Are wooden worktops that bad?

[buzzgirly]

We are getting a new kitchen installed this week. We decided on real oak worktops as they looked really nice with the kitchen and I did not like the laminate alternative. But I have had so many comments, including from joiner who is fitting kitchen, that they are a nightmare. I have read a few threads on here about them rotting etc.

Have we just paid quite a bit of money for something that will be giant headache? Does anyone have any tips on maintaining them?

we have oak worktops and they are fine. no problems with black bits round sink, as some people have mentioned on here, and we aren't particularly careful.

we have just refinished them because we didn't like the finish - had used danish oil for last 4/5 years which had gone orange and plastic-y looking. sanded them right backand used osmo hard wax oil in matt this time and it is much easier to use plus looks sooooo much nicer.

I found them ok in my last two houses, I oiled them about once a year at most.
Try the Osmo hard wax oil as ceres suggests, is meant to be very good, far better than Danish oil.

Ours are a nightmare

They are fine, just keep them dry (wipe up after washing up) and oil every 6 months or so, and they're like new again. Then again I have a small rotting bit by sink

we had walnut in the last house, and all fine if oiled with 3 coats
we also had hot rods next to the hob that was very useful.
only advice is never leave a wet tin on the top for some time as can mark the top with a rust ring (i did this) dh sanded it down again and re-oiled.
Where poss, your joiner should also oil the underneath of the top also to help counter out bowing.

No tin or bottles of laundry liquid left on it and it will be fine.

I have walnut and it is fab.

Honestly it really is no bother to give it an occasional extra layer of danish oil...

Initially it requires some investment in time to get the layers of oil up to what is required but once this is done it only needs doing once every 6 months or so.

I would choose them again.

I've had oak in my last 2 properties and not had a problem with rotting, but you do need to make sure you don't leave anything wet sitting on it. You can refresh it and get rid of any minor marks by sanding and re-oiling (like others, I find Danish oil useless - can't remember name of what I use but it's much more protective). You need at least 3 coats to protect properly ime.

We've got black bits by the sink in our house - we'd like to sell in the next year or so. Is there anything we can do?

Also - where do people buy oil from? What is it I'm looking for? (We bought the house a couple of years ago and I didn't realise I was supposed to oil it... oops... I suspect that would even the colour out?)

you just use danish oil, its clear, it will bring the natural looks of the wood out.
Just get a fine sandpaper sand down, clean, oil, wait 30 mins, buff off and then oil and buff a few more times

Oxalic acid (available from specialist paint shops or online) will get rid of the black bits on wood.
Wear gloves.

We use tung oil. If you follow the instructions carefully you avoid build up and stickiness. We are just careful to dry the top off and not leave things to "drain" on the surface. The only problem we had was when a neighbour washed pet food tins and left them on the wood to dry (why not the sink????) which left marks . But those sanded out so ok long term. However my husband re-oils the top every 6 months to keep it sealed so if that is unlikely you might have more problems.

Thanks for the replies, I'm feeling better now I've heard some positive stories!

I will get some Oslo oil, should we try and put a few coats on before the worktops go in?

Also what do you clean them with? Can you use anti-bacterial sprays on them?

Yes you will need to oil them before they go in. We have oak and gave the tops 3 coats top and bottom.

To clean I just wipe over or use antibac. I run a tea towel over to mop up any water.

Osmo polyx oil, unlike all the other oils it's waterproof and stays put. I am ready to be proved wrong but have never heard of anybody having a problem with it regarding worktops.

Do one coat all sides before it goes in, extra on the cut ends near the sink, and probably another coat when they're in. You'll know when you've done enough coats because the wood stops drinking up the oil and you get the satin finish. You don't need lots of coats.

I should think they are fine with normal sprays. I took the finish off my table top with CIF cleaning off felt tip pen from the children but just touched it up again.

You can buy it mail order or from a decorator's merchant
e.g. here

You can get a brush for it but I just wipe it on with a rag.

I've got them. Not any trouble really. You can use cooking oil if you prefer. We have a few half rings from red wine but they sort of blend into the pattern of the wood. Wood is my favourite look of worktop so I'd definitely choose it again.

We have black bits round the sink. This is because I am a careless washer-upper.

Hated mine with a passion!
They aren't really for family kitchens IMO...take far too much caring for (regular oiling etc) and they mark sooo easily!
You can't let them get wet either unlike laminate!
I just got new laminate new in our new house and I love them.

I hate ours. Only 6 months after spending an arm and and leg on a new kitchen and our sink has disgusting black bits round it. Despite us going for the over top sink type rather than built in (no raw ends of wood in contact with sink) and I am totally obsessed with wiping up any water during and after washing up.

I didn't want them in the first place due to this but DH wouldn't believe me. Grrr.

We've had ours almost 6 years and no black marks or rotting bits, but there are some ring marks but they're not too bad. Our fitter told us that any old vegetable/sunflower type oil will be fine, and it seems to be. We were also told to oil daily for a week, weekly for a month, monthly for a year and then annually. To wipe down, I just use anti-bac spray

We kept the cut out bits from the sink and hob, tidied up the edges and made extra chopping boards and mats for by the hob, so these bits take the abuse.