What is the best countertop for stained wood cabinets? Plus, you'll have a myriad of options when it comes to taking care of wood countertops. Here are the best kitchen countertops from Consumer Reports' tests. Above: In a London kitchen by deVol, the designers paired iroko wood with marble countertops. This will allow the wood countertop to absorb the finish. And for good reason: The wood adds warmth, texture, and natural beauty to the space in a way that other materials just can't. Wood offers so many options and each cutting board will never have the same look like another. T Butcher Block Countertop Northern European Butcher Block Kitchen Countertop Northern European Butcher Block Kitchen Countertop is a stunning addition to any project. Best Type Of Wood For Countertops The best woods for butcher block counters are common hardwoods. Affordable Kitchen Countertops That Look Like a Million Bucks Perk up your kitchen without draining the bank with these kitchen countertop ideas. My kitchen countertops are reclaimed-wood floorboards from my attic and I love them. I chose wood countertops for my kitchen because they’re inexpensive and easy to DIY. With so many possibilities to choose from, it’s hard to know which options you should consider. Keep in mind: Price and stock could change after publish date, and we may make money from these links. White and gray marbled countertop with a smooth finish for this traditional kitchen. To begin, I picked up a 2 x 10 x 12 at the Home Depot. Finding the Best Wood for Kitchen Countertops is Preference. Butcher block is the most common type of wood countertop, but crafted wood slabs are also available. If these butcher block countertop pros and cons leave you thinking that wood isn’t the best fit for your future kitchen, consider installing one of these other countertop materials. Different species of wood have very different grain patterns, colors, and Janka scores (a scientific measurement of hardness) so let’s have a quick look at the three most popular species and go over their benefits. Once you have decided to get wooden countertops installed in your kitchen or bathroom, you need to select the wood. Replacing a scratched, scorched, stained, or just plain unattractive countertop can transform any kitchen. Here are some of the most popular types of wood for countertops that you can use: Hard Maple … Kitchen Countertops ... Acrylic resin lacquer is suited to wood counter tops. Why? This hardwood comes in colors of almost white to a delicate cream color. It has a smooth texture but it’s very resistent and durable, so a good choice for almost any kitchen and one of the most popular types of wood. Using reclaimed woods for surfacing is a great idea if you don’t mind your counters ‘wearing in.’ If, from the outset, you accept the limitations of wood, this is a great option for a natural, organic surface that has a great story. For those of you who want to make sure your wood counter top stands up to abuse (like in a kitchen), google or check Amazon for epoxy, pour on finish. Maple is a traditional choice of hardwood for butcher blocks, with fine grain and generally light colours. The price is right for this chameleon-like product that can mimic everything from wood to granite. The warmth and charm of wood countertops, benches and shelves can bring to life to your home. Whether it's reclaimed wood like SF Architecture's beautiful bar counter or a butcher block countertop as seen in the other images, wood provides a warmth to any style kitchen. There are many types of kitchen countertops, and each has its particular pros and cons, including the price. But wood needs to be well protected to keep water and wine from staining or damaging it. However, whether you have solid wood or butcher-block countertops, keeping them as good as new takes some elbow grease and a few preventative measures. Choosing wooden countertops is a great way to add natural beauty to your kitchen. You can't go wrong with a combo of solid surfaces and wood in my opinion: I found the stools at Target (affiliate). It doesn’t need any special sealers or cleaners, and it’s stain resistant. Shellac is another form of lacquer and has a beautiful finish. They did not exist. Best Wood for Countertops. Wood is a sustainable kitchen countertop option that combines natural beauty with a lower budget. I wanted to keep the wood tones consistent, so when it came to finishing our DIY wood countertop , the usual methods–wax, oil–were out, as they would have left the countertop … Wil it have a sink or will it be used for heavy chopping. Natural wood is a strong material that can last for many years. Before splurging on such a big update, check out the pros and cons of the top kitchen countertop materials to help you select the right one for your space. Think about your budget, your design taste and how your family will use your kitchen before making your decision. Or you could opt for classic wood countertops instead. Stainless steel comes in different grades and finishes, and the best grade of steel for kitchen countertops is type 304, which is highly scratch resistant and very strong. Walk into any well-maintained home built 50 to 100 years ago and there’s a good chance you’ll see wood on the floor. Now that we’ve explored the various natural types of stone countertops and their downsides (namely