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Original poster

Pros and cons of hardwood worktops?

45 replies

AintNobodyHereButUsChickens · 08/01/2020 18:19

We're finally doing our kitchen and we always said we would have hardwood worktops and a belfast sink. MIL did her kitchen last year and has oak worktops and, quite frankly, they look shit now. They had bleach spilt on them, tea/coffee stains, they're water marked. You get the idea.

DH has found a company that does good quality kitchens for far cheaper than the big retailers like Wren (we had a kitchen priced by them, £6.5k with laminate worktops and stainless steel sink). We priced it up with this other company and can do our kitchen for £5k including hardwood worktops and the belfast sink we always wanted.

I just don't want shitty looking worktops though, MILs have really put me off but DH is insisting it will be fine if we oil them regularly.

WWYD?

OP posts:
JuniLoolaPalooza · 08/01/2020 18:21

I don't have them but a friend does and you can't get them wet...doesnt seem like a functional surface for a kitchen to me. I'm terrified to make a cuppa when I'm there in case of rings. They cope though!

Finfintytint · 08/01/2020 18:22

The best way to preserve them is to never use them. I oil regularly but I don’t think I’d have them again as spills do happen no matter how careful you are.

Original poster
AintNobodyHereButUsChickens · 08/01/2020 18:22

I forgot to add, the type of wood we are looking at is Iroko, apparently this is the most heat/water resistant one to have.

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RandomMess · 08/01/2020 18:47

They are just work... if you have DC I wouldn't as when they are teens they are not careful.

I did about 7 coats of oil stuff still have to mop up Immediately etc. When we moved and the DC were becoming teens we got laminate that we likely change when they all move out!

HoldMyLobster · 08/01/2020 19:06

I have one hardwood work surface and it's quite marked. I don't mind as it's a surface that's used all the time for chopping, putting down hot pans, etc. The marks just add character.

The rest of my surfaces are granite - much easier to keep clean.

StarbucksSmarterSister · 08/01/2020 19:19

I've had mine nearly 4 years. I'm not sloppy (although I did spill hot water recently and you can tell!). I never put anything hot directly on the worktop and I use chopping boards. I treat it like a piece of furniture basically, but I'm not a massive cook.

They are gorgeous (I have very dark wood and painted cream wood units).

However, my first choice was quartz and it was just too expensive.

radioband · 08/01/2020 19:22

I have them and they're not functional at all! Great if you don't want to use your kitchen! I'm planning to change them in the near future because the look awful. Stains especially round the Belfast sink!

Namethecat · 08/01/2020 19:25

We had iroka worktops in our old house.
They are quite high maintenance . Regular piling , and a light rub down with steel wool a few times a year.
Never cut anything directly on it , don't put hot things on it.
We had it about 5 years before we sold it (10 years ago) and I've recently seen it for sale on Rightmove and the kitchen was still there.

SallyLovesCheese · 08/01/2020 19:46

We've got solid oak worktops and a fireclay sink. We are just very careful about wiping up water straightaway, use a couple of coasters and trivets for hot pans or drinks and chop onto a board. I really love them, they look great!

blimppy · 08/01/2020 19:48

I have a friend with wooden worktops. They looked lovely at first, but she complains they are always sticky and need frequent maintenance and oiling. Wood is very absorbent, so not surprising really. Personally I love my quartz worktops - no maintenance and pretty much impossible to damage!

Clymene · 08/01/2020 19:51

They're an absolute nightmare. I don't know anyone who has had them who hasn't regretted it.

PickAChew · 08/01/2020 19:54

Mine are iroko wood, I think, and I don't know what they've been sealed with but they're pretty much bomb proof. We found some Danish oil in the garage, when we moved in, and I'm not convinced it's that.

Chickenagain · 08/01/2020 20:05

Ive had iroko worktops in the past. They looked fantastic and were extremely resilient. We used to clean them off once a year and give them a fresh coat of danish oil and that was it. Maintenance done. TBF, I did choose a complementary granite when we changed the central table to an island unit, but that was so I could put hot roasting pans straight from the oven onto it....

