Wood worktops

Friends of mine have a large kitchen and have wooden worktops. Through carelessness the area around the kitchen sink is almost ruined because the area got wet so often and zilch was done. The H has recently oiled the surfaces and it has taken x3 attempts. I personally would not do it, you are making a rod for your own back but the end result does look good.

Charleygirl5 my daughter's wooden worktops have suffered the same fate. They were re-done and looked good for a bit, but now look pretty shabby again. We have granite, beautifully crafted, expensive, yes but easy to maintain and will last us out. And proving cheaper in the long run.

I have oak worktops made to measure from Worktop Express. I love them and since I got them, five years ago, they've been reliable and trouble free.

You have to look after them, that's all. I've never let splashes lie on them too long - so always mop dry after using the sink. I use Osmo Top Oil (an oil/wax mixture) regularly. I think you really need to oil frequently at first until they have a good protective finish on them, then just apply six-monthly.

All of the above, plus: don't spill red wine; it stains badly. Don't spill beetroot juice; ditto. Don't splash bleach; it wrecks solid wood worktops and can split the wood if left too long. Don't put hot pans down; don't drop knives on it; don't leave items like toasters, mixers etc in one place for too long because the wood will naturally fade around them and you'll be left with distinctive patches where your kitchen stuff used to be.

In short; anything is less trouble, maintenance and upkeep than a wooden worktop.

We had wood worktops previously in a show house we bought. What a pain! Around the sink, yes but that wasn’t all. I could t roll pastry out on them, it felt unhygienic and made a mess. Wouldn’t have again. Granite or pretend granite is perfect.

No to wood. Lots of reasons why posted here. Totally agree

Just planning our new kitchen and have chosen silestone. Expensive but can withstand anything except hot pans.

We have quartz and they not only look stunning but are so practical too. Always cool for rolling pastry and just a quick wipe down for cleaning - perfect !

Marble is hard work too according to a good friend of mine.

My friend hates her wooden worktop because of the maintenance it needs.. It's turned black around the sink.

I had wooden worktops for 8 years, they looked very good but I did look after them, sanded when necessary and used osmo oil. However the wood touching the sink became more and more marked, I always tried to dry that area but inevitably the moisture got into the wood and it naturally flows along the grain so you get an area which goes black. I had granite in my new kitchen and that still involved work and a chip when a pan hit an edge. I have laminate now in my new house and would have a good laminate again

Would I ever choose wood again, no. Would I choose granite again, no. Quartz probably. Laminate definitely

I’m thinking of replacing mine with Granite, they are hard work, lovely when first done, but a mess around the taps and where I have utensils pots etc. on the worktops, the surrounding parts are now a different shade. I use Tong oil usually in the Spring and then late Summer.

Having just read the other replies I might have to rethink the Granite option too!

Avoid wood and granite.

Never liked them, all that oiling not for me. Don’t like the look of them, love quartz

Always had a very ordinary laminate and it has always lasted for years, taking whatever the chef (DH) does to it!

P.S. DS has Corian worktops - this is brilliant (it copes with a lot of stresses) but it's very expensive

Had a new kitchen fitted in November . Went for laminate worktops Wood effect without all the problems of wood. So easy to look after . No matter what gets spilt nothing had stain and looks looks lovely.

I wouldn't have wood.
Do any of you remember the old wooden draining boards from years ago? 1961.
We had one in kitchen of our first home. It was horrible. Stained, and if you dared to look underneath ugh! Slimy, and harbouring many nasties I daren't wonder.
Now we have very good laminate worktops and they have sttod the test of time. Haven't chipped, stained or spoiled from heat.

Avoiding wood and granite saves a lot of hassle. I have granite and it's a pain . My friend has wood and it needs maintenance. I would go for a quality man made worksurface possibly Corian.

We also have wood effect laminate. Still looking good after 12 years.

We put wooden worktops in our previous kitchen. 10 years later looked as good as new, with very little maintenance.

They must be installed correctly, to start with. Ours were fitted by a carpenter, not the kitchen supplier. Each work top had three coats of specialist oil, both sides before being installed. Drying for 3 hours in between. The joins were Mortise and Tenon joins, for strength.
Where the dishwasher was going and the sink, the underside of those bits had a couple of coats of polyurethane.
When installed the top had two more coats of oil, letting it dry thoroughly between.
After that they could be cleaned with a mild anti-bac solution.
The only maintenance was an annual re oiling.
I did put clear glass work top savers either side of the range, old habits of putting hot things down, die hard! I also had a small rubber mat under the kettle.
Loved the wood work top. Our new house has lovely hand painted wood cupboards, but a laminate pretend wood work top. We will replace the work top eventually.

I'm glad I don't have them in my kitchen as I have them in the utility room and any spill seems to leave a mark, yep even water. I've already sanded mine down and re-oiled them once in just over a year. They are a pain in the butt as every tiddly spill has to be wiped off immediately or it stains. They look great but not practical. It makes no difference who installs them as long as they are competent, it does matter how well they are finished obviously but any fool can oil and sand and oil and sand etc etc. What matters is how quickly you notice a spill and clean it up.

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Wooden worktops are hard work - my d.I.l. had one - she has just changed it to granite.