Kitchen worktop advice

[Bellyrub1980]

We're in the unusual position of having to pick a kitchen very quickly (within a week) when we hadn't anticipated buying one for over a year (thanks to renovations post a flood).

I have always dreamt of a solid oak butcher block worktop with white ceramic sink. I just love the look and the feel.

However, quite a few people have said solid oak is hassle due to the upkeep. But the store have said it only requires a light sanding and waxing/oiling once every 12-18 months. Doesn't seem like a great deal of hassle to me.

Or is it?

If we go for laminate (which I do like the look of) I can't have a curved unit which isn't a bit deal but would effect the overall look of the room.

[Squashybanana]

We have solid oak worktops but anal DH was v panicky about the upkeep. So I did a bit of research and if you get them untreated and unprimed you can seal them rather than oiling them. We used a high quality matt varnish called Sadolin pv67 which is used for bar tops in pubs and is extremely hard wearing. It has a matt finish and looks good, not all shiny-varnishy. The worktops look like new and I would never oil knowing you can seal, have very limited impact aesthetically, and vast improvement practically.

[Believeitornot]

We've had solid oak work tops for nearly 4 years. The only marks I've had are from soya sauce of all things.

We oiled them (Sanded in between) 2-3 times immediately after installing. Then again after a few months. Then every year. Around the sink I oiled more frequently with no issues at all.

I never place wet metal on them for prolonged periods and use spare off cuts as heat protectors.

They look great!

[SeasonalVag]

There's a company that granite wraps worktops! It costs 600 quid or so compared to 0000s .... I'm so gettting that done.

[LetMeBakeCake]

I'm going to have to get osmo oil!

[origamiwarrior]

And if you need further convincing OP, my DH who is very much practicality over style (this is the man who put an access door into a newly plasterboarded wall in case we ever need to get to the pipework behind....) was dead-set against wooden worktops, but one year after having ours installed (OSMO oil, did I mention you need OSMO oil?!) is now insisting on oak worktop in our new utility room. Yes, the utility room, used for dog washing, boot cleaning, engine dismantling. He wants wooden worktop there.

If you don't believe the collective wisdom of Mumsnet (do an advance search), check out the Amazon reviews:

www.amazon.co.uk/Top-Oil-3058-Clear-500/dp/B002AP6YBW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456251795&sr=8-1&keywords=osmo%20oil&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[Vcarroll]

I have solid oak worktops - installed a year ago and in areas that are constantly in use (around the sink , by the kettle) there are marks. Let me add I am extremely anal! As soon as there is a mere drop of water on the countertop I wipe it away with a table cloth, and I never put drinks or anything like that directly on the surface however marks are sadly unavoidable.

Around the sink water splashes every time I turn the tap on, and it's gotten a bit manly the biscuit tin has left a ring, and there are various other unexplained marks.

I wish I had used a dark worktop around the edge of the kitchen and solid oak just for the island (no water makes its way on to there)

[RaisingSteam]

Get yer Osmo poly oil on it. Insist the suppliers use this, and only this on your worktop - no Danish oil or any thing else. If necessary buy a tin and post it to their workshop! It goes on bare wood, two thin coats. Should have no black stain or watermarks if fully treated. Although I'd be careful with tins. Iron and oak are not a good combination.

[origamiwarrior]

Piglet John - as much as I luffs you, you always come on these threads and pour scorn on wooden worktops (I know because I searched every single mumsnet thread on oak worktops last year before I went ahead)!

On one thread you admitted you had never heard of/used Osmo oil. Have you used it yet? Things have moved on since the 1980s! Osmo oil is magic, I tells ya!

[bilbodog]

I'm on my second kitchen with full stave iroko worktops and love it. Also use osmo oil which is brilliant. Have never had to sand - apart from the drainer which does show some wear and tear - but I expect that. You could have it everywhere else and put granite or something else near the sink.

[PigletJohn]

"But the store have said it only requires a light sanding and waxing/oiling once every 12-18 months."

