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Original poster

Wooden worktops, yes or no?

97 replies

TriceratopsRocks · 05/08/2023 23:12

Please tell me about your wooden kitchen worktops!

We are having our kitchen done and originally decided on quartz for practicality, but I so much prefer the look and feel of wood. Can any of you with wooden worktops tell me what the mainenance is actually like? I know we will need to oil it every 3-6 months, which I think means the worktop is out of action for a day.

If it's kept regularly oiled, how susceptible is it to water/sauce damage? We have 3 DC, all of whom can be messy cooks. Ingredients can seem to end up flung all over the place and spills aren't always wiped up for a while.

If any of you with experience can tell me what it's actually like with a wooden worktop, I'd really appreciate it. And although I'd love you all to say that wood is actually not too much bother, I really need to know if your reaction is "don't do it, it's a nightmare"! If it were just DH and I, I wouldn't hesitate. But we aren't the only people here and I just worry that wood will end up burned and stained due to DC. So as long as we keep on top of the maintenance, how easy is it to actually ruin them?

Any words of wisdom really appreciated - thank you!

OP posts:
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RubyWedding · 08/08/2023 08:19

I had the same dilemma as you last year. No regrets about going with my heart ans getting wood in the end. It's so lovely, warm and tactile and a lot gentler on crockery than stone.

Mine are oak, and oiled with Osmo "TopCoat". I think it needs redoing about every 6 months on high traffic areas, but if you put a thin coat on with a cloth before you go bed (very easy to do), it's dry by morning.

We cook a lot and make plenty of mess but always clean up after, and I am extra diligent about wiping up water spills around the sink.

As others have said, pick a sink with a lip, draining board and space for taps to minimise water coming into contact with the wood.

yummymctummy · 08/08/2023 08:24

NOOOOOO don't do it. Mine have imprints of oven trays and black ring marks that won't come off. I also have an imprint of 'Betty Crocker' imprinted beside my sink and it's all rotted behind the taps. We only moved in last year so it was previous owners choice but it's honestly so high maintenance ( we are gonna rip it out as soon as we can)

PacificState · 08/08/2023 08:54

Kind of surprised by how many problems people have with theirs. I've had mine for six years and they're absolutely fine, including around the sink (mounted over the wood not under it as pp said). I also have iroko - maybe it's just more hardwearing? I conscientiously oiled mine for the first two years and haven't done it since. No mould, no stains, not hard work to maintain. Some wear and tear (dents etc) but I like that - it's wood not stone, it accumulates minor damage over the years, it's not supposed to look brand new for ever.

dontcallmelen · 08/08/2023 08:58

Could you maybe mix materials have granite/quartz in the sink area & wood elsewhere I’ve seen that configuration in magazines.

BananaPalm · 08/08/2023 09:04

tootrueblue · 05/08/2023 23:18

Don't do it. Standing water creates marks. Tins create marks. You won't oil it as often as you think you will. It's genuinely not worth the hassle, even more so with kids.

100% This! We've got wooden worktops and I can't wait for the day they're gone. Everything and anything makes a mark. Last year I left a pan (clean, dry) on it overnight - the dark mark is still there to this day... not to mention tomato or curry stains.

Just don't do it.

RuthTopp · 08/08/2023 09:08

We have iroko wood as well , and it has been fairly easy to maintain ( give it an oil twice a year just before going to bed ) use chopping boards , wipe around sink.

picturethispatsy · 08/08/2023 09:08

I’ve had my solid oak tops for over ten years now and they are great. I’m surprised by a lot of the replies.
They are absolutely beautiful and hardwearing but we do usually use chopping boards and would never put a hot baking tray/tin on them.
Water is wiped up straight away but obviously sometimes things get forgotten or kids happen and any marks come out with the annual application of danish oil and sanding. I can pm you a photo of you want.

DontStealTheTeddy · 08/08/2023 09:12

We've had ours for 5 years. I treated them with two Polyx products when they were put in. Haven't touched them since and they are still like new.

In a previous house, we used Danish oil and it just didn't give the same protection.

FrillyGoatFluff · 08/08/2023 09:14

I have American black walnut worktops. And I'm the laziest person ever when it comes to caring for them.

They were sanded and oiled when they went in (7 years ago), and twice since. The oiling/sanding is easy with a hand sander, but don't make the mistake I did the second time and like EVERYTHING, leaving yourself with no workspace for 24h! 😂

We have two teens, and a toddler. Toddler is bathed in the sink daily which is splashy, and teenagers cannot make a coffee without dripping shit all over the place. Worktops get a wet baby stood on them, hot pans (admittedly I put a tea towel down first) put on them, all manner of drips and splashes on a daily basis. The island in particular takes an absolute bashing. We do a LOT of DIY and it is the primary workstation lol.

They still look great. They get cleaned with a slosh of watered-down disinfectant and paper roll, and a squirt of Mr Sheen if I'm being pedantic.

Honestly, go for it!

Screamingabdabz · 08/08/2023 09:16

All the people saying no didn’t use Osmo oil. It makes them bombproof. We have oak worktops and they’re absolutely fine with whatever you spill or get on them - just treat with Osmo first.

