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Original poster

Wooden kitchen worktops

51 replies

Blonde0nBlonde · 20/01/2018 19:25

Assuming we don’t get talked out of these by horror stories of mold and Rot, does anyone have any recommendations on where to buy from, or alternative suggestions that might convince me to leave the wooden dream alone

OP posts:
PickAChew · 21/01/2018 19:38

The 10 year old ones we inherited are actually lacquered, so no staining. Not sure what would they are. They're darker than oak, more like teak, but as it's an IKEA kitchen I'm doubting it.

PickAChew · 21/01/2018 19:38

What wood. Stupid phone.

lolalotta · 21/01/2018 19:46

Folllwing!

Craigavad · 21/01/2018 19:51

We also use Osmo on oak worktops. It makes them completely bombproof for at least 3 years. Light sand and recoat is all that's required. No black marks or mould at all but we deliberately chose a ceramic inset sink, well sealed, rather than risk undermounted/exposed edges. You need to put foil under your dishwasher (if integrated) to prevent condensation.

lolalotta · 21/01/2018 20:02

Back up back up craig you put foil where???? We have a dishwasher but only had one for about 3 months and are thinking about replacing worktop. It's integrated. You put the foil where exactly?

NotPennysBoat · 21/01/2018 20:13

Not what you asked but DON'T DO IT! Sooo high maintenance!

Craigavad · 21/01/2018 21:30

No maintenance for three years! They could do with a sand and re-seal now...

You put it under the worktop where the DW will be. In our case that's part under the draining board and part under worktop. Stops steam/moisture affecting the wood. Seal edges with foil tape. We also Osmo'd the underside of all the tops pre installation - 2/3 coats.

NotMeNoNo · 22/01/2018 00:39

One thing would be to try and find a different wood to oak - the tannins are particularly prone to staining black with moisture /contact with iron. Sustainable iroko, beech, maple, walnut, for example.

Tortycat · 22/01/2018 00:51

I love wood but experience now has me questioning. Last house we put iroko in from worktop express. Recommend them highly though we moved about 18 months later so not sure how well they wore.

Moved to a house with a very expensive kitchen with maple worktops and fitted under belfast sink (worst combo as others have pointed out). I have no idea how the previous owners kept it so lovely for 5 years as within 2 we have black stains all round the taps, despite being quite careful. So whilst its possible to keep it looking nice it hasnt happened in our case!

PigletJohn · 22/01/2018 01:42

Wood is absolutely fine in a showroom. Not so suitable for a room that contains water, taps, kettles, bottles, mugs, teapots, hot pans or damp sponges.

Craigavad · 22/01/2018 05:44

My kitchen contains all of those and more. The tops were put in in January 2015 and have not been treated since. Here is an image of the (arguably most vulnerable to rot) sink area. The only disadvantage is that you cannot put hot pans down but that's not really ever been an issue. Hot cups of tea or bowls are no problem.

Wooden kitchen worktops
Bowerbird5 · 22/01/2018 05:57

Wow that looks lovely. DH announced yesterday we ARE NOT getting wood that is because he knows he won't look after it and I will nag. Don't nag often but that would be a time to.
Could have it on the other worktop but would it look odd. I would keep the other one a natural stone. I have a large Ducal dresser adjacent. What do you think?

Craigavad · 22/01/2018 06:34

I was dead against them. I said they would be impractical and scruffy and go black etc etc but I was proved wrong. We bought full stave worktops on line with upstands and Osmo'd them from the start - that's the key. I'd get them. Life is short and they look great because they are natural. Best of luck.

Cauliflowersqueeze · 22/01/2018 06:37

My friend said it was her only regret in her new fabulous kitchen. Luckily she only got it done on one area.

marmitedoughnut · 22/01/2018 07:28

Of all the worktop choices timber is the one that is most likely to get spoiled. If the trade made a sort of league list of the best type of worktop for practicality etc then wood would be propping the bottom up. All the other types of worktop have good points and bad points - can't actually think of any good points for wooden worktops that isn't covered by other materials without the bad points.

TheDonald · 22/01/2018 07:41

I have Ikea oak worktops. I have had them for 6 years. I'm not at all precious and there is often standing water near the sink that's never caused a problem.

I have sanded and restrained them twice in that time. It takes a couple of hours (plus a day or two waiting of oiling)

The only thing I have to be careful of is not to leave food tins in standing water. That's what prompted both sandings.

