The choice of kitchen worktops can be completely confusing when you pick up a brochure or two. You’re bombarded with choices of granite, wood, laminate, chipboard, MDF, slate and much more. Worktop choice will often depend on the look you want, your budget, and how easy they are to look after.
Wood Worktops
Wood worktops can appear warm and welcoming, particularly solid wood. Looked after, they can last for many years, with that fabulous fingertip experience that comes from a warming natural material.
Benefits of Wood Worktops
- Each piece can be unique, which gives your kitchen an exclusive look and feel to it.
- There are a wide choice of colours available, to suit every kitchen type.
- They are often cheaper than granite and usually more affordable than quartz to buy and install.
- Wood can be tailored by your joiner, to fit any kitchen in size and shape, and allow you to create bespoke breakfast bars and unique surfaces.
- They’re good for the planet. We’re not manufacturing anything new for your kitchen surface, and are often popular with people who like to be seen as environmentally friendly.
- Oils and waxes are good for protecting the surfaces from damage.
- Different options include walnut, oat, beech, burch, teak and ash woods.
- Some marks and stains can be sanded and stained to improve the condition if there is a burn or scratch incident.
Problems with Wood Worktops
- Wood is not an install and leave type of surface. It does need love and attention to remain looking great. It will needed coated with oil on a regular basis to keep it in tip top condition.
- Due to the nature of bespoke surfaces and the care needed, they may be more expensive to install.
- Wood is susceptible to changes in temperature, which could cause the wood to crack if there are extremes in temperature, which cause the wood to expand and contract.
- You must take care not to burn the surface, as it can leave a permanent mark. You will need to be more careful than many other worktop surfaces.
Cleaning Wooden Worktops
Ok, you’ve made your decision, and you have installed your wooden worktops. Wood is porous, and as with a chopping board and dish cloth, can be a great breeding ground for bacteria.
The best way to clean a wooden worktop is simply to use warm soapy water, to help keep the levels of bacteria down, but do consider specialist solutions to keep those bugs at bay..