Wooden worktops

Firefly

I'm in the process of choosing a new kitchen and quite like the idea of solid wooden worktops. However the assistant in Homebase said they needed maintenance 3 times a year with oil.

Are they hard to keep looking good? Would you go for laminate instead?

I didn't like the colours of the laminate. Granite would be OK but I guess that's too expensive.

Any ideas or handy hints? Any recommendations for getting good quality but reasonably MSE priced worktops?

HugoSP

The assistant is right.

Application of linseed oil is what would be needed to keep them from delaminating and generally looking naff. It also keeps them sealed so they can repel liquids.

Canucklehead

Good evening: We have used Ikea oak worktops in 3 renovation projects http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15576&catalogId=10103&storeId=7&productId=60908&langId=-20&categoryId=16273&chosenPartNumber=40091673 and finished the surfaces with a wax oil ...very hard wearing and easy to apply/reapply
http://www.vanillawoodfloors.co.uk/index.php?cPath=24_79_82

HTH

Canucklehead

windym_2

Granite. You cannot beat it IMHO (and I treat it bad ). Hot dishes straight out of the oven right onto the worktop - no problem. It looks as good as new and requires little maintenance. Having had solid wood, I would say 'stay away'. It burns, cuts, marks and is a nightmare if you drop red wine! My granite is tough, it takes knocks and scratches but still shines.

Try http://www.ukaffordablegranite.com/ I can recommend them, as can my neighbours and friends

Firefly

Thanks for all the responses. I'd love granite but the cost is prohibitive. Does anyone have any thoughts on wood vs laminate? Is there a good quality or style of laminate?

Norma_Desmond

We chose solid walnut tops and they are great! I gave them 3 coats of oil to start off with and now just oil them when I remember to.
The beauty of wood is that if it does get chipped or soiled in the future then you can either sand it down a little, or just leave it for that 'antique' look - wood always improves with age.

Old_Skool

Hi Firefly,

Have you considered a Quartz engineered stone surface? not as expensive as granite - approx 2/3rds of the cost.

Basically it's quartz chippings set in a polymer resin - pre-sealed and tough.

Many manufacturers - Apollo, Luxore, Silestone, Zodiaq.

Hope this helps.

Firefly

Thanks for that sugestion Old Skool. They look really good and I've just managed to aquire a beautiful unused Franke granite sink and taps from Freecycle! That would look lovely set into a quartz worktop and yes, much more affordable than granite.

benood

We had oak worktops in our last house - when they went in we oiled them initially once and then left them oiling perhaps once a year - they were no trouble at all even round the sink. If I had the choice of oak or laminate I would choose oak every time.

jennifernil

We have Junkers beech block tops, now 19 years old. I have refinished them(sanding down and resealing) twice in that time and they come up like new again. We use Danish or Rustic Oil on them. We don't find it necessary to oil them regularly.

Louise1521

We had oak worktops (from Howdens) installed in Dec. We love them, in our previous house we had laminate and there is no comparison. We gave them three coats of oil initially and haven't found it necessary to apply another coat yet. I've not found a problem with them marking at all.