Wooden worktops in real homes

[cosmo30]

Hi, I've posted this in chat hoping to get more replies but didn't get one!

I was wondering if anyone Would share a picture of their solid oak worktop from DIY kitchens please? Or if anyone can tell me if they are of a decent quality?
My samples haven't turned up, I can't get to the showroom and am desperate to see the wood in real life before ordering.

Also, I'm going to use osmo oil but there is a few different ones and I'm not sure which one to get first? I want to make them as water repellent as possible too.

Would be grateful if anyone could advise

I love the real wood look, but unfortunately they go nasty around the sink area very quickly. We switched to granite in the end, which doesn't look or feel nearly as nice but at least it doesn't rot!

I read somewhere that you need to make sure your units are strong enough to support granite worktops as they are very heavy.

I have a quartz worktop on one side where the sink and hob is.
Then on the far side, I put a lovely walnut worktop with more storage. It looks beautiful and doesn't get a drop of water on it unless I am wiping it down.

(Thanks Mumsnetters for the idea a few years back!!)

I would use Osmo Top Oil Clear Matt. Wood finishes direct will send you a sample sachet you could use on your oak worktop sample and then test it with water etc if you aren't convinced.

You apply 2 thin coats, no "sloshing" it on. I normally use the special Osmo brush for larger areas and wipe off with a J cloth. It's really important that the worktop supplier doesn't put any other oil on the worktop, but that all sides are treated with 2 coats Osmo before fitting. It shouldn't need more oiling for a year or so except maybe touching up in high wear areas.

OP I've had three new kitchens fitted over the course of my adult life and have always had wooden worktops because we can't afford stone and I don't like laminate.

IGNORE THE NAYSAYERS! You need to do three things: first, get decent quality wood - our current worktop is oak from Ikea and it's excellent. Second, coat it in Osmo hard wax oil - it's absolutely brilliant and has made our current worktop bomb proof. Third, try and get a sink with the tap set into the sink itself rather than into the work surface so that you don't get any damp mouldiness round it. Examples of these include the following models from Ikea; Langudden, Bredsjon and Hallviken.

We have a kitchen which gets a lot of use - five people in the house including teens who cook a lot for themselves and we do lots of baking. There really isn't a problem with it and it looks great.

We have a chunky oak worktop, it’s been in for 10+ years now. Didn’t get a Belfast sink, just a normal inset one. Tap sits on sink. We love it, did oil it religiously to start with, hardly bother now.
It is now the most beautiful rich colour, it has a tiny bit of black at the back of the sink Just in one place. But honestly, I don’t care. If you want white, hospital clean Corian, then wood is not the look for you. Wood does age, it’s supposed to get dinks and bits, that adds to the character.

I have never burnt it or had a tin leave a black mark.

My brother is a builder and said if I was at all worried the he would sand it, oil it and it would look like new, don’t see the need yet.

Also household has at various times had upto 7 here, with children’s friends or partners moving in. DH and DS dyspraxic, so lots of abuse of worktop. It still looks fab to me.
Wish I could say the same for the tiled floor which is cold and has broken in two spots where someone (DH) has dropped a tin.

We've had oak for 9 years. It's only in the last few months that black is showing around the sink (lockdown, I've just thought, and kids using the kitchen more). I oiled it 3 times when bought it and never since. I'll sand it again one day and use the Osmo stuff next time. My only wish is that I'd got the Ikea sink that was the whole depth of the worktop so now gap between sink and upstand.

We're generally slatterns and i was reluctant to get a wooden worktop given issues we had in a rental. I was persuaded otherwise and haven't regretted, we treated with Danish oil both sides before installation then every week for a month. We've re-treated once since then and 8 years on I'm happy with how they look. I didn't want laminate and everything else is £££ whereas from worktop express our oak worktops are comparatively cheap.

Wood does age, it’s supposed to get dinks and bits, that adds to the character

Yes, this was part of the appeal of wood for us, a small dint in a wood worktop not a problem, it would look far worse in a laminate and the knowledge that can always sand back.

Ours are oak from worktop express, 3 years old and no problems. I wipe them down like I would laminate and if there’s the occasional mark I sand and oil it takes seconds and they look gorgeous still. Work top express were great and were the only place we could find that’s did a large enough single piece for the island

My worktops are bamboo
they are 12 years old
they are wonderful
covered in dents and dings and scratches and stains
because they are WORK tops
I have no regrets at all

Careful with tin cans and other metal bits. I have black rings on my worktop from where I put down rinsed empty dog food tins for a nano second (OK maybe a wee bit longer but not even overnight)

For people that have used osmo oil, did you use osmo wood protector first or just straight to the osmo oil?

I had a piece of granite fitted around the sink.

I'm gona go for it. The way I see it is If I never try the wood I'll never know and I'll always be kicking myself!
If the sink area does end up manky, I can always replace a piece with something else.
But I'm gona get the osmo top oil and really try keep on top of it.
Thanks for everyone's advice it's gave me loads to consider

I think the wood protector is more for pine type woods, but check with the supplier. Honestly it’s one time when it’s worth supporting a small business who know their products rather than just buying on amazon.

Cosmo what are you proposing for a sink?

We have oak worktops from B&Q and they have been in for a little over 5 years. We dry round the sink properly every time we use it and re-oil regularly. It still looks good. The need to re-oil encourages me to keep it clutter free too!

@NotMeNoNo I want a double Belfast. Can they be overmounted? As I know undermounted will cause more splash won't it

And going to get a dishdrainer with a tray

Ours are oak, 5 years old, never any maintenance beyond wiping because we ordered them unoiled from worktop express and varnished them with a bartop varnish called sadolin pv64 iirc. It's a Matt varnish. Worktops are virtually indistinguishable from oiled, but look as good as new. I don't understand why people oil rather than varnish.

Another view

Ash and a walnut island here, been in situ since 2006 and are in perfect condition, they have been sanded back and re oiled once with Osmo.

I just suggest look for one with its own tap hole so you don’t drip water on the worktop each time you turn off the tap. . Even the IKEA one although you may have to cannibalise a unit to fit it. This one is Blanco and not a double but you get the idea. I think you can mount a Belfast sink so the rim is above the worktop but one designed for inset is better.

www.sinks.co.uk/thomas-denby-bistro-1-75-bowl-sink/

This maybe. Why such a useful design is so rare is beyond me.