Kitchen worktops wood or laminate?

brodev

Can anyone tell us the advantages and disadvantages of wooden worktops as opposed to laminate ones? Also the wooden ones seem to come in two widths 27cm and 40cm. Naturally the thicker ones are dearer but is there any advantage in having a thicker one? TIA

brodev

anybody got any info?

bookduck

laminate. The wooden block type always splits/separates around the wet sink areas no matter how much you treat it.

I also asked this exact question, because I got the thick block Ikea block chopping board which when oiled as requested lated about 3 cleanings/uses before it started to split and was suspicious

sodamnfunky

Laminate- Tougher, wont split, easier to clean, last longer. Just make sure that when the sink is fitted, you silicone the cut out to protect it from water, and make sure any exposed chipboard is sealed.

coolagarry

On Tv recently I saw a consumer test on worktops including wood and granite. The dropped silly things, liquids, hot things etc on the work top.
Laminate was the winner for hard wearing and still looking good at the end of the tests!

Doozergirl

There's no doubt wood looks more expensive and is more expensive but it doesn't wear brilliantly.

I'd always opt for stone and if money were more of an issue, convince myself that I'd look after the wood better this time :rolleyes: It's the sink area that is the problem really. Maybe I'd have wood but something else for the sink area

beecher

I've just had laminate beech block worktops delivered and am surprised by how much like real wood they look - I don't know what I was expecting, but I'm pretty impressed with them so far. I'm sure they'll look even better when they're fitted

(Didn't think they'd weight 7 stones each but that's another matter).

jennifernil

Wood is nice, but you do need to be prepared to look after them. We have had our beech tops for 20 years now, and even round the sink there are no splits. In that time I have sanded and refinished them twice, they are about due a third sanding down.

ukwoody

That is the trouble with real wood worktops. For them to last they need to be very well oiled before fitting, then oiled regulalry evry 6 - 12 months. Most fitters also charge more for fiting them due to extra work invovled. I've fitted several real wood ones, and personally would (in fact just have) go for laminate evry time in my own house.
woody

vansboy

Another downside to wood, is that it'll either dictate the other wood effect furniture/floor coverings etc you need to choose, to 'match' the worktops.

& it'll not be easy!

VB