qualified cabinet technician
to assist in our refinishing and new installation
department.

As part of our team, you will assist with takedowns,
prep, measuring for valances and re-installation
post-finishing.

Pay is commensurate with experience, must be fit,
able to multi-task, lift 50lbs and pass a tox screen
test with clean criminal background check.
Current Canadian passport would be ideal as
we do work cross-border in almost all NE states.

Inquire at colorscapescoatings@gmail.com
You may also text apply to 905-802-6099.

This week's completion...another Poised Taupe !

3" wide shaker rail and stile Cabinetry
finished in Target 40 Sheen 6500 Series
WB Lacquer. Most of the time you see
only 2.25 or 2 -1/4" stile and rail cabinet doors
due to cost and difficulty sourcing pre-planed 3" widths
of maple, unless you want to spend all day ripping 6" wide
maple planks out of Maple Select 1 hardwood.

Client wanted 3" widths
custom for a beefier look. We custom ordered
it from Columbia Forest Products to source
the right widths for easy shaping.

Colour : Sherwin Williams Poised Taupe Grey

Curved post island work (our first try at it
went well !). Hardware by Amerock
(RONA).

Great thanks to David and Amber V. for the
project !

Custom Bird's Eye Maple Floor transitions

We see this all the time when a floor transition from a big box supplier never fits the change from one flooring height to another...in that case we can make a custom Bird's eye maple 3/4" transition with rabbet and chamfered edges in a custom Antique Maple Stain look.

Old School Manual Spraying is Still Best....Water Curtain Booths vs Dry Spray...

The problem with automated spray machines like Cefla Ibotic as
we've directly experienced is autogun clogging at spray heads leading
to overbuild mistakes and sand-out. We sold the unit we had
at a deeply discounted price and got rid of it !

We still believe old-school manual finishing with
gravity gun is the best, it yields the most control, has a pair
of eyes and as a spray finishing applicator, you learn your
muscle memory over thousands of door faces sprayed, you
become BETTER than any robot ! What did Einstein say, the
average human being uses 3% of brain power...can you imagine
what humans could achieve using 10% ?

Anyhow, water curtain drip screens are being put into place
in some large shops even though the majority of finishing
booths are dry spray with arrestor filters. I've seen and used
them all, I still think lowest and simplest cost is still the best
until they figure out a way to keep the autospray heads from
getting clogged and throwing dry spray particles on freshly
sanded cabinet doors, something a human being is capable
of avoiding by simply wiping the spray cap between doors
with methyl hydrate or wood alcohol. The water curtain
booths sound great in practicality, but doesn't that introduce
problems with the Clean Water Authority.? As in Ontario
Clean Water Authority ?  It's a no no to dump any paint, gun wash
or lacquer down into our water supply, we always allow close to empty
cans to dry out and dispose of properly at Halton Landfill.


Like Occam's razor, sometimes the simplest approach is
BEST.