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Its so important to clean up food messes immediately and stay on top of resealing the countertops. Plus, it prevents the wood from drying out. Face grain countertops are when wood boards are laid flat with the widest part facing up. You might be using an unsupported or outdated browser. Over the past few years, weve continued to see interest in butcher block countertops and other wooden countertops. Also, both surfaces require regular sealing to be kept in tip-top shape, but wood is a bit more high maintenance. Kitchen & CookingHome MaintenanceCleaningHome EssentialsBrowse All CategoriesBrowse All Brands, About UsMeet the TeamContact UsJobsTerms & ConditionsPrivacy Policy. Nothing. Source. Cookie sheets and hot pans are likely never going to burn your countertops. Sure, you can sand and refinish them as needed, but many homeowners dont want this responsibility. Butcher block countertops can fit in seamlessly with most kitchen styles and if maintained properly, theyll last a long time. Blinds vs. Itll probably come down to aesthetic preference, but if youre torn between wood and granite for your countertops, there are a few things to consider. Theyre often used as a show piece and treated like furniture instead of a work surface because they are easily marred by knives and cleavers, but otherwise they are very durable. Heat is also a threat to wooden kitchen countertops; you always need to place hot pots on a trivet or risk damage to the surface. Polyurethane is perfect for bartops and tables but its not recommended for kitchen work surfaces. Mix a 1:1 solution of distilled white vinegar and water. Wooden Countertops and their Pros and Cons, Read about our experience working with Minto and CHEO >. All rights reserved. Finger joints also don't last as long as the full-length strips that better-quality countertops have. If you want to add pops of colour to your kitchen, granite offers more options than wood. Johnathan Brewer is a home improvement expert with over two decades of professional experience as a licensed general contractor specializing in kitchen and bath. Wood provides a look that no other material can. Join our free newsletter and get the latest reviews, deals, giveaways, and exclusive content. Beyond exploring the pros and cons, you may wish to compare wood with other countertop materials, like granite or quartz. Hes studied consumer buying behavior for 10+ years and has managed marketing campaigns for over a dozen Fortune 500 brands. The two lists below double as a table of contents. We mean that in two ways: wood is warm to look at, and wood is warm to touch. Here's an overview of what to expect when shopping for and living with wood countertops. Always follow the manufacturers instructions for the sealer that you choose instead of following general advice on the internet. Water is your enemy, and if you havent been sealing them regularly then water will damage them. Use this as your daily surface cleaner. To keep them looking pristine for as long as possible protect them with a cutting board. Image Attribution. However, if they are given the right amount of tender loving care, a wood countertop can retain its clean look long into its life. The best place to start looking is at your local lumber yard. Spray this all over your countertops for a nice shine, good clean, and a beautiful scent. But as long as you keep up with regular maintainance and dont let water sit on the surface for an extended period, the sealer protect the wood from damage. When hes not testing the latest home products, hes spending time with his family, cooking, and doing house projects. Connect with Andrew viaemail,LinkedIn, or thePrudent Reviews YouTube channel. Butcher blocks also need occasional resurfacing to remove deep stains, dings and scratches. Read about our experience working with Minto and CHEO >, Local Tel: 613-836-5353 Typical wood veneers are only 18 of an inch thick and can only be sanded and refinished a handful of times at most. But is it the right material for your home? For example, Brazilan cherry features a very fine-grain, so scratches and dents are easier to disguise, and hard maple has a straight and uniform grain, which is easier to scuff. Scrape off food or sticky residue with a spatula or pastry scraper. With the help of my husband Scott as a volunteer A sharp knife will easily slice through food without you having to apply a lot of pressure. This makes for an inviting surface to eat and entertain. Different species of wood have very different grain patterns, colors, and Janka scores (a scientific measurement of hardness) so lets have a quick look at the three most popular species and go over their benefits. Wood, of course, is not indestructible and needs periodic conditioning and care. Would you like to design an elegant kitchen that fits your budget? Installing butcher block countertops can be a DIY project, but youll need to measure carefully and cut accurately with a circular saw so the countertop will fit around a sink and faucet. For a less expensive option, there are wood tops made with particleboard cores and hardwood veneers, such as those sold by retailers like IKEA. Then, it gets placed in a vice to squeeze the wood and glue together. Adding a drop of liquid soap to your wet rag rag will help loosen any sticky or greasy spills, making them easier to wipe up. For example, they may use wood for the island countertop but quartz, granite, or marble for the perimeter counters. Please try again later. Use a 1:1 mix of vinegar and water, complete with a couple of drops of lemon essential oil. This maple countertop has a built-in TV. Others will fall in love with their wood countertop, turning the chore that was caring for the wood into a pleasure. Edge grain countertops are when the boards are laid parallel on their edges and joined together with the edges facing up. Generally speaking, most of the negatives to wood can be avoided with good care. Image Attribution. Luckily, if you do see a few minor scratches or cracks, wood can be sanded so these issues can be easily fixed. What you pay for butcher block is direclty correlated to what sort of wood want, the type of construction you pick, and who makes it. Wood is able to capture that natural look while still giving off a modern vibe. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends food-safe mineral oil, which is also odorless and colorless, as the finish of choice for butcher block tops if you are using the surface for cutting as well as food preparation. You have four options, and which one you choose depends on how you plan to use the counter. Yes, you must seal butcher block countertops regularly to keep them from absorbing water. Continuous strips are when the wood boards run the full length of the counter. Weve all heard it: wood is unsanitary. Even a wet towel left on the wood for a couple of hours can damage the wood. Edge Grain: The big benefit is that the wax helps seal the oil into the wood so you dont have to apply it as often. Shades: Which Window Covering Is Right for Your Home? First, wood countertops require regular sealing and oiling to protect against stains, scratches, and moisture damage. Instead of using wood for the entire kitchen, people are mixing stone with wood. