Countertops And Cabinets

Wood kitchen countertops, in terms of natural beauty and warmth, are unmatched. In combination with kitchen cabinets made of  wood that matches or complements these countertops can add the finishing touch to any kitchen. If you are thinking “green” and considering a kitchen design that includes wood countertops there are some pros and cons to consider.

Starting with the cons a wood countertop, like any wood product, can contract and expand depending on the conditions in the environment it is exposed to. Another thing to be wary of is warping which can occur if a countertop made of wood is exposed to water. As long as you are aware of these possible pitfalls you can easily gaurd against them.

Here are a few tips you can easily use to protect and care for your wood kitchen countertops while ensuring it’s lasting beauty and longevity.

1) Periodically apply a film finish to your wood kitchen countertop. Use oil, varnish or a lacquer. Beware that you will seal the wood with a film finish however over time it can crack allowing water to get underneath. Before this happens a good practice is to sand and re-apply the film finish annually.

2) If it is meant to be really functional, meaning you will be chopping and cuttiing on it, treat your wood counter top every few months with mineral oil instead.

3) Use sanding to preserve your wood countertop. Should stains or burns happen you can easily sand them away.

A great but overlooked choice for a wood kitchen countertop is teak. It looks good and holds up very well. A very popular selection is butcher block, which is is a laminated wood product for countertops. What is the best material for use in butcher block? That would be Eastern hard rock sugar maple which is very durable resisting  warping, scratches and it wears evenly. What every your choice for adding warmth and beauty that is natural to your design wood kitchen countertops have few peers.