Aarrrgghhh! Didn't oil both sides of worktop!

[LJH79]

Had solid oak worktops installed today and looking up best oil to use only to find didn't oil both sides. Really worried it'll dry out. Any advice what to do? Did everyone else oil both sides. Can't believe capenter don't say anything! Feel really stupid now.

I would recoat the top multiple and multiple times. I'd keep on coating it as it will penetrate.

Do you not have some access to the underside still? From inside the cupboard carcasses ?

No access to underneath 😭😭. Best put lots of top!!

It will be fine. Just oil the top until it no longer penetrates and remember to top up regularly. I've never oiled both sides and never had a problem.

Who installed it OP? A decent carpenter should have mentioned this to you!

The cheap worktop installed in our house when it was newly built was the cheap MDF kind coated in sticky backed plastic stuff. The undersides were bare. It lasted the 10 years before we put a new kitchen in. TBH it was still fine, the cupboard doors were the things that showed the most wear.

Oak can't be compared to MDF though.

No but unsealed MDF can certainly warp and soak up any moisture.

Well our builder got a carpenter in and neither mentioned it! Not happy and our builder is ahoddy as not finished plastering wall so am really worried it will take on moisture from the wall as well. So stressful at the moment as our builder is just taking short cuts and rushing the job through. The carpenter wasn't happy they hadn't finished the plastering which is because the windows haven't arrived. Just going to have to keep fingers crossed it's all ok!

Sadly a mistake, but can you access the underneath of the built in dishwasher? Even if you have to remove the appliance.
This area needs a polyurethane coat under the work surface. It needs to be protected from the steam of the dishwasher.

I've just done the same thing. Told the carpenter I would oil the worktops but no mention of it needing to be oiled both sides & they just installed it. They are saying the dishwasher will be a mare to remove as it was a bugger to get in 😥 What happened to your worktops in the end? Were they OK? I'm going to go into the carcasses to oil the inside but can't do much else sadly.

Can’t remember now to be honest but they’ve been ok so think we just probably did what we could on the underside and it’s fine.

If it really is solid oak it will harden with age. I'd just keep on oiling the top. Must admit I'd never heard of the need to oil both sides of an oak worktop (& I've never ever done so).