The time it takes to build and install a kitchen or any other cabinetwork is directly proportional to the type of materials being used. A standard kitchen with melamine doors, laminate benchtops and no glass splashbacks can be built and installed in two weeks. If other materials are used your kitchen can take up to 3 months to complete.

• Veneer doors: Most natural veneers are stocked in Western Australia and can be pressed onto board and delivered within a week. Man made veneers like NAV and Eveneer are stocked over East and can take up to 2 weeks to be delivered and then a week to be pressed onto board. Once the veneered board has been cut, edged and sanded they need to be polished which usually takes up to 2 weeks.
• Painted doors: The painting process usually takes up to 2 weeks.
• Vinylwrap doors: This is the fastest turnaround and usually takes a week. If a Polytec colour is chosen then it takes 2 weeks for delivery.
• Solid timber doors: These usually take 3 weeks to be made and delivered and then up to two weeks to be polished.
• Stone and Corian benchtops: The templates and measurements for these are taken after the kitchen cabinets have been installed and usually take 2 weeks to manufacture and install.
• Stainless steel work: This is usually manufactured at the same time as the kitchen
• Glass splashback: The measurements for these are taken after the benchtops have been installed and usually take 2 weeks to manufacture and install.

• Melamine particle board is made by taking a mixture of melamine and formaldehyde, called melamine resin, and using it to laminate decorative paper onto a sheet of particle board. The raw edges of the door are covered with a 1mm - 2mm thick ABS (PVC) edging. Despite being fairly durable overall, depending on the finish, the particle board can scratch easily. Melamine is the most cost effective product for cabinetry.
• Laminate is primarily made from a combination of kraft paper (similiar to brown paper bags), melamine and phenolic resins (a combination of phenols, melamine and formaldehyde) and high quality print paper (this is where the image or print is printed on). These layers of paper and resin are fused together under heat and pressure and the end result is laminate.

  Laminate today has a vast range of colours, prints and textures. You can get laminates that look like natural stone, granite, marble, timber or you can even get any image you desire printed as a laminate.

  There is also an array of differing surface textures. You can have a glossy, satin, matt, or textured surface. Laminates that have a glossy surface tend to show scratches very easily (they are usually recommended to be used in vertical applications) and should be avoided in horizontal applications such as benchtops.

  Laminates with a textured surface are favoured for benchtops as scratches are less easily seen (due to the way light is scattered on the textured surface). Deeply textured surfaces should be avoided as it is often difficult to remove grease and dirt that can get trapped.

  Laminate is a very tough and durable material and will give you many, many years of service if looked after correctly. It will not take kindly to heat and will blister and break if a hot saucepan is placed on its surface. Sharp knives will cut into the laminate surface and once this is done it cannot be repaired. Always use a trivet or surface protector when putting hot saucepans on the bench and likewise use a cutting board when using knives for cutting.

• Vinyl wrap doors are single sided MDF (melamine on one side) which has a thin sheet of flexible vinyl glued and vacuum pressed over the other side. The edges are seemless and have the same appearance as painted doors. They are hard wearing but can be scratched and are damaged by heat. The number of colours and finishes are limited.
• Veneered doors have a thin (0.5mm-1mm) layer of timber pressed onto a MDF or particle board substrate. The raw edges are then covered with a 0.4mm - 2mm thick timber edgeing. The door can then be stained a desired colour or simply have a clear polish applied to them. A gloss level of 0% - 100% is available.
• Painted doors are generally painted in a 2pac paint finish similar to that used on motor vehicles. Unlike melamine and vinylwrap doors, there are an unlimited number of colours and gloss levels. Doors can be painted on one or both sides and have a seemless edge unlike melamine doors. Painted doors can scratch and chip easily.

• Marble is a rather expressive material that has a unique individuality which adds to the ambiance of your home. It makes your home look simple or sophisticated, elegant or rustic, warm or cool or sumptuous or minimalist. Marble is timeless, versatile and elegant making it a popular choice for enhancing homes. Marble comes in numerous finishes including gloss, hammered or honed finishes. The cost of marble depends on what country is originates from. Marble benchtops require care as they are succeptable to cracking if hot or cold itmes are placed upon them and they react to acids contained in foods such as tomota, fruit juices, vinegar, etc. Kitchen cleaning products must not be used and avoid spilling alcoholic drinks onto marble. Marble is also quite soft and scratches easily. For more informatioin on Marble click here
• Granite is similar in characteristics as Marble but is harder wearing and still requires care and maintenance. For more informatioin on granite click here
• Corian is the brand name for a solid surface material created by DuPont. It is composed of acrylic polymer and alumina trihydrate. Corian can be thermoformed by heating it to 300°F (150°C), allowing unique shapes to be created. Its primary use is in kitchen countertops, bathroom vanity tops, and wall cladding in showers. Due to its non-porous quality, Corian is approved for use in specialized environments, such as laboratories and hospitals. Corian's versatility allows it to be joined, shaped, and finished into a wide variety of products without visible joins. Corian is manufactured in two thicknesses: 6 mm and 12 mm. Nicks and scratches can be buffed out with a Scotch-Brite pad or orbital sander. It comes in more than 100 colors and patterns. Corian is not heat resistant and will melt if a heat source is placed upon it. For more information on Corian click here
• Caesar Stone, Essa Stone, Quantum Quartz, etc are engineered stones created from 93% natural quartz aggregates, organic pigments and enhanced polymer resins, Caesarstone provides a surface with exceptional properties of heat, stain, scratch and chip resistance. The exceptional beauty, strength and durability of quartz ensures a product that is far superior to natural stone and other manufactured surfaces. For more information on Caesar Stone click here

• Man made veneers are very popular when compared to natural veneers due to their consistant grain patterns and colours. They are made from Italian poplar and the final product is made by dying different layers of poplar a variety of colours, then assembling them into the desired pattern, pressing them into a block and slicing the layers of veneer off. For a detailed discription of the manufacturing process click here
  These veneers MUST be polished using a low yellowing polyeurethane 2 pac polish with UV inhibitors as sunlight causes the red primary colour used in the dying process to break down first leaving the blue and yellow primary colours. This in turn causes the veneer to go a green colour.

For granite and marble benchtops:

• Normal ‘Housekeeping’ maintenance involves only periodic washing with clean, potable water and neutral (pH-7) cleaners. “Soap less” cleaners are preferred because they minimize sticking and filming. However, mild phosphate-free, biodegradable liquid dish-soaps, soap flake or powders which contain no aromatics are acceptable if rinsing is thorough.
• Stone surface should be first wetted with clean, hot (not boiling) water. Then, using the cleaner solution, wash in small overlapping sweeps, from bottom-up if a vertical surface. Rinse thoroughly with clean, potable water to remove all traces of soap or cleaners solution change the water in the rinse pail frequently. Dry with soft cloth or cotton-flannel, and allow to thoroughly air-drying. Chamois skin may be used in lieu of cotton cloth in this process.

   

  Generally, prevention will save a great deal of time spent on cures and remedies, especially since damages to stone are often irreparable.
  Polished stone should receive the same care and consideration that is given to a fine wood finish.

• Spills of any type should be immediately removed and water-rinsed. Coasters should be placed under all glasses, particularly those containing liquors or citrus juices.
  
• Hot-plates should be used under heated dishes. And, place-mats or felt bottoms should be placed under china, caramios, silver and brick-a-brac to prevent scratching of polished finishes.