Wooden worktop

[chelseamorning]

We're thinking of having a wooden worktop in our new kitchen. We love the look and feel of wood but it obviously needs to be practical.

I know there are pros and cons of all the different types of materials available for worktops. I'd be interested to hear of any good/bad experiences with wooden ones.

Thanks!

If you are a neat freak and like everything to look like new then I wouldnt advise wood. It is more suited to a slightly more relaxed/country feel kitchen as it does mark over time. I know you can seal it etc but it does take on different colours. This isnt a problem if you are happy with that look but if you want a perfect finish all the time it probably isnt for you. Wood is beautiful because it is a natural product but as such it needs upkeep and the understanding of how it works/looks.

Mmmnn, I take your point, Bodiddly. I'm a 'towel folder' so perhaps it would annoy me. But then again, I love how wood ages and develops a character with use. I'll have to think long and hard about it.

Anyone else, please?

do not under any circumstance have wood within splashing distance of sink i.e. sink cut into wood with taps over. it is madness and always ends up black and horrid.

it is alot of maintenence but i love it.

Oak goes black if prolonged contact with water. Maple marks very easily.

Old kitchen had oak draining board and it drove me nuts. Current kitchen has maple island and that does the same. Marks really really easily. Fortunately the rest of the kitchen has very robust granite work surfaces.

Don't do it. They always look crap after a couple of months.

Oh, thanks, Goat. We'd be having a sink which sits on top of the hole, rather than being set into the worktop, if you see what I mean. Does it still to black and horrid if you maintain it well around the sink???

I know they need to be oiled well but I'd see it as a lovely chore as I'll get to stroke/pamper wood!!! [very sad emoticon]

If you are prepared to oil your worktop regularly it can stay looking really lovely. If you are like me, one day you will walk into your kitchen and notice eleventy million cup rings, scorches and dings.

Iroko is lovely and dark and seem to be very robust. I have staved thick oak from ikea which was very cheap. I do love wood though.

no - sink has to not have wood anywhere near. honestly go and look at someones. i think you can get wax finish which might help but water & wood = black mouldy crapness.

memorystick - i just sand and reoil when it looks marked.

We have an underset sink in our wooden worktops and draining grooves cut into the wood and it's completely fine.

It's really important to oil it lots of times - at least four -before it is installed, again once it is fitted and at least once a month for the next six months. After that it needs oiling about every six months or so. It's not much more difficult than cleaning it and it looks wonderful afterwards.

If you oil like this you won't get ring marks, or water marks and it won't go black around the sink.

The sink also needs to be properly fitted and sealed correctly so that water in unable to get underneath it.

You are very welcome to come and look at mine if you happen to live near me.

I'm a towel folder too and I really love my wooden worktop!

lanky - what sort of oil do you use. i have been oiling mine like crazy and it still isn't water risistant.

Danish oil. It's quite expensive. We got ours from the worktop supplier, but I'm sure you can get it in hardware stores such as Robert Dyas.

thanks!

We've got an oak worktop. I absolutely love it and am so glad we went for it but it is high maintenance, Needs to be oiled regularly, and because it scratches so easily, you'll probably need to re-sand it every now and then. We have a similar set up to Lanky and have had no problems around sink area.