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Original poster

Solid Wood work surfaces

15 replies

CharlieBoo · 28/01/2011 11:29

Hi, we are having a new kitchen fitted at the end of feb. Its shaker cream. We really love the look of the wood (oak) worktops, but lots of people have put us off by saying there are a nightmare to keep looking good. you get lots of stains and water marks. How true is this? We have 2 small kids (5 yo and 20mo), so lives are usual hectic family ones, often leave breakfast dishes till after school run etc...

There is an oak laminate we have seen which is nice, but you can obviously tell the difference.

Any feedback/advice really appreciated...

OP posts:
DaisySteiner · 28/01/2011 11:37

We've had ours just over a year and despite very rarely treating it, I would say it still looks pretty good. We've got a couple of very small water marks behind the sink and a few scratches on our main preparation area. You can always sand it down if you're really bothered, but tbh I doubt very much that anyone other than me would notice them! It IS a bit of a faff IMO to get everything off the work surface to oil them, which is why we haven't done it more than three or four times, and you do have to be careful not to leave pools of water. I think if you're the sort of person who wants everything to be absolutely pristine, then they may not be the best thing, but dh always says (and I agree with him) that part of the beauty of real wood is that they do age and develop a bit of character.

Original poster
CharlieBoo · 28/01/2011 11:40

Thanks Daisy (great name btw). I really love the look but am a bit of a lazy, dizty moo so I do worry it would look a mess before long!

OP posts:
newgirl68 · 28/01/2011 11:47

Hi,
We've recently had a new kitchen with a solid oak worktop and as long as you oil it very well (say 5 coats) before you use it, it will be fine. You should probably also regularly oil but probably every 6 months would be fine. It looks lovely and is worth it!

RoobyMurray · 28/01/2011 11:49

They are beautiful but you have to be a bit obsessive about wiping off every bit of water. My dad's had his about a year and it's knackered around the sink already. (he is soooo not obsessive about wiping stuff Smile)

cece · 28/01/2011 11:53

I have had walnut worktops for 18 months now. You put a lot of oil on to start with and then reoil them when they need it. Not too arduous a task - just a case of rubbing it in with a cloth.

I am not an avid wiper upper of mess and mine seem to be surviving fine.

Very happy with it and would make same choice again.

We got ours online from Barncrest, very happy with them too!

WincyEtNightie · 28/01/2011 11:58

Whilst I love the look of our solid oak surfaces I do regret getting them.

They are less than three years old and whilst we are pretty good (not great) about wiping spills but we still have marks and some staining around the sink. Oak, in particular, goes black when damp so another wood might be a good compromise.

Also, think through what re-oiling entails (needs to be done regularly). The oiling itself is easy but you have to clear the surfaces and then leave to dry. So you have to relocate microwave, kettle, toaster (plus potentially knife block, tea caddy etc....)

ScaredOfCows · 28/01/2011 12:44

We had them in our last house for about 3 years before we left and they were great. Didn't put them in our current house - fancied a change - and really regret it.

I think that it's worth getting the best quality that you can. My friend had some in her kitchen, from Ikea, and they looked a mess quite quickly.

Original poster
CharlieBoo · 28/01/2011 21:26

Thank you all for your replies.... I am still undecided though!! Ahhhhhhh! I know it would look nicer but would it look nicer in 3 years time that's what worries me.

OP posts:
greenlotus · 28/01/2011 21:39

Osmo Polyx Oil / Top Oil has been recommended as a more durable finish than the traditional worktop oils if you want to try something different. I've never used it on worktops but it's stood up well on floors and table tops over the years, it's pretty waterproof.

I have been testing some worktop samples of beech and oak, the oak definitely goes black if you leave say a wet can on it, even through the oil. It is the tannins in it. Beech was untouched.

feedme · 28/01/2011 22:27

Don't do it round the sink IMO. We did, and it ended up all manky and black round the taps and sink, not a good look. Perhaps it would be OK if you were really concientious about keeping it dry.

ZephirineDrouhin · 28/01/2011 23:07

We have wooden worktops. They looked lovely when we installed them and I would thoroughly recommend them. Just as long as you can keep them well away from water, oil, cast iron, anything hot, food colouring etc etc. But it's a kitchen. What could possibly go wrong?

[bitter experience]

ceres · 29/01/2011 08:06

we have oak worktops. they still look great and we are not overly good at looking after them. i did have a black mark from a wet can - but we sanded it out and re-oiled. good as new again.

we haven't had any problems with the wood around the sink - just make sure it is realy well oiled at the beginning and it should be fine with the occasional re-oiling (very occasional in our case!)

Original poster
CharlieBoo · 29/01/2011 14:11

Thanks for all your replies.....

I am probably letting my heart rule my head but sod it, we are going to have the wood...it looks so nice and if the price is I have to look after it a bit more then so be it.

Cece, our guy uses Barncrest. He says it comes dipped and pre-oiled and 90% of his customers are over the moon. So we going to go for that. Our fitter can get trade discount too....

OP posts:
noddyholder · 29/01/2011 15:40

I have oak and oiled them with osmo.They are hadr wearing and look great.You do need to wipe up spills quickly but you can rub down with wire wool and re oil as and when.

scubagoose · 31/01/2011 12:57

We've just had Iroko wood fitted and it looks fab (only been in for 2 weeks) nice darker than the oak.. loving it!

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