Kitchen - oak work surfaces Yay ot nay?

[WetAugust]

They look nice but they seem to need maintenance in contrast to other surfaces are just wipe clean.

If I did plump for oak is it a case of the thicker the better? Because the 27mm thinnish ones do look good to me

Some seem to ne oak stave - is there anything I should look out for?

Thank you

[greyvix]

Always, granite is pretty indestructible- I love mine- but it does have limescale round the taps. I think wire wool gets rid of it, but too scared to try.

[WetAugust]

I'm going to be scared to use them when they're brand new no matter what they are made of!

Beetroot is banned!

[NotGoodNotBad]

I found the trouble with oiling wooden worktops isn't the oiling itself, it's having to move everything off the worktops and leave it off while the oil dries. That's microwave, toaster, breadbin, breadmaker, kettle, mug tree, etc., and in a small kitchen there's nowhere else to put that stuff.

[WetAugust]

it would include cats in my kitchen too. Buggers insist on jumping up on the units

[Rooners]

George, I tried to post yesterday but it was down. There are some great drainers you can get, by simplehuman - they have a hole in the plactic underneath that drains into a single moveable channel/spout thingy so you can put it on a flat worktop and angle the spout into the sink.

We have got one on a normal draining board (ceramic) and the drips just go off the spout into the sink.

[Pannacotta]

I have just bought 400mm from Worktop Express and it was cheaper than good quality laminate.
I also have Osmo hard wax oil to treat them with having read up on here.
They look lovely and I like the fact they are much less clattery than solid worktops.
For me that is worth a little extra tlc...

[uggmum]

I had oak work tops. They looked lovely. But overtime they warped, especially around the sink. I did oil them regularly. So mine just could have been poor quality.

I had them changed to granite which I love. I've had no water damage with the granite. It looks as good as new even after 6 years. I do polish it a few times a day though.

[NotGoodNotBad]

We have just got a fab granite, it looks quite mottled and doesn't show marks at all - in fact, to the point where I have to peer really hard to make sure I've wiped up all the crumbs and spills. Perfect for the lazy cleaner like me...

[Lonecatwithkitten]

I have work area with Granite and Island with oak. I loved granite and would have it again and again. ExH was a twat and despite being told not put certain things on wood (sometimes moments before) he did it is irreparably stained by some of the things he did.

[WetAugust]

...and that's what worries me. If it was just me living here I'd have wood like a shot! But DS uses the kitchen and I would hate it if he damaged the surfaces carelessly.

I can't exactly ban him from the kitchen unfortunately.

[alreadytaken]

you have 38mm because it's less likely to warp and there was something else the carpenter said/ did that reduces the risk. I think that was treating both sides of the wood and putting something over washing machines but it was a long time ago.

[CinnabarRed]

Where can I buy hardwax oil from? Would a B&Q type place stock it?

[myron]

AlwaysOneMissing

Granite is definitely more functional than marble. The latter is more porous and not suitable for worktops. I would always choose a non porous worktop which is the reason I chose quartz rather than granite in my own home. If budget was an issue, I would consider stainless steel or laminate. At the end of the day, it's personal choice - I wouldn't want to expend daily energy/vigilance maintaining a less practical worktop material.

However, I do acknowledge that wooden worktops look good and are cheap but personally, I think it's a false economy, you'll be changing the worktop 5yrs down the line - unless, you never use/splash the worktops with water, oil, cooking sauces, etc. I would consider a wooden worktop if I was refurbishing a property to sell on immediately but not for my own home. I am always amazed that people are prepared to spend quite a lot of money on their kitchen units and then seemingly run out when it comes to the worktops and their appliances. imho, it should be the other way round.

[Chocotrekkie]

We get the oil from ikea - its like a milk and it goes on really well. It's ikea oak work top as well - been in 8 years now, it still perfect. We are quite careful with hot pans, water etc.
Kids scratched it quite badly with knives (I told them to get their own dinner cause I wasn't making anything else!) but a bit of sanding, couple of coats of oil and good as new.

We now only treat it every few months or when mil is coming to visit as she told us it was a stupid thing to buy

[fossil971]

AG Woodcare supply the Osmo hardwax oil (buy Top Oil which is a worktop version of the one for floors Polyx oil). If you have a lot to do you could buy the special brush. You can get all these things from ebay too.

[CinnabarRed]

Thanks!

[RedBushedT]

I have oak worktops and love them. They are beautiful and actually pretty low maintenance. I oil them once a year and they look good as new. I also have a Belfast sink. For fish draining I use similar to this from Lakeland
Which works great for me. It catches the drips and then I just to it down the sink and wipe the drainer down.

[Billwoody]

We have oak worktops as desks in our office. We used Osmo Polyx oil to seal them. Put on two coats and we need do nothing again.

[Tizwozliz]

If the worktop is treated properly splashes of water etc are no problem, they just bead on the surface to be wiped away.

We sealed both sides of our worktops and all cut edges and then have an additional foil barrier on the underside over the dishwasher.

We turned our worktop offcuts into large chopping boards. I'm surprised at people stating they want a surface they can cut straight onto, I'd never do this no matter what type of surface and have always considered myself fairly slatternly.

[Pannacotta]

Where would I get a barrier for my dishwasher?
I forgot I needed that, presume it prevents warping?

[Tizwozliz]

Yes, dishwasher gives off a bit of heat/damp so an extra layer of protection. We bought a sheet of stuff from B & Q.

[georgedawes]

Redbush I was really confused about your fish draining for a minute til I realised it was a typo! Doh. That rack looks great, I will buy something similar.

Thanks also for the tip about the dishwasher and offcuts, wouldn't have thought of those!