Wood worktops and Osmo Top Oil

[taybert]

We’re planning a new kitchen which is going to take quite a bit of building/structural work to get the room right so we’re not going to be flush for the actual kitchen. I’m not terribly keen on laminate worktops and would like an under mounted sink. Granite/quartz/composite is too expensive. I like the look of wood worktops but am put off by reviews of warping, staining and black marks but have read good reviews about Osmo top/Polyx oil to treat them.

Has anyone successfully used Osmo oil on a wooden worktop which has lived to tell the tale? How is it around the sink? Is an under mounted sink with a wooden worktop a terrible idea?

Yes - but our sink is on the island which has a composite work top. The rest is wood. The fitter used Danish oil but it was awful so I sanded everything back, cleaned and used Osmo.

Thanks wowfudge. What sort of wood have you got?

We've had our Oak worktop for a year and use Danish oil every 4 months, it looks like new. The water doesn't seep into the wood and collects in drops on the surface so the wood is definitely protected.
We don't use harsh cleaners on it, only warm soapy water.

Our sink is mounted on top though.

Thanks ambi is the wood around the sink and taps ok? Are you super careful with splashes?

Not really careful no, we try to mop up as we go. The oil works brilliantly.

I'd recommend worktops express if you've not already found a supplier, they were great value for the quality of the worktop.

We have solid oak worktops and varnished them with clear varnish and that has worked well. Not sure about under mounted sink - we have stainless steel around sink.

We have oak from Worktops Express.

I have been looking at worktop express- good to have positive reviews, thanks.

What sort of varnish did you use Penguin?

Ooh, thirding recommendation for worktop Express. Though I did mine in Danish Oil which I HATE so currently chemical stripping it out, sanding back and planning to redo in Osmo.

Just an ordinary clear varnish for wood, not sure of make maybe Ronseal.

Not a worktop but a dining table. On the advice of wowfudge I believe funnily enough. Used Danish oil, gross, yellow, smelly. Sanded & used Osmo. It's great, didn't change the colour of the wood & protects from stains & spills easily. I was highly doubtful after applying as it looked so matte (exactly the look I wanted) but cleans like a dream.

You’re probably right mummysheep I like the idea of the ease of cleaning with an under mounted sink but that’s not worth it if it’s going to be difficult to keep nice anyway.

We’ve got oak with Belfast sink and use osmo oil twice a year and looks as good as new. Very quick and easy to apply as well

Oak, top mounted white porcelain sink, and use Osmo Top Oil. Work surface still looks perfect 10 years on.

I’ve got oak worktops from Ikea with an undermounted sink and the tap also in the worktop (rather than the sink IYSWIM).

Agree that Osmo is the best, had ours three years and no problems. I am relatively careful, I keep a microfibre cloth about and wipe up any big bits of water straight away, but DH is much less careful and it’s been fine!

We use osmo oil and it's brilliant.

However wooden work tops in my opinion are rubbish. You do have to be so careful with them, avoid splashes, re-oil regularly etc. Despite our best efforts we still have horrible bits near the taps, stains wherr we put the draining board (even though it's on a tray) and some slight burn marks where other people have put hot stuff down.

I'm so jealous of friends with lovely hard wearing work tops.

We have wooden work tops and use teak oil on them. We recently replaced the section with the sink in (because we knocked through into a new extension and wanted a wider worktop to make a breakfast bar.) The old worktop was very rotten around the back of the sink after only 3 years - but it didn't help that we'd had a succession of crap taps. We put this (www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/kitchen-products/kitchen-taps-sinks/bosj%C3%B6n-kitchen-mixer-tap-brushed-black-metal-art-00303931/) new tap in from Ikea and it's a game changer. The on/off lever is OVER THE SINK not at the back over the worktop - so when you turn it off with wet hands you don't dribble water all over the worktop. We also avoided an under-mounted sink because I wanted an integral sink and draining board.

Sorry don't know how to do the fancy link.

Ive got full stave iroko and use osmo - its great. I have it round a double butlers sink and there is some water damage so it does need oiling more often than the rest, but i dont care!

I had 13 year old promo in my old house and it was only just looking like it needed a sand.

Iroko. I wish autocorrect would fuck off!

Osmo oil (hardwax oil) is great but the best thing you can do for your worktop is fit a sink that protects it from water, ie one with tap hole and draining board not an undermounted one.