Solid worktop with grooved draining board

pledgeX

In my new kitchen I'd like to have solid wood worktop with an undermount sink with the draining board cut into the worktop. Something like this:



I'm concerned that this style draining board will be impractical in the real world and I'd need to dry up immediately after washing up to avoid water marks.

Laminate would obviously be easier, but I've not seen any laminate available that has build in draining grooves like this.

Anyone have any experience or opinions on this?

missbiggles1

Won't you be having a dish washer?

MatyMoo

Even with a dishwasher there are certain items you end up having to hand wash

Don't you have to seal wood by waxing or something? Wouldn't that stop water marks to some extent?

flea72

Wooden worktops go mouldy very quickly, even if oiled regularly

Ruski

I hand made these drainer grooves in a Bushboard Encore worktop - it's a chipboard core worktop with a 5mm Acrylic surface - so it's a bit of a hybrid between laminate and solid suraces.

Just an idea for you.

HTH

Russ

pledgeX

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Won't you be having a dish washer?

No. Only 2 of us so don't see the need for a dishwasher.

MatyMoo wrote: »

Don't you have to seal wood by waxing or something? Wouldn't that stop water marks to some extent?

You oil it regularly when you first get it, then oil every few months once it's 'settled in'. I think the oil helps prevent against watermarks and spillages, but it doesn't stop them entirely.

flea72 wrote: »

Wooden worktops go mouldy very quickly, even if oiled regularly

I don't believe that. Maybe if you buy cheap wood, or don't maintain it properly. Why would anyone buy a wood worktop if what you're saying is true (unless it's a show home)?

SuzieSue

pledgeX wrote: »

No. Only 2 of us so don't see the need for a dishwasher.

I was dead against getting a dishwasher until I had my kitchen re-done and my sister persuaded me to put a full size one in. There are only 2 of us and we very rarely entertain, but I would not be without one now.

squeeks

Every had a decent wooden chopping block?

They don't like being left in water or having standing water on them, and they won't look like new for long, unless you regularly sand them down. But that isn't to say they don't look good a little old and beat up, they just don't look new and shiny.

flea72

pledgeX wrote: »

I don't believe that. Maybe if you buy cheap wood, or don't maintain it properly. Why would anyone buy a wood worktop if what you're saying is true (unless it's a show home)?

Because people dont realise how often you have to oil them, and how long the process takes. It is a serious amount of maintenance work. We all start off with good intentions, but give it a few months and things slip. When you get it put in, it wont have been treated. does that mean you wont use the sink for a couple of weeks until you have built up a protective layer?

People buy wooden worktops because they like the look. Practical doesnt have to come into it.

BlueC

flea72 wrote: »

Because people dont realise how often you have to oil them, and how long the process takes. It is a serious amount of maintenance work. We all start off with good intentions, but give it a few months and things slip. When you get it put in, it wont have been treated. does that mean you wont use the sink for a couple of weeks until you have built up a protective layer?

People buy wooden worktops because they like the look. Practical doesnt have to come into it.

This isn't really true. Yes, wooden worktops can go mouldy and black when left in contact with water, there is no denying that. However:

1) Some people do realise how often you have to oil them and how long it takes

2) It really isn't a "serious" amount of maintenance work, it is maybe a 30 minute or hour job once every couple of months even for a large worktop or multiple worktops

3) A good worktop will absolutely have been factory treated so I've no idea why you would say it wouldn't. If done right this is equivalent to about 10 oilings and will give you a great amount of long lasting protection. You will still need to do a quick post-install oil but it's no bother - one or two coats.

4) In terms of practicality, you're missing the very important fact that there are lots of different types of wood; some of these make excellent practical worktops which won't blacken and need very little maintenance (e.g. Iroko) and some of which will blacken easily and need a lot of maintenance (e.g. Oak).

There is an element of truth to what you're saying but the sweeping generalisations aren't helpful.

Davesnave

Horrid, horrid, horrid. Never mind what it looks like, get down to a micro level and see all the nasties living in it.

No, I know you can't, but that doesn't mean they arent there, unless you're willing to use bleach or powerful surfactants very regularly. They probably won't kill you, as mine hasn't killed me yet, but I can barely wait to rip it out later this year and burn it!

If that's a sweeping generalisation, I'm happy with it.