My friends got the same worktop as me at the same time but they are paranoid about theirs and have signs up near the sink / shout at the children constantly. The difference is they didn't oil theirs because they didn't want them to look shiny.

Also while it's true timber is most likely to get spoiled it's also the easiest to fix. Anyone with fairly basic diy skills cam sand and oil wood whereas damage, burns or staining on laminate is there forever.

origamiwarrior · 22/01/2018 09:14

Another great Mumsnet divide! Every time this question is asked, the responses are split between those who have wood and say 'never again' and those who have it, and are evangelical about its merits (obviously you can ignore those who've never had it, but still have an opinion on it).

OP, I think you can disregard anyone who reports a bad experience with wooden worktops who HASN'T pre-treated them with Osmo.

Osmo oil really has been a game-changer for the installation and upkeep of wooden worktops. Nothing matches it, so don't consider any other oil (even if your kitchen fitter or worktop supplier swears by it). Just look at the reviews on Amazon (and this site, through the search function) and you'll see how well rated it is.

If you do find anyone reporting problems with wooden worktops who HAS used Osmo (don't think there has been one on this thread yet, but maybe they exist!?), I would wonder if it is down to how careful people are. I wouldn't class myself as being particularly careful (typical family, including a child who soaks the kitchen every time he washes his hands, takeaways, throwing keys down etc) but we do wipe up water and food spills promptly, and always use trivets etc for hot items. It becomes automatic, so for the previous poster whose DH was worried she'd become a nag, I found that once they are installed and looking pristine, it's second nature to start wiping up spills, and then by the time you realise that actually (with Osmo) they are more resilient/forgiving than you think, the habit has become ingrained.

We've had ours in our kitchen for 4 years, and have yet to re-Osmo (although we will do so soon as the finish isn't as smooth as it was originally). We also have wooden worktops in our utility and cloakroom - all treated with Osmo and no problems with any of them.

We bought all our worktops from worktopexpress.

GreyMorning · 22/01/2018 09:25

Worktops Direct.

I didn't oil them enough so they need sanding and re-doing, my mother has wooden work tops that are 15 years old and they look amazing still, she's a better housewife than me 😂

ChishandFips33 · 22/01/2018 09:39

Agree with the comment about once they are in and looking pristine you'll automatically wipe spills etc

Ours were previously varnished and when we moved in were peeling and had been neglected a lot.

Didn't matter how many times you wiped them down the cloth was always dirty.

I hated them and didn't look after them at all

Cue re-sand and Osmo-ing and they are my favourite bit of the kitchen. Not shiny at all.

Original poster
Blonde0nBlonde · 22/01/2018 09:43

So I should osmo them as soon as they arrive before installation?

I think we’re set on wood now, it just looks so nice to me, and the floor will be wood too so I think it will look nice and hopefully not mold!!

OP posts:
origamiwarrior · 22/01/2018 10:08

Yes, for the Rolls Royce treatment, Osmo before installation, top and bottom (although bottom might be overkill, but we did it!) three times. It's piss-easy to do (using a cloth - old t-shirt!), very forgiving so you can't go wrong - definitely a DIY job. Takes about 5 hours to dry each coat I recall. We had our worktop standing on trestles while we did this.

Craigavad · 22/01/2018 10:19

Progressively less aggressive sanding between coats with an orbital sander.

ChishandFips33 · 22/01/2018 10:29

We bought the Osmo wood protector and the top oil (satin finish) form AG Woodcare. It went much further than I expected so we have a tin of each left but it won't come in wrong. Yes to being very easy to apply - can't go wrong with it, just follow the grain

Any water just forms droplets on the surface now rather than being absorbed.

The bleach was Lieberon and only needed a thimble full for round the taps.

To be fair, the damage here was done from neglect of the previous owner in fixing the badly dripping tap as opposed to splashing

Go for it and enjoy them Smile

marmitedoughnut · 22/01/2018 11:38

Oiling the undersides (and any cut outs) isn't overkill, it's essential.

MsHomeSlice · 22/01/2018 11:48

I've the ikea ones and they have been in for 15 years....they could do with a light sanding and oiling, but other than that they are splendid! I oiled them when they went in, but really haven't been near them since with any aftercare.

...the pic upthread from NotmeNoNo is the type of sink i have too