Wood worktop for kitchen island

[kitchens4ever]

Does anyone have a wooden worktop they are happy with and would recommend. I am considering one for my island, ideally 40mm deep. It wont be near cooker or sink. Thanks.

You ei always have an issue with keeping it looking good. They just get marked. Granite or stone is much more durable unless you like sanding and sealing it of course.

Ditto what tizer said. Needs a load of maintainable to look nice. Def not if you have kids.

I had one for twelve years. It was solid oak and treated with osmo oil. It was lovely and lasted very well. Day to day I only needed to wipe with an e cloth and occasionally used Method spray.

We had it professionally sanded and Osmo oil reapplied once in that time.

I always used a chopping board and had a glass heat protector sheet for hot pans so did not put them on it directly. Mugs of coffee and wine glasses were fine directly on it. Turmeric stained but faded in the sunlight v quickly.

Since then we have moved to a new house which has a full solid wood surface in the utility. I have sanded and applied Osmo to it myself. It was straight forward with a mouse sander. But a bit time consuming. I only redid it as it has a Belfast sink in it and I wanted to add extra protection- personally I wouldn't put taps near wood, it's asking for trouble - but if you're not planning on that, I'd say go for it. But do treat it with osmo. You can get a Matte natural version - or versions with more of a sheen.

This is the stuff - ask your joiner / kitchen fitter about it.

If left as untreated wood, like a butcher's block, it will mark and stain easily.

Osmo 3058 0.5 Litre Top Oil - Clear Matt https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B002AP6YBW/ref=cmswwrcppapiii914G7XYEBF7PEMP4GX35?encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I have composite worktops and an American oak island. It’s big - 10ft I think. We have stools on one side and on one end and it’s preferable for me as it’s not freezing cold to work/sit against.

I’ve never treated it, sanded it, oiled it or anything else. It’s 5 years old and not a mark on it. Admittedly I don’t put boiling pans or whatever on it but neither do I put coasters under drinks or get very precious about it. I wipe with a very well wrung out damp cloth a couple of times a day, and occasionally spray with an antibac multipurpose spray which is suitable for wood.

everyone comments on it. I am very pleased with it.

We’ve got one, I like it. I wouldn’t have one near the sink (have had before, too hard to maintain) but around the hob has been fine. 5 years in and it still looks good

@Mykittensmittens - that's impressive - don't you find curry and tomato sauces stain it if it's completely untreated?

We had thick solid walnut wood in a previous house. Loved it. Used a wire scourer to apply danish wood oil to keep it looking good every few months but it was only the area round the sink that actually needed it, the rest would have lasted much longer.
I wouldn’t put it round a sink again but for an island without a sink it’s great. I loved the walnut we had if it’s a kitchen that can handle a darker wood.

Sorry - I should have explained better that I personally have never treated it! It has a light sheen so I expect the house builder did put a coating of some kind on it, but it’s very subtle.

because it’s an island unit it doesn’t have much contact with cooking sauces etc as I use the worktops round the cooker and sink more for prep and serving. I have served big buffets and so on and if we eat off the barstools on the island I don’t put mats down - but no marks.

I can post a picture tomorrow when I’m not in bed!!

Ahh that makes sense. It sounds fab @Mykittensmittens

I used mine for all prep - I liked the space and facing into the room not into the wall. I really miss it and can't wait to sort out our current kitchen with a HUGE island 😆

Osmo oil, sanding, walnut oil, cleaning etc. just get granite and no faff. Life is easier. You can live with it. Mine is 12 years old. Anyone with 5 year old wood could have a big heat mark just around the corner.

Same as @Mykittensmittens - we have beautiful solid oak worktops in the kitchen, even around the sink. Our fitters applied a coat of waterproof sealant before fitting them, and we've had no issues at all. I was worried it would look shiny and 'plastic-y' but it doesn't at all, in fact it brings out the grain and colour in the wood beautifully.

I wipe down with a damp cloth every day, no stains, marks at all. I do use chopping boards for food prep, obviously, but don't worry at all about putting cups of tea etc straight down on the worktop.

I can't remember what it's called but worth asking your kitchen fitters if they know of something similar?

Oh my god, how many times can I fit 'at all' into one post?? Gah.

@ThereWillBeSnacks - I think I get from your post that you are a great fan of wood worktops and they have caused you no problems - at all...
😆😉

The shame... 😣

OP, I found some of the sealant under the sink that the fitters had left behind. It's called Rustin's plastic coating, which sounds naff but it really doesn't look like plastic...at all.