DontStealTheTeddy · 08/08/2023 09:26

Screamingabdabz · 08/08/2023 09:16

All the people saying no didn’t use Osmo oil. It makes them bombproof. We have oak worktops and they’re absolutely fine with whatever you spill or get on them - just treat with Osmo first.

Yes, we used Osmo oil and another recommended Polyx product. Nothing else works.

VinEtFromage · 08/08/2023 09:33

@@TriceratopsRocks

over the years I've heard Osmo & other polychrome products work & it does tempt me.

However with 3(older) DC using the kitchen, I would wait until they have their own kitchen worktops to ruin!

i just don't think it's worth the aggro myself, there are enough other issues having 5 adults living in one house, without an added one.

Mischance · 08/08/2023 09:36

My DD has these - they look really crap now - avoid!

RampantIvy · 08/08/2023 09:37

Screamingabdabz · 08/08/2023 09:16

All the people saying no didn’t use Osmo oil. It makes them bombproof. We have oak worktops and they’re absolutely fine with whatever you spill or get on them - just treat with Osmo first.

We did use Osmo oil. We then found it didn't make any difference so we vanished it. I think it depends on the wood. The worktop was already in the house when we moved in, so I'm not sure what type of wood it was, but I'm pretty sure it was beech.

Hijinks75 · 08/08/2023 09:41

Ours looked really good,suited the kitchen, but despite oiling every few months the water penetrated around the sink area , have had to sand them down and re-oil twice now in three years, also have a large dog that puts his paws on the worktops, scratch marks all over, so yes look good, no wouldn’t have them again

PacificState · 08/08/2023 09:45

I wonder whether a lot depends on the wood, and whether it's dark or light. Iroko is pretty dark - I've only used danish oil on it (albeit about 12 coats in total) and it's very resilient. But I've got a lovely Ercol coffee table that's beech wood, and that shows water damage and oil stains like buggery despite multiple coats of danish oil. If I had beech kitchen surfaces they'd look appalling by now.

Bramshott · 08/08/2023 09:49

Personally I love them because they're a natural material, but other PPs are correct, you won't oil them as often as you think you will ;-)

Elsiebear90 · 08/08/2023 10:03

Rented a house with them in years back, really put me off, I suspect they hadn’t been maintained well though. Terrible water marks around the sink, stains, scratches, never felt clean because the cloth would come up dirty every time you wiped them.

We decided on Minerva worktops in our house as Quartz was really expensive due to the size needed, I love them, they can stain, but a bit of the pink stuff gets rid of any stains and light scratches, whereas other than sanding and then having to oil/varnish again we couldn’t get rid of any stains on the wood worktops. I cba with the maintenance with wood worktops to keep them looking nice.

purpleleotard2 · 08/08/2023 10:08

been there done that.

Got bored and replaced with 'plastic'

The wood burn well in the stove, but an expensive fire

TeaAndStrumpets · 08/08/2023 10:10

This is a burning question for me, it is interesting to see different views.

DD has oak, varnished, in her kitchen. 3 messy children and messy DH and it looks like new after 2 years. However she has an old fashioned stainless sink with 2 draining boards so doesn't get the dreaded black scum round the sink.

I am planning a new kitchen and DH is insisting on a stainless double sink with double drainer, but they seem hard to find. I love wood but suspect laminate would be better for us. We can afford quartz but I hate clattery noises so wood or laminate would be less echo-ey I think?

Hiddenmnetter · 08/08/2023 10:11

Sorry wooden worktops are just fine.

don’t use danish oil. Use osmo polyx hardwax oil, stir well and apply thinly. Leave 12-14 hours between coats. It recommends two coats but I did 3. It’s extraordinarily robust, no water marks or anything. When my BIL left a hot pan on the worktop I sanded out that patch only and reapplied oil to that patch only. You can’t tell. I did it 2? 3? Years ago. It’s still perfect. I might do it again in a few years time cause there are parts where my daughter used permanent marker. Just to make it look brand new again, but honestly wooden worktops are fine. Danish oil is just crap!!

TeaAndStrumpets · 08/08/2023 10:11

Elsie - just seen about Minerva, new to me, will check it out!

FiddleFigs · 08/08/2023 10:42

I love my oak worktops. They've been in for 8 years and I haven't done a thing to them since they were installed, though will probably give them a bit of tlc this summer. They were treated with Osmo oil when they were put in, and we haven't had any trouble. That said, the sink is overmounted, we use a chopping block, a glass worktop saver under the kettle/drinks-prep area, and trivets for pots etc.

GasPanic · 08/08/2023 11:04

God no.

I was considering granite or quartz. I have a granite chopping block and looking at how that stains I am really glad i didn't go for that.

Wood just seems a hiding to nothing, especially if you have heavy worktop use or people that won't think about taking care of it (kids).

AllBlackEverything · 08/08/2023 11:12

I have oak worktops and I'd highly recommended them.

Mine haven't got any black around the taps, no marks and we haven't oiled them properly in about 2 years.

However, I like to keep my kitchen clean so wipe up spills as soon as they are made, and always use trivets for pans and a chopping board.