One of the most useful and aesthetically pleasing materials for preparing food is solid wood countertops. If you have ever seen pictures of old butcher shops you will see they always had a big chunk of wood block they used for trimming and cutting. Wood works well because it does not dull the knife and it is easy to clean. Most countertops are not cut on any more, we use a cutting board for that, but having the look and feel of natural wood still gives a kitchen a very happy feel.
A wood countertop is not just one solid plank of wood. This doesn’t work because the humidity in the kitchen can cause a wide piece of wood to split and crack. Instead, several segments of wood are usually glued together to make the top.
Wood Counter Top Grain Types
There are three grain patterns which can be used when constructing a counter top or wood work top. The grain is the lines you see in pieces of wood that are actually the growth rings of the tree. Every line or ring represents one year of growth. The closer the lines are to each other usually indicates how slow the tree grew. Old wood that has been growing very slowly is prized for its beauty and strength.
The three types of grain patterns are:
Edge grain. This is shown by connecting the strips of wood face to face so the edges are what show. This usually gives close grain patterns.
Face grain. With this method the edges of the boards are glued together and the finished product shows off the wide part of the board. This is also called flat grain as it tends to cut into the grain pattern.
End grain. This is the classic butcher block method. Small blocks of wood are arranged side to side and face to face so the ends of the pieces compose the face. This tends to look like a checker board. This works very well for cutting because it wears well and it does not tend to dull the knife.
Caring For Wood Kitchen Countertops.
Countertops generally start as what is known as a blank, this is about one and a half inches thick and abut 25 inches wide. They come in one foot lengths up to 12 feet standard. This blank is then prepared to be used in the fitted kitchen by cutting and trimming as necessary.
Wood can change color over the years as it oxidizes. In order to protect the natural wood, a finish is required for sealing out moisture. There are many different finishes available including ones that are clear or others that impart a little more color to the wood. Most finishes are not of the natural oil variety as this takes a fair amount of upkeep. You want a finish that will retain the natural moisture of the wood, will protect it from other moisture, and will keep food residues from permeating into the grain. If food matter is not cleaned properly it can lead to germs and disease but a good finish can protect you from that.
Once the worktop is sealed, the clean up is really quite simple. Use warm soap and water to remove any residues left after cooking or food preparation. Do not use bleach and abrasives as this can damage the surface and it will need to be repaired by sanding and resealing. Also, do not place hot items directly onto the wood as this can cause burn marks which again must be repaired.
If you are building a new home or remodeling an existing one you will want to spend a lot of time on the kitchen as it is becoming the heart of the home. Custom wood countertops can be a great way to make your kitchen look and feel homey.