their susceptibility to staining), let’s look at why quartz, also known as engineered stone, is the best option. The Best Stone for Kitchen Countertops: Quartz 5003 Piatra Grey. The best wood for kitchen countertops depends on what you're planning on doing in your kitchen. Inexpensive Countertop Options. Best Types of Wood For Kitchen Cabinets Maple Georgetown 10′ x 10′ Maple Wood Kitchen Cabinets. Wood-Look Countertop Styles Can Last Longer. Best DIY options: Any type of tile or wood. Compare and contrast features of the countertop surfaces available in today’s market. Butcher block and wood solid surface countertops are a popular choice for kitchens and bathrooms these days. Wood countertops are another material that has been steadily trending for the past few years. Maple Butcher Block Countertop Wood. As of this writing wood countertops cost on average around $40 a square foot in 2018 for basic materials. "I love the look of wood countertops, especially in walnut," Vaquero says. Paul Grothouse of Grothouse Lumber says "wood kills bacteria more quickly than any other surface," which is ideal in a kitchen. I measured the desired area for the new countertop and cut the boards to size. Maple has a smooth, fine grain. See on Amazon. Handmade Acacia Cutting Board. Wood is a great prep-area countertop material. A stained wood kitchen with a plain white or cream countertop. Sealed countertops are not meant to be used as food-prep work surfaces–they’re not food or knife friendly. This is as close to indestructible as you will get in a pine counter or table top finish. Pros. It is best to use oil based acrylic resin as water based is not recommended for food preparation areas. Do butcher block countertops need to be sealed? Wood is naturally resistant to germs and bacteria, and a solid piece of wood is very resistant to cracking and breaking. The countertop is an essential component of the kitchen. Cost is another concern when considering the installation of wood kitchen countertops. Types of Countertops: How to Choose the Best Material for Your Kitchen Get beyond the brand names and your countertop options really just come down to a … Cons If you are big on tradition then wood is the best cutting board material for your kitchen. But more than that, the countertop is the foundation of kitchen décor when doing a kitchen … For kitchen counter applications, it’s important to use unsealed, oil-finished wood. With good care, a solid wood countertop can last a lifetime. White or cream. Finding a beautiful, inexpensive option comes down to your choice of countertop material which can range from $20 to $200 per square foot. Wood countertops add instant warmth and charm to your kitchen. Reclaimed Wood. Around the perimeter of the kitchen, we kept the natural wood cabinets and the light countertop. Our 17 Favorite Kitchen Countertop Materials Choosing the right kitchen countertop can be tricky (and expensive!). Unfinished Birch 8 ft. L x 25 in. It is where all the action takes place. We recommend it when clients ask about the best wood for kitchen countertops because it’s sturdy and shock resistant. Choosing the right sealer for a wood countertop is dictated by what the surface will be used for. Here are our top three choices for wood cutting boards. Why? According to her, this is one of the best countertop materials for a traditional, timeless space. And they are highly practical too. Labor costs of $35 to $100 per hour for installation remain constant across all types of materials.. Best budget options: tile and any type of laminate. On the new island that we added in the middle, we chose white cabinets with a wood countertop. 1. To start off the kitchen projects, I’m sharing with you a quick DIY wood countertop and wood filler. With proper care and selection, a wood countertop can add not only an additional aesthetic value to a kitchen, but can also provide functionality and style. Wood countertops used to be more prevalent in traditional homes, but today they warm up many contemporary and modern kitchens, presenting a strong contrast to sleek surfaces like white lacquer cabinets and stainless steel appliances. When it comes to countertops though, alternative materials can last longer in daily use spaces. So, we've put together a list of the best wood for kitchen countertops, along with some advice for how to make your decision and get the best kitchen counters for your specific needs and tastes. I’m happy to say that today there are many more images that illustrate this obvious, but simple solution, for a timeless countertop choice in a wood stained kitchen. Laminate kitchen countertops are a paper-plastic product that tops several layers of Kraft paper with a resin impregnated with near infinite colors and patterns. Also, the surface reflectiveness of a given piece of stainless steel is classified by a number indicating the amount of polish. Walnut is a preferred hardwood among our clients. You can use your heaviest cleaver on your walnut countertop. Wood just feels cozy and homey to me, and is a great contrast with the modern materials we have in our kitchen. Sand the entire surface of the wood countertop with 120-grit sandpaper. What Material is Best for You? The end. The handmade acacia cutting board is durable and water-resistant. Wood countertops: Solid Wood and Thick Veneer . D x 1.5 in.