Where to buy solid wood worktops?

[SandyChick]

Planning our new kitchen. Will probably go for cheap gloss white or cream and spend more on solid wood worktops. I've looked around most of the obvious places, ikea,b&q,wickes, homebase. Where is best place to buy from or how much should we be spending on good quality worktops? We want thick chunky oak and need around 7metres. B&q sell in 3m lengths which is no good because we'd end up with alot of offcuts which will cost more.

Has anyone used ikea? They do 2 types- a standard size or made to measure.

[VicklePickle]

Hi ihowarth, I went to visit them before I bought my worktops, as I wondered the same thing - but actually about most internet companies.. Anyway Norfolk Oak were brilliant. They are in a HUGE old RAF hanger. I don't know about the Barncrest bit, but they did show me a whole load of different ranges of products which seemed more than they had on the internet. The worktops ar fabuous - PM me if you want some piccies! Good luck, Vic

[ihowarth]

Landed here from Google, looking for good suppliers of wooden worktops. There are several companies who, it turns out, have the SAME Norfolk address -- Barncrest, Norfolk Oak, Wooden Kitchen WorkTops, and Mountain Hardwoods. This seems to shout "scam alert!", especially as Barncrest went bust (at a different address), but on the other hand there are some positive comments above. Anybody have any insightful comments on this?

[JustJes]

From what I can see Barncrest is still an active company. I assume that someone bought the company and are probably selling their own products/worktops. So don't be sad awkward squad - they live on!

[AwkwardSquad]

Ah. Zombie thread.

[AwkwardSquad]

Sad about Barncrest, we got ours from them and their customer service is great. We have had ours for five and a half years now and they still look fine. Lovely quality.

[Coffeeformeplease]

Hi, we got our Prime Oak worktops from worktop express and we are very happy with them. Have only been in since October, but no probs. I have been really fussy when they were delivered and before they were installed, have given them 3 Coats of Tung Oil, takes a long time to dry, i'd say it took about 2 weeks in total. But since then I've stopped fussing, they have taken all sorts of abuse, builders left their wet mugs on it, I spilled red wine ... and it can be just wiped clean.

[cece]

I got mine from Barncrest.

[poocatcherchampion]

another vote for barn crest

[flow4]

I have Ikea Numerar worktops. They're sold wood and I'm happy with the quality. There was such a difference in price between the standard lengths and the made-to-measure tops that I bought standard lengths and the joiner who fitted the worktops cut them to length as needed, which was easy and cheaper. The wood darkened when they were first oiled, and I re-oil them every 6 months or so, using Ikea's own brand wood oil (Behandla). They're 2.5 years old now, and so far they're getting more attractive the older they get. :)

[contortionist]

Another recommendation for Norfolk Oak from me - I got walnut worktops from them 18 months ago which are still in perfect condition just with oiling every few months.

[VicklePickle]

I brought my Oak worktops from Norfolk Oak. They are little bit more expensive then others like Worktop Express but the quality is worth it. They are manufactured in the UK too which is a real bonus. Would certainly use them again and recommend to others.

[teta]

Said, Worktop Express is just as good a quality as Barncrest and i think slightly cheaper [well my Iroko was].PinkOlives i am really happy with my Iroko.Apparently they will darken within 6 months but i have only had mine for a few weeks now.The colour is very rich and looks beautiful with painted cabinets in Skimming Stone and Elephants Breath.I also really loved the Walnut from Barncrest but i felt it was a bit dark for my really light-challenged kitchen.

[PinkOlives]

maybe you should give them a call? plus check what you are agreeing too payment wise etc
someone on another thread mentioned worktop express or something like that and wood and beyond, im still hunting too though.
this kitchen lark is a headache

[said]

Pink - still dithering. Still want oak worktops but where from now? They were so lovely. I know it's go into administration so, technically, still trading but, um, risky to buy from there?

[PinkOlives]

ohh really its just looks beautiful. i need something dark for the contrast with light units. very expensive though

Iroko was recommended to be more durable i just dnt think from the sample thats its dark enough
interested to hear from peple who have had it for a while

[mousymouse]

we had walnut (?) in an office kitchen where I used to work.
was hard work, had to be oiled once a week for the first year and from then on once a month (kitchen then out of use for a day for the oil to sink into the wood). very beautiful though and very smooth.

[PinkOlives]

really??? i also got a sampe from Barncrest last week? im looking for dark walnut, i think its american black walnut? any recommendations for reasonable places?
said - what are you going for now?
i thought that iroko would be a lot darker has anyway got it and its darkened with age?

[said]

Gone bust? Really? When? Aargh! I only got a sample from the them the other day as well

[toughlove]

SardineQueen - think yourself lucky you DID get them from Ikea - Barncrest have gone bust. I want to buy some worktops from a company who actually manufacturers here in the UK. Anyone any ideas? I heard a friend talk aout one company but she forgot thier name but apparently they are completely different to imported ones. Even John Lewis ones are just imported.

[SandyChick]

I think we're going to get the kitchen and work top from howdens. A friend has their cream high gloss units and thick oak worktop and it's beautiful. Has anyone used Howdens?

[SardineQueen]

Shouldn't have read this - have a load of oak ikea worktops waiting to be fitted at the mo

We had oak in the old kitchen and it was very good - oiled it once a year and it was pretty indestructable (we are not terribly careful) although I don't think it had a hot pan on it. I did drop the iron on it pointy side down and the dent sort of sprang out over the space of a couple of weeks.

I think the bloke who lived here before us was very good with the oiling, and I suspect the trick is to look after them carefully for teh first couple of years and after that they are sort of battle-hardened. Or something

[TalkinPeace2]

((((((( my Bamboo worktops ))))))))
www.hardwoodfloorstore.co.uk/worktops/bamboo_natural_worktops.htm

and my bamboo floor

worktops - I'm horrible to them and they still come up great with a wipe with a damp cloth and the occasional (like almost never) oiling

[PigletJohn]

there are likely to be cut edges where the sink was let in to an aperture, these need to be treated to prevent water penetration through the end-grain which is especially absorbent.

Iroko is a very dense wood which can be expected to be more durable. It is also rather expensive.