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. When he's not writing, Nick likes to rehab vintage or kitsch furniture for his home. When shopping for wood countertops, ask suppliers or fabricators how they join the wood strips together to form the tops. By contrast, solid surface, laminate, and quartz countertops require significant amounts of energy for their manufacture. Lets take a close look at the disadvantages, so you understand the whole picture. Thats a hard question to answer directly because its like asking if cars are expensive. Apply the oils again the month after the original installation and then every six months after that. Can I Have Light Kitchen Cabinets With Dark Floors? Take comfort in the fact that most burns dont penetrate the sirface deeply and can easily be sanded out. Quartz Countertops: What to Know Before You Buy, Soapstone Countertop: What to Know Before You Buy, Solid Surface Countertop Basics to Know Before You Buy, Pros and Cons of Kitchen Countertop Materials, How to Keep a Butcher Block Clean and Looking Beautiful, 16 Modern Kitchens With Butcher Block Countertops, 20 Options for Kitchen Countertops: Pros and Cons, Learn the Pros and Cons of Popular Bathroom Countertop Materials, The Best Kitchen Islands for Stylish Storage, Laminate Countertops: What to Know Before You Buy, 8 Ways to Cover Kitchen or Bath Countertops, Help Wood Furniture Look Brand-New (and Last Longer) With These Tips, How to Repair or Restore a Solid Surface Sink. If youre handy and have the right tools, just cut the wood to size with a standard circular saw. Butcher block needs routine maintenance to make it last. Maple and white oak are both much more durable but not as visually striking. Frequent re-oiling will be necessary in this case. One of the most significant disadvantages of wood countertops is that water left on the surface can quickly wreck the wood. When the countertop arrives, youll need to oil the wood. For example, butternut is one of the softest woods, while Brazilian cherry is one of the hardest. Cleaning butcher block countertops is no different from any other kitchen work surface. You can hire a company to install your wooden countertops, or you can do so yourself. If youre remodeling a home to sell, it may be a drawback for your potential buyers. But wooden countertops have a long life because you can sand and resurface them multiple times, giving you a brand-new countertop again without the price of fully replacing it. Liberally sprinkle coarse salt on the surface of the counter and use a cut lemon to scour it. Tops made with unusual or imported woods, custom sizes, and intricate details can run up to $200 per square foot. To get the best possible experience please use the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge to view this website. Butcher block countertops remain a solid value for kitchen countertops and installation can be a DIY project. Dont use harsh cleansers like Windex, Forumla 409, or any other chemicals. Image Attribution. For example, American walnut is much darker than hard maple, while cherry has reddish tones. Several types of woods, like maple, cherry, walnut and oak can be used for butcher block countertops fashioned in different styles. Wood also contains antimicrobial compounds so when you choose wooden countertops, youre choosing a more hygienic kitchen. 22 Pros & Cons of Granite Countertops: Are They Worth It? But there are also some drawbacks to consider: Bottom line if youre looking to add warmth and charm to your home and wont fuss over minor blemishes, wood countertops are an excellent choice. For daily cleaning, a solution of warm water and dish soap will clean butcher block. Each wood type will take stains differently, too. This is one of the biggest conerns, but by keeping them clean and occassionally disinfecting them youll have perfectly hygienic countertops. If you prefer an ultra-durable, low-maintenance material, you might want to consider granite or quartz instead. The thin edges make up the surface. Plus, wood is biodegradable if you ever need to remove or replace the countertops. He has been featured on HGTVs Super Scapes, Curb Appeal the Block, Elbow Room, DIY Network's House Crashers, "This Old House," and OWN Network's Emmy award winning show, Home Made Simple. Jonathan is also a member of The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board. Ultimately, it comes down to personal choice. The best woods for butcher block counters are common hardwoods. It looks great and does not need to be reguarly reapplied but it has the look and feel of furniture and not natural wood. If quartz has caught your eye, here are some things to keep in mind. I recommend investing in a couple trivets and any time that you are the least bit concerned about potential heat damage, use one. If you cut for a sink or fixtures into your finger-jointed top, you might expose the unsightly joints, and there is no way to hide them. Where you will likely run into problems is with direct heat over long periods. But with wood, fragile items are much safer. Take a look at our cabinets for inspiration! Here are a few articles I wrote that can help. First, let me assure you that wood countertops are not only easy to sanitize they naturally kill bacteria too. Quartz isnt 100% natural like wood is. It seems more and more people want to incorporate wood into their Ottawa kitchen renovations, choosing it over the more popular choices of granite or engineered stones like Corian. But there are a few things to consider before installing wood countertops. Its a small thing, but it makes a big difference. But butcher block remains more versatile than that because it can come in a variety of woods, designs and colors. Harder woods and butcher block counters, which are created by glueing wood boards together for strength and stability, are more durable. If you place something hot on the countertop, such as a pan straight from the burner, it can damage the wood. Both are tough and durable surfaces, but granite is stone, so it can chip and break. Wood does require work, but some will say that work is worth it for the beauty. You could use polyurethane to seal the surface, but that takes away the surfaces all-natural appeal. With light pressure simply rub the lemon all over the surface and then use a damp cloth to wipe away the salt and lemon residue. The reason that end grain construction isnt popular now is that its expensive. A comparison on Waterlox and mineral oil.