Is A Wooden Countertop Right For Your Kitchen?

When it comes to kitchen home improvement, new countertops are often popular, right up there with cabinets. The most common choices for countertop materials are harder stone materials such as quartz or granite. However, there is another alternative that can add a lot to a kitchen, with a wooden countertop.

This is not a choice for everyone, as this material selection comes with its pros and cons. So what kind of homeowner would find a wooden countertop beneficial? It depends on what you’re prioritizing.

Short Term Savings, Long Term Cost

On average, choosing a wooden countertop is cheaper than the stone counterparts. For example, depending on the type of wood, and the provider you’re working with, a wooden countertop can, on average, run between $30-60 per square foot. Quartz, on the other hand, averages between $50-150.

However, that extra upfront expense for quartz surfaces is the price you pay for durability. Unsurprisingly, wood is a softer material and unlike quartz, is naturally porous. These characteristics can be offset to a degree, but it does require extra maintenance costs that you pay further down the line, on a regular basis.

Warmer Look

A wooden countertop stands out in any kitchen by bringing warmth, texture and unusual color to the space. Usually with tile and stone surfaces, the color tone of a kitchen tends to run cooler, but with something as substantial as square feet of the kitchen occupied by wood, this provides a distinct look that makes any kitchen stand out.

This may be particularly important for you as a homeowner if your aim is a more homey, rustic look. Wood brings this touch to a kitchen in a way that stone materials can’t.

Everything Is A Butcher Block

With most stone surfaces, you’ll need to use a cutting board or a wooden butcher block if you want to protect your knives and get the kind of cuts for meats and vegetables that you want. However, if you opt for a wooden countertop and have it properly treated, then your entire countertop now becomes a suitable surface for cutting and food preparation.

For people that want as much of a work surface as possible and don’t want the added clutter of boards, this is a perfect solution.

Maintenance Is A Must

However, for all the advantages that wood brings, this also means you must be prepared to put in some work for maintenance. Wood is naturally porous and soft, which means it will require special coatings to protect it from wear and tear over the years.

There may also be the occasional need for resanding the surface. Because it is a softer material, and you may use it for cutting, wooden countertops can show cuts and nicks. However, unlike other surfaces, this can be worked away by sanding and then resealing the wood to once again render it repellant to moisture and bacteria.

If you’re thinking of getting a wooden countertop, or any other surface for your kitchen home improvement we can help. Contact us today and lets us know what you need.