Wood Worktops

NathanMorgan

Can anyone recommend the best place to get real wood worktops that would go nicely in a shaker style kitchen?

CKdesigner

Hi

Are you wanting to just replace the worktops you have with wood or is this part of a whole kitchen replacement project?

If you are just replacing the tops then the best wooden worktop manufacturer is Spekva. If you are doing the whole kitchen then your kitchen designer / supplier should have a decent wooden worktop supplier.

As I say Spekva is the best and is only available from Independent Kitchen Specialists.

CK

forgotmyname

Location? Solid slabs or butchers block style?

I know a couple of places that make the butcher block style from solid wood with a wide choice of finishes from oils to laquers.

NathanMorgan

im looking to replace the whole kitchen but im always on the lookout on the areas in which I could potentially save on and wood worktops would certainly be one of them.

I have seen a few worktops on eBay which seem reasonably priced. Have any of you had experiences in buying through eBay for worktops or is it best to find a local supplier? (I live in the Swansea area)

Lungboy

I recently bought 9m of solid wood from Worktops Express, seemed very good value and quality appears top notch so far.

Wassa123

I just got mine from Ebay a week or 2 ago.

Solid Oak, 3000x900x40mm for ~£155 or so (was making a desk). I think they were "the chippy shop" or something. They were delivered by Worktop Express though. Far cheaper than the DIY stores!

CathA

Yep, another vote for Worktop Express. We got two, really good value and good product.

leveller2911

CKdesigner wrote: »

Hi

Are you wanting to just replace the worktops you have with wood or is this part of a whole kitchen replacement project?

If you are just replacing the tops then the best wooden worktop manufacturer is Spekva. If you are doing the whole kitchen then your kitchen designer / supplier should have a decent wooden worktop supplier.

As I say Spekva is the best and is only available from Independent Kitchen Specialists.

Seriously?. Why are they the best CK?.

What do they do differently to UK companies or the Joinery workshops up and down the country?.

CKdesigner

Hi leveller2911

Sure their are plenty of joinery shops as you say up and down the country who are great with wood. But as a wooden worktop company I haven't found anyone else that can get close to what Spekva do.

In terms of construction all their tops are made of toothed together staves, which gives them a far greater glued surface area than just butt jointing the staves. Then on production of the tops where they do things like under mount sink fixings where they rebate the underside of the cutout so only about 5 mm of endgrain wood is exposed to the sink. After all cutouts are done, edges prepared etc. Then they 'cook' the wood in a form of Linseed oil for about an hour that fully penetrates the wood, which obviously is so much better than the typical untreated blanks that are normally supplied in this country with the fitter rubbing a couple of coats of oil into it onsite.

Then they have an amazing selection of woods with all sorts of finishes and oil treatments and can do some amazing joints that are mostly patented by them for breakfast bars and tables etc.

CK

leveller2911

CKdesigner wrote: »

Hi leveller2911

Sure their are plenty of joinery shops as you say up and down the country who are great with wood. But as a wooden worktop company I haven't found anyone else that can get close to what Spekva do.

Thanks for the reply CK. I would urge you to have another look at the UK suppliers, maybe more Joinery Workshops than online "bespoke worktop manufacturers".

In terms of construction all their tops are made of toothed together staves, which gives them a far greater glued surface area than just butt jointing the staves.

There are hundreds (or thousands) of Joinery workshops around the UK who will produce quality worktops with single length boards and worktops constructed from boards 100-150mm wide rather than inferior short staves glued up. The "toothed" machining is nothing new and there are endless profiles to choose from to increase the glue area. We often groove both sides of the boards and fit a loose tongue which gives even more glue area than most "tooth" or "Comb" cutters. The loose tongue can be in a contrasting timber so Walnut worktop with American Maple tongues.

Then on production of the tops where they do things like under mount sink fixings where they rebate the underside of the cutout so only about 5 mm of endgrain wood is exposed to the sink. After all cutouts are done, edges prepared etc.

Again this can either be done in the workshop or a good fitter can do a similar job.Its just easier doing this type of work in a workshop before its delivered. The company you mentioned does some nice enough work but its quite simple stuff that any decent UK Joiner could do.

Then they 'cook' the wood in a form of Linseed oil for about an hour that fully penetrates the wood, which obviously is so much better than the typical untreated blanks that are normally supplied in this country with the fitter rubbing a couple of coats of oil into it onsite.

This "cooking" process in some timbers could work but in the majority of timbers it would give little to no extra benefit.

The reason I say this is that the grain on most timbers is so hard that liquids penetrate very little under the surface. If you have a look at the TRADA website and search the database for timbers such as Oak,Wenge,Iroko,Beech,Maple,Ash , Teak etc they are classed as being either "very or extremely difficult" to treat with preservatives,oils etc due to the type of grain and hardness of the timbers making it difficult for oils etc to penetrate the grain to any real depth.

I personally don't think cooking a worktop in linseed oil will add much to its durability as a worktop but that is just my opinion.

Then they have an amazing selection of woods with all sorts of finishes and oil treatments and can do some amazing joints that are mostly patented by them for breakfast bars and tables etc.

There is no doubt the availability of exotic timbers is a positive thing and most of us can source quality exotic timbers such as Zebrano,Wenge,Spalted Beech,Spalted Elm, Cats Paw Oak etc etc.

Worktop joints can be a really nice design detail and with the evolution in machine tooling and jigs its now very easy to create some really nice joints and we have a few which are good for worktops. Have you seen the Leigh dovetail Jigs ?. They have been around for a good few years and can create some lovely dovetailed details for drawers and also worktops. They have a few different pattern jig to create different effects on the drawers/worktops.

I didn't do the drawer below but it gives you an idea of what can be produced fairly cheaply with modern jigs.





The link below is to a worktop I made last week and will be fitting on Thursday. Its nothing special but has nice grain. Its American Black Walnut and finished with Osmo Top oil (matt) with 3 coats in the workshop with a further 2 on site.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/55385455@N04/25043836635/in/dateposted-public/