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Property/DIY

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Original poster

A bit boring - but wooden kitchen worktops - a hassle?

18 replies

minigoof · 28/12/2010 10:04

Thinking of getting new kitchen (small galley layout). Heard wooden worktops scratch/stain/ need a lot of upkeep, will I be able to relax or constantly be freaking out over using trivets & permanently attached to a j-cloth?
Anyone?

OP posts:

rubyslippers · 28/12/2010 10:06

I dont like mine

I inherited them with my house - they need oiling, cleaning, and they mark easily IME

Cheggerspartypopper · 28/12/2010 10:06

We have one and you do have to take more care of them. Oil now and then, don't put hot pans on them, wipe up water etc. But mine still looks great a couple of years on, so I think it's worth it.

TwistAndShout · 28/12/2010 10:08

They're a pain in the neck, not worth the hassle and will never have them again - IMO!

Fayrazzled · 28/12/2010 10:32

I love mine. They're well-oiled oak- I only re-oil them once a year which keeps them like new. They haven't stained but I do have to remember not to put hot pans on them (use wooden chopping boards) and mop up water. But really not a hassle as long as they're well-oiled when they first go in. Re-oiling is not a big job- takes about 10 mins and then drying time (I do it at night).

MeUnscrabbly · 28/12/2010 10:34

My wooden worktops are dreadful. I didn't take proper care of them (oiling regularly) in the first few years so now there are black stains round the taps, and the odd stain in other places where tin cans have been left on a damp patch.

I definitely wouldn't get them again.

ISNT · 28/12/2010 10:44

Ours are fantastic. We're not super-tidy - spillages won't get mopped up for a while, hot cups of tea on them etc. I have been careful about not putting hot pans on them. But they've been brilliant. We oil them once a year and they look great, not a scratch on them. Stuff which has dried on (all sorts of stuff ] has just scrubbed off and not stained or damaged them, I even dropped the iron on the wood, sharp side down, and it dented, and after a couple of months the dent slowly just went away.

Unfortunately they were here when we moved in so I can't tell you where they came from. I would have them again though.

highriggs · 28/12/2010 10:46

I really like mine, have had them for about 5 years from Ikea. Haven't oiled for about 2 years. You can sand out any accidents but I don't bother as they look lived in.
The only thing to be a bit careful is around the sink but they have survived three messy teens.

They can take a lot of bashing and hashing

ISNT · 28/12/2010 10:53

meunscrabby, the man who lived here before us was quite particular, he lived here for 3 years before we moved in and even told us about oiling them when we moved in, and left the oil out in the kitchen for us. So maybe oiling properly/regularly in the first couple of years is key and after that you can be a right slattern with them!

uggmum · 28/12/2010 10:59

I had wooden tops. They look great initially but I found they needed a lot of upkeep.

I changed them to granite and I love it

Bunbaker · 28/12/2010 10:59

We inherited ours with the house and they were a pain. They had developed black marks round the back of the sink where the wood went rotten and I couldn't put anything hot on them.

We replaced them with granite composite surfaces just before Christmas and they look fabulous.

Wood looks fabulous when it is new and just looks awful when it is "lived in".

Avoid.

MeUnscrabbly · 28/12/2010 11:01

Oh definitely, ISNT! I was warned that they needed meticulous oiling especially in the first couple of years, but I'm a lazy git and now they're ruined

Chandon · 28/12/2010 11:03

my house came with marble tops, they are amazing. you can put hot things on them straight from the oven.

Easy to clean, as very smooth surface.

Last forever.

Have had wood and was a nightmare. Looks nice though.

WhenDoISleep · 28/12/2010 11:07

We rent and have wooden worktops. They are awful.

I would never have them in a house that I owned.

CointreauVersial · 28/12/2010 18:35

I think it depends if you like the "rustic lived-in" look for your kitchen. Not me - I prefer a more clean, minimalist look, so went for granite, and it's fantastic, completely bombproof.

My folks had wood tops and were forever battling black slimy marks around the sink and had to cover the whole thing with glass worktop savers. They've now seen the light and got rid of them!

ilovemydogandMrObama · 28/12/2010 18:39

hate them. Am constantly stressing about the wet sponge/glass etc on the surface. They stain very easily and don't look good.

Would either get granite or marble or tiled surface.

Dunoon · 28/12/2010 18:55

We had them for about 5 years in our last house and they were absolutely fine. Beech. Only thing that stained was curry oh and purple paint from ELC. No mouldy bits or black round sink.

Original poster

minigoof · 28/12/2010 19:15

Thanks everyone!
I'd like to think I'm the regular oiling diligent person they seem to require - but at the back of my mind I know this is not the case!
Decision made. Great. Thanks again.

OP posts:

secretskillrelationships · 28/12/2010 19:19

I had Iroko wooden worktops and loved them. They were heavily oiled initially when installed and really repelled everything. I'm a bit lazy and rather ignored them for the next 3 or 4 years but they still looked good. When I put house on the market, I sanded down the odd mark and re-oiled the lot. They looked fabulous. Would definitely have again - much warmer than granite or marble.

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