Solid wood worktops - pros and cons?

JamAtcha

We were deciding to get a wood one but once we were told of the sanding and the oiling we opted against it and went for the laminate version from a manufacturer which still looks the part.
Biggest pro with wood is that it lasts long if well looked after and would add that touch of class to a kitchen, biggest con maintainance and weathering from water seeping through.

GAV

Try Black Walnut or Nyatoh (very popular in Scandinavia). Light coloured wood species can develop blue stain and can become black with repeated wetting. Use Osmo hard wax or a Polyurethane finish. This should properly seal your worktop. Any worktop should not be left wet. Moisture can facilitate bacterial propagation. Mould can also start to grow on the seals around the sink if left wet al the time. I always wipe my work surfaces dry.

lucylucky

Don't cha just love resurrected threads.....

phill99

evidently working for Osmo.

Mayflower10cat

We inherited beech worksurfaces - they looked lovely for about 6 months.... The previous owner lived on her own, didn't cook or entertain and only used her dishwasher, not the sink. Despite my best efforts, (I sanded right back, sealed and re-oiled on two occasions) the wooden drainer/sink surround went black and and mildewy. It looked awful and couldn't be redeemed. We replaced with granite as we were shifting the kitchen round to better suit our needs. Our next door neighbours, who also had wooden worktops, saw our granite and almost immediately got our granite man to quote for replacing theirs around the sink/cooker. They kept the beech breakfast bar and it looks very nice, but I totally agree with them that wood around a sink is a nightmare to keep looking clean and hygenic.

leveller2911

Mayflower10cat wrote: »

We inherited beech worksurfaces - they looked lovely for about 6 months.... The previous owner lived on her own, didn't cook or entertain and only used her dishwasher, not the sink. Despite my best efforts, (I sanded right back, sealed and re-oiled on two occasions) the wooden drainer/sink surround went black and and mildewy. It looked awful and couldn't be redeemed. We replaced with granite as we were shifting the kitchen round to better suit our needs. Our next door neighbours, who also had wooden worktops, saw our granite and almost immediately got our granite man to quote for replacing theirs around the sink/cooker. They kept the beech breakfast bar and it looks very nice, but I totally agree with them that wood around a sink is a nightmare to keep looking clean and hygenic.

Beech is a very hard timber but not durable, I can't see why people sell Beech worktops, probably the worse timber to choose.
IMO Black Walnut, Iroko,Sapele,Wenge and Oak are all far better..

Gav why did you drag up this thread?, you had to do a search to find it and the date is clear enough..

sancho

leveller2911 wrote: »

Gav why did you drag up this thread?, you had to do a search to find it and the date is clear enough..

To sell osmo products presumably......

leveller2911

sancho wrote: »

To sell osmo products presumably......

Its Friday evening, overtime? or just trying to impress the boss and climb the greasy pole?:D

No offence Gav, we're just bored.....

phill99

leveller2911 wrote: »

Its Friday evening, overtime? or just trying to impress the boss and climb the greasy pole?:D

No offence Gav, we're just bored.....

Because he has a vested interest in Osmo Oil

will-he-payitoff

Well nearly 2 years on and the solid wood we went for still looks great, no black marks or mildew even around the sink.