Wood cabinets and millwork
Visible faces, joints, interior surfaces and hardware can have different access limits.
Make the decision material by material.
- Give each room or item a clear reference.
- Record the proposed treatment and its limitations.
- Agree what evidence will support retention or replacement.
Follow one cabinet from face to back
Take an illustrative kitchen island: the painted door face has a visible mark, the drawer interior has an owner-reported odour and the concealed rear panel has not been inspected. Record those three statuses separately. A successful test on the door gives a result for that finish; it does not complete the drawer or the uninspected panel.
A custom cabinet also raises a practical reinstatement question. If doors, drawers or hardware leave the property, a part ID and original position let the return be checked against the actual kitchen. Agree any matching or replacement options before a retained custom piece is changed.
Use a cabinet component schedule
| Component | Record that prevents a scope gap |
|---|---|
| Door K-01, island east face | Finish information; test location/result; agreed colour and sheen; retain/treat/replace decision basis. |
| Drawer K-01-D2 | Original position; contents handling; interior assessment and work status. |
| Rear panel and wall interface | Access status; basis for any disassembly; responsible provider and reinstatement allowance. |
| Hinges, handles and trim | Part count; location labels; treatment or replacement decision; fit/function handover. |
| Return example | K-01 returned and reinstalled; listed parts reconciled; finish concern or inaccessible component carried into exceptions. |
Inventory the assembly
Describe whether the item is solid wood, veneer, painted board, laminated product or unknown. Include cabinet interiors, backs, joints, drawers and hardware in the assessment conversation when the event basis supports it. A finished door face may be accessible while another part is not.
Keep heat, water, swelling, delamination, finish change and deposits as separate observations. They may support different work decisions. Do not describe all visible damage as a cleaning issue.
Test the actual finish
Ask how the proposed process will be evaluated on the existing finish and what the test result means for colour, sheen, adhesion and intended use. One result does not automatically establish the suitability of every cabinet component.
If disassembly is proposed, ask who documents the parts, protects them, tracks their location and reinstalls them. If replacement is proposed, ask whether the basis is condition, accessibility, function, failed testing or another documented reason.
Clarify the scope around the cabinet
- Are wall/floor interfaces and concealed backs included?
- Who disconnects or reinstalls appliances and services?
- Is hardware assessment included?
- How are matching and repair expectations recorded?
- Which retained parts have unresolved limitations?
Keep salvage choices item-specific
An owner may value an original or custom item differently from a standard replacement. Record that preference without turning it into a guarantee of successful restoration. Ask for options, limitations and an agreed authorization process before irreversible work.
Take a useful brief
into the next conversation.
Organize your observations with a planning tool. Review the brief before choosing to share it.
References and scope
- ANSI/IICRC S700: fire and smoke restoration — IICRC.
First edition2025; published scope only. Wildfire and exposure evaluation are not comprehensively addressed. The paid standard has not been reproduced.
Source links checked September 30, 2026. General guidance and original planning questions do not establish the condition, exposure risk or clearance of a property.
Smoke damage?
Start with a clear next step.
Describe what is known, where the property is and what you need help deciding. The HAUSE team reviews the request and, with your consent, may connect you with a suitable provider if available.
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