Ha ha ha!

Do you think perhaps they are trying to sell you an oak worktop?

IMO wooden worktops are ideally suited to a showroom. They are less suitable in a room that contains taps, water, cooking oil, wet mugs, hot pans and sharp knives. Such as a kitchen.

[HeyNonnyMaybe]

There are oils and oils. The Osmo Wood Protector is really good, then follow it up with either an Osmo oil or Fiddes Hard Wax.

I learned this too late.

[RaphaellaTheSpanishWaterDog]

We've installed teak/iroko worktops with Belfast sinks and integrated dishwashers (washing machine in utility) at two previous houses and absolutely loved them. After ten years there were no issues with black staining from spillages. We are pretty anal about wiping water spots/splashes though and did oil (but not sand) every few months. This house we plan to do the same - iroko on perimeters and granite on the island. As long as you're careful and have plenty of trivets for hot pots and pans it should be fine.

[namechangedtoday15]

We had oak in a kitchen and it looked lovely on the island unit but it did get black marks around the taps on the "working" length of work top.

Also had it as a counter in the bathroom (with a sit on basin) and that got black marks too. I wouldn't have it again

[iwannadancewithsomebody]

We have solid wood (can't remember which) but it's 6 years old and needs replacing.

It's meant to be sanded and oiled once a month but I don't have the time or energy to do it. There is black water marks around the sink and taps.

We also have built in washer drier and dishwasher, and the work top is warped where both appliances are.

Think it cost about £600.

I wouldn't recommend it

[origamiwarrior]

We've had solid oak for 1 year now and it is like new (and we are NOT careful people!). We treated it before it went in with Osmo oil (the stuff is legendary - do an advance search on Mumsnet for it). The worktop has fared so much better than we had anticipated. We'll probably re-oil it in the summer when we can open the windows.

[WhereYouLeftIt]

I have a beech worktop, have had it maybe 12 years now. I think I last oiled it about 10 years ago and I've never sanded it. Looks as new.

Granite is good for curves, another worktop is that. Unexpected bonus of granite is it speeds defrosting.

[Youremywifenow]

I've just got bamboo. It cost £400 for the whole kitchen, oak would have been £300 just for one section. It looks lovely and is very hard wearing. My builder broke 3 jigsaw blades cutting it - it's that solid.

[Decanter]

We have solid oak with a white ceramic sink. Been in 2 years and can honestly say it's like new. We are careful, wiping up wet spots quickly etc and we have a huge stash of rubber trivets (for heavy/hot items - never use/needed them for regular plates etc) but we are not obsessive about it. We sand and oil every few months - not a big job, not messy. I'm so glad we took the risk(?) as so many people told us too, that the upkeep was huge and that it would lose its look. I'd go for it.

[boodles]

I have solid oak block work top wth curves and I LOVE it. We use osmo polyx oil on ours and it still looks fab, no water stains etc. It wipes down easily with anti bac spray and has been simple to care for and I am not one to 'baby' things. We tested the osmo stuff on our dining room table a few years ago when we sanded it down and finished it using it. Our table looks great still and that is with use/abuse from a family of 5.

[SlipperyJack]

What about Corian? I think you can have it all kinds of shapes! I really like ours.

[Nepotism]

I have American walnut, love it. I oil it every six months using Osmo and it looks brilliant.

[Chapsie]

Depends on shape of your kitchen - we have granite along sink and hob run with oak on the island

[livingthegoodlife]

if you dont treat the real wood you can get black staining etc in high water areas, plus coffee rings from mugs. i wouldnt do it personally. i have been in about 3 friends kitchens with very tatty wooden worktops.

[KanyesVest]

A friend recently got bamboo counters. They look like traditional wood, but apparently much more hard wearing and water resistant.

[JeremyZackHunt]

I was told today that solid wood does need a lot more attention than that. And I asked about laminate and curvres too! Apparently it can be done but it has to be a square profile which means it will have to be square profile all round. Alternatively you could do a mix of materials on the curve.