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Housekeeping

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Original poster

Wooden worktop next to oven hob/sink - is this madness?

13 replies

Tinkjon · 30/07/2007 18:44

Would having a real wood worktop next to an oven hob be a really bad idea? I can imagine it getting scorched and it being a real pain to constantly have to use trivets etc. This bit of worktop will also be near a sink and I'm worried about the water leaving marks on the wood. The problem is that we have to have either granite/quartz or real wood there (as we have a butler sink), and the granite is soooooo expensive and impossible to work out how to fit (don't think we can afford to have a specialist fit it for us).

OP posts:
PeachesMcLean · 30/07/2007 18:53

We've got woodblock worktops in the kitchen. they need two or three coats of oil before you can use them, but the area around the sink is then ok. We haven't had any scorches around the cooker. You do need to be more careful I guess, and use trivets but it's worth it I think. I think they recommend a coat of oil every six months or so. Leaves it looking lovely and more resilient to things like red wine blotches. I've had a couple of those and just scrub them then reapply oil if necessary.

Jojay · 30/07/2007 18:55

We've got a wooden worktop throughout our kitchen too, and haven't had any problems.

It's been in about 2 1/2 years now and looks great.

Original poster
Tinkjon · 30/07/2007 18:58

Can you put a wet cup down on it, or would that leave a ring?

OP posts:
Jojay · 30/07/2007 19:06

As long as it'soiled properly initially, and every few momths afterwards, it's fine.

I've spilt all sorts over mine over the last couple of years and nothing has left a mark.

Even if it did, you can just sand it out and oil it again.

We use Danish Oil on our oak worktop, and it's great.

snowleopard · 30/07/2007 19:10

I love ours - prefer it to granite actually as it's warm and welcoming. We have a very big chopping board next to the cooker permanently and use that to put hot things down on.

They can go nasty around the sink over several years, if you leave water standing - my sister's is a bit manky. But if you oil it properly, and wipe up any standing water it's fine.

TranquilaManana · 30/07/2007 19:13

we had wood. didnt mark v easily, tho my mum managed it on a visit or two. but shes in a class of her own.

how big of a piece do you need? maybe theres a piece in the barn big enough for you to re-use? (im a hoarder and its a perfectly lovely bit of wood!)

Original poster
Tinkjon · 30/07/2007 21:05

Oooh, big chopping board - great idea, Snowleopard! I've seen big slabs of granite chopping board in Asda for about a tenner so that would be perfect!

Tranquilamanana, that's very sweet of you! We need a fairly big bit though - 2 metres long.

Thanks so much everyone, you've convinced me to give real wood a try. It will also match our kitchen much better...

OP posts:
Original poster
Tinkjon · 30/07/2007 21:16

Sorry, can I ask one more question? What about a draining board? Does anybody have a sink without a drainer and so have to leave dishes to drain on the wood? I know you can get drainer grooves cut in but I also read that you shouldn't leave dishes to drain... anybody know if leaving them is ok? I suppose I could buy a plastic drainer with a tray underneath to catch the water...

OP posts:
potoroo · 30/07/2007 21:29

DH made a beautiful wooden worktop for us, which he oiled. He cut grooves in for the draining board, but we had to be really careful to dry it thoroughly and not leave anything to drain on it.

I couldn't be bothered with the faffing around, so I stuck a tray underneath the dishdrainer so any water would drain onto the tray not the worktop.

Wheelybug · 30/07/2007 21:39

I think the key is to not let too much moisture on to it and keep it really well oiled.

We had wood - with butler sink - in our last house which we put it in and it quickly became marked, especially round the sink. We had a stainless steel drainer but it still got very manky round the sink. However, I'm not convinced our builder treated it enough when he put it in and then we didn't keep it up. We vowed NEVER to have wood again.

So, fastforward 2 years and we are in a new house and just ordered a new kitchen at the weekend and yes, just ordered wood worktops but promised ourselves to oil them monthly as we have been advised. Also not ordered a butler sink but a ceramic sink with a draining bit.

Bellie · 30/07/2007 21:50

We moved into our house that had wooden worktops in the ktchen last year.
The kitchen (and the worktops) are 12 years old and still look pretty good. We have the draining grooves in the wood next to the sink.
We use Danish Oil every 6 months or so and also if there is any bad marks olive oil works well too.
Use trivets/chopping boards for hot pans etc.

I thought I was going to hate it as in my previous kitchen had granite, but I love them and wouldn't change them now!

Original poster
Tinkjon · 30/07/2007 23:03

Bellie, so do you let your crockery drain directly onto the wood then? I don't like the idea of a draining board which you can't drain anything on!

OP posts:
Bellie · 31/07/2007 07:46

yes we do - and we let it dry overnight! I think that it had been looked after very well by previous owners in that it has been oiled for 12 years! We are keeping the process going with oiling every six months and it seems to be working!

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