Iroko worktops

[Elbowgreaseneeded]

Does anyone have iroko worktops would you recommend them? Everything online seems to suggest that they are harder wearing than oak but there are hardly any photos or reviews of kitchens with iroko worktops and I was wondering why?

I think oak is much more widely available and people just follow the trends.
Iroko is a tropical hardwood and you have to make sure it's from a sustainable source.

Those reclaimed laboratory worktops are often iroko or teak. We had reclaimed worktops in our last kitchen, they were amazing, shrugged off any stain or water, very hard and a beautiful close grain. The colour deepens quite a bit with oiling and exposure to light. Pic attached is similar to how ours looked after a few years.

If we refit the kitchen in this house I'd go for iroko again without hesitation.

Oh those are absolutely beautiful. Was it okay around the sink area? My biggest concern is that lots of people seem to have problems with black water damage around the sink with oak worktops but wood is lovely.

We have iroko, I love it! We got them from worktops express. My favourite aspect of them is they are kind of holographic when the light is on them, the shapes and grain slightly changes as you move past it! As long as you keep up the oil every now and again you're fine. People who hate wooden worktops generally have had oak, which reacts totally differently to water. We are moving and are likely to be doing another kitchen and I wouldn't hesitate in having iroko again. I love the chestnutty colour and how hard wearing it is. Plus it's really good value compared to the fancy stone / Corian type worktops. Also you can always sand it and oil it again. My favourite bit about our worktop is that we have a peninsula that has iroko all down the side/end as well as on the top, it makes it so much more attractive and durable as something you walk past many times a day.

Here's the link: Worktops express in iroko - fab company I think another mumsnetter recommended to me 6 years ago! And osmo oil is the best.

In laws have Iroko and it’s gone black round the sink. But, they are terrible housekeepers and wipe up nothing and have splatty taps. Any normal, same person will probably be ok.

We've got iroko worktops from worktop express too. They are great. Very hard wearing. They've been in 4 years now and there are no water marks on them. They've got the odd scratch but they oil out easily enough.

I am careful to wipe up water spills quickly and I use osmo oil on them every 6 months or so. Oiling them doesn't take long either, it sinks in pretty quickly.

Ive had iroko twice - gorgeous! If you can afford it go for full stave which is more expensive. We used osmo oil on it - lasts much longer than ordinary oils.

The iroko really is beautiful. I just don't know if I'm setting us up for hard work and lots of maintenance as it really needs to go on light coloured cabinets and with little kids I just don't know if it would be the most practical and whether we should just get boring old laminate.

Don't get laminate! It's really not that much hassle. We only oil it about once a year now. Just don't leave standing water on it for too long. Even a few hours is fine, you wipe it and it doesn't leave a stain. It really enhances the look and feel of the kitchen.

Guys we too got iroko from worktop express and found that I already have a few ring marks. I'm very pleased so many of you said you have iroko means I can pick your brains. Please could you let me know which osmo you used? I went on the Osmo website and it suggests a different lighter version than the bombproof one everyone raves about for Oak worktops. The usual Osmo one is not suitable for iroko as it has a high natural oil content? Anyway we used the one suggested but like I say have a few marks. Perhaps it needs reoiling. On the tin it said 2 coats but maybe I need more to begin with. Ours have been down maybe 6 weeks.

Those with long standing iroko worktops could you give me any tips? Sorry to hijack thread. X

Yes, use the product called Wood Wax Finish Extra Thin or something like that. Have you tried just treating the patch where the rings are?

We've found any marks come out if you sand it and reoil it. Also the oil sinks in really quickly, do you it one evening and the next morning its usable.

I'll use this oil and maybe I don't put enough on because it sinks in and the worktop is useable again in about 20 mins.

Thanks for responding. Yes we used the extra thin one. Perhaps need to leave more on. Saw a video on worktop express where they put it on and pretty much wipe the whole lot off. But that wasn't Osmo.

@RedLipsAndRosyCheeks

I'll use this oil and maybe I don't put enough on because it sinks in and the worktop is useable again in about 20 mins.

We were told this one wasn't suitable. *Shrugs*

I've used almost the whole tin of it now over the last 2 years (worktops have been in 4 now) and it seems to work fine. I know when it needs doing again because the worktops look dullish and water stops beading on top.

These are the worktops (excuse the mess), infact, I might do them again this weekend.

Hah if you think that's mess! I still have a few boxes that need unpacking, DIY paraphernalia etc. Thank you so much for the effort of showing me. I'll use up the rest of the tin we have (only cos it was £60!) and if I feel I need extra protection may just give your one a go.

Yeah once I took it I realised it was actually tidy! I'm just so used to the mess.

Osmo oils should be put on thinly. Sometimes the wood stays matt but if water beads then it is protected.

Yeah it's a good test to see how water sits on the wood.

Osmo'd last night. Already looking better and water actually beads! It wasn't beading all this time. We did two coats pre installation as per advice but those 2 coats clearly were not enough. Thank you so so much. Back to loving the worktops now.

I have an iroko worktop, ex science lab from DHs old college. It is nice, but I am a slattern who only oils it once a year and consequently it is very shonky around the taps. As it was free I’m not complaining but I would not get wooden worktops again. Away from the taps though it does look nice.