Laminate vs Wood?

Hello123_2

What are peoples thoughts on real wood worktops?

Obviously wood is more pricey but is it practical in a kitchen?

I love the look of solid oak wood worktops & can some it 'cheaper' than others may pay (£200 for 3m) but am worried it will mark & stain?

I understand we would have to be careful with hot pans/mop up water etc & oil the wood regularly but am interested to hear from someone who has/has had a wood worktop! Would you recommend it?

Thanks

travellerboy

Just two words High Maintenance. Can look good but most people would be sorry in the long run. A Worktop needs to be non absorbant, heat resistant, scratch resistant - wood fails on all points.

rrf494g

real wood stains from damp/water over time. It's a chore to keep drying it and periodically sanding and re-oiling it, to slow this down. Particularly next to/round the sink it's very difficult to keep dry.

Real wood also has a problem with "metal stains" from the bottom of tins etc.

I had lots of work to do on my daughters kitchen, prior to the sale of her house. The real wood worktop looked awful.

good luck

Mr_Reeman

We recently moved into a house with a real wood worktop. I bet it looked great when installed, but it looks a mess now. There are heat ring stains, water stains. Around the sink its buckled and split. I cant wait to rip it out and fit laminate!

Hello123_2

Ohh blimey doesn't sound good!

Hello123_2

Forgot to add, we are having a belfast sink so I take it if we have laminate we will have to raise the sink up above the worktop and seal around it?

scottishblondie

Jeez the previous posters make wood worktops sound like a nightmare! They really don't have to be. My parents have beech block wooden worktops in their house, installed 23 years ago. They still look great. Don't put roasting hot things on them, don't leave wet things on them, and they're fine. Mum sands and oils them once every 4 or 5 years.

I'll def be having them in my next house.

Hello123_2

23 years wow!

I'm after Oak so not sure how this wears compares to other woods?

We know we will have to be really careful with hot things & water...but are they seriously this bad :-/ starting to doubt having wood now!

loracan1

To be fair, I've had a laminate worktop down for the last 18 - changed the doors a while ago but have never seen a worktop as nice, no stains, a couple of small chips from when a glass jar smashed on it (you have to know they're there) and I... can leave them wet (it's a kitchen, I defrost things in there)

jennifernil

I would not have wood with a Belfast sink, mind you, I would NEVER have a Belfast sink in the first place!

Would you be proposing an undermounted Belfast sink? The end grain of the wood in the cut-out would be very prone to sucking up water. And what are you doing for a draining board?

Oak should be even better than beech, but it will pay to get a good quality top. We have tried both Junkers and basic IKEA, at opposite ends of the cost scale I reckon, you do get what you pay for.

If you fancy wood, do your research, get recommendations, and forget the Belfast sink.

Oiling the underside well before installation is essential, and all cut-outs need to be really well sealed on the cut surface.

Finishing will play a big part in how well they last and how good they look. Oil and sand between coats at least 3 times, apply the oil lightly.

stueyhants

Have you considered getting a good quality wood effect laminate worktop ?
I have recently had a wood effect square edge laminate fitted and whilst it doesn't look as "real" as real wood its not bad. The square edge (rather than traditional laminate curve) really improves the look.
I used Axiom by Formica (shapes) range as they were the only brand I found that did worktops in 4.1m lengths. I think howdens do a version but only up to 3m something.