ICouldHaveTinsillitis · 08/01/2020 20:10

We DH installed cherry worktops earlier this year. I love the colour, and we DH oiled them well on installation, and re-oiled them since. The oiling process is quite disruptive: sanding (messy!) then multiple coats of oil which always drips on the floor and takes an age to dry and harden, so the worktop is out of use for a while.

I'm not aware of any water damage - maybe because they've been sealed so well? I never cut directly on the surface, and never put hot things on it.

However, I find it has dented really easily! There is a series of shallow pock marks where the (plastic) kettle is, and a few random deep dents where something, maybe a jar, fell from a shelf. DH says he can steam them out, but he hasn't tried yet.

Useful to hear of other people's recommendations. I will be getting a different surface in any future kitchens!

EmmaC78 · 08/01/2020 20:12

I have them and agree with the others that say they are a pain. I try to be careful but they are still full of stains and watermarks.

Santasy · 08/01/2020 20:16

I have Iroko and granite. Granite around the sink area. Iroko elsewhere. I really like it because it is softer than granite and less echoey/cold. Most of it looks great (12 years on) but one strip is really worn, like the oil has gone. I've re-oiled it several times but it just doesnt recover. I'm sure if it bothered me enough I would get a professional in to re oil it but my kitchen is always cluttered hard working and the appearance just doesnt bother me that much.

Needallthesleep · 08/01/2020 20:16

We had some for about a year and in that time they were absolutely destroyed and looked awful. We sanded and oiled twice during the year, which isn’t enough, but who has time to clear their kitchen, sand it all down and oil it every couple of months? And bits that became stained couldn’t be sanded off as the stain went so deep.

Having said that we have friends who have wood that looks reasonable, but they put a huge amount of work into it.

BubblesBuddy · 08/01/2020 20:17

Just pay for solid surface or a stone on some description. Your life will be so much easier!

GOODCAT · 08/01/2020 20:20

We have had them for five years and they still look really good. We put loads of coats of oil on initially and recoat every 6 months All spills are wiped fast. It isn't a faff. We don't have kids though.

bathorshower · 08/01/2020 20:22

We had teak worktops in a previous house - they were bombproof. The house had been rented out for over 20 years, so they had to be. The major downside was that they were slightly sticky - plastic bags seemed to glue themselves to the surface if you put them down and forgot them. We were asked to oil them regularly, and did so about every 6 months. They certainly weren't sanded or rubbed down while we were there (5 years).

We did wipe up spills (though not immediately) and didn't chop onto them. In general we didn't put hot pans on them, but a friend did, a wok straight off high heat. You couldn't tell (much to my relief) - the surface was very dark anyway.

The sink had a double draining board, and was set against a wall on its own (no additional worksurface around it) - that would have helped minimise water damage.

We probably won't put in wood surfaces when we (eventually) replace our current kitchen. But that's partly due to price - teak isn't cheap.

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 08/01/2020 20:23

We have oak, maybe 3 years and they still look great, but I am careful with them. There is a burn mark and a bit of water damage both caused by my mum, we sanded a redwine stain out quite easily and re-oiled it. I know it takes work, but I much prefer how it looks over granite!

Kirstenkl · 08/01/2020 20:28

Mine are just from IKEA. Didn't oil them enough first time round so they got stained to shit but a good scrub with wire wool and a decent oil and they look lovely again.

That said, I find sanding and oiling them really soothing and satisfying. I can understand that other people think it's a chore.

Teddyreddy · 08/01/2020 20:34

A friend has them and they are immaculate but she's very careful - tea mugs go on coasters etc... I love the look but really couldn't be bothered with the hassle so have granite in the kitchen but walnut in the utility where there's less risk of damage. As others have said, it does dent easily though.

borntobequiet · 08/01/2020 20:42

Who chops straight on to a work surface? Why would you not use a chopping board?

I’ve got oak woodblock, wipe up spills as normal and no problems. I’m careful wiping up around the sink area but would in any case. Had it 6 years now and haven’t even re-oiled, though I will probably do so in the summer.

Kirstenkl · 08/01/2020 21:20

Who chops straight on to a work surface? Why would you not use a chopping board?

Please come and talk to my husband. I simply cannot repeat these two questions to him again.

(I know, I know, LTB!)