BASIC STEPS FROM ORIGINAL IDEA TO FINISHED WOOD COUNTERTOP Decisions, Decisions There are so many decisions to be made when you tackle designing a kitchen. Besides looking good, the kitchen has to perform and stand up to the kind of use it s sure to get as the center of the home. Cabinets, flooring, lighting and appliances are only some of the choices you face. Countertops are a big consideration as they need to be geared to the use intended and offer durability and easy care as well as being beautiful. As with all fashion, kitchen trends change and cycle. A few years ago, granite countertops were the hottest thing on the market. With lots of colors and easy fabrication, granite was the go to material for most homeowners. It s become nearly universal in American kitchens. Naturally, if you re building or upgrading a kitchen, you want to create an individual and unique look. May we suggest that you consider hardwood as an alternative to granite, especially as an island top or accent piece like a raised bar. In Europe, wood is more widely used than it is here in the US. Scandinavian statistics show hardwood countertops to be the choice of nearly half the population. Fickle as fashion tends to be, fine hardwood countertops have always been a premium choice in beautiful kitchens and the recent renewed interest is making its way across the Atlantic. SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT In this guide we re hoping to encourage home owners to take a long look at hardwood counter and island tops while making it easy to understand the options. Although wood is a timeless material in kitchens around the world there are considerations to made regarding intended use of the top, the type of finish and, of course, the species of wood. There are also lots of options for construction style and edge profiles. Some of the choices are made for practical reasons while others are purely cosmetic. Whether you re interested in a simple butcher block style chopping surface or a sprawling kitchen island top, we hope you ll enjoy seeing the options we offer and will take the time to enjoy choosing your perfect hardwood countertops. J. Aaron staff are always happy to help in any way we can. MAKE IT YOUR OWN If you love nothing more than assembling a line-up of ingredients and rolling up your sleeves to create a meal to remember, your kitchen will look different than the homeowner who loathes cooking and is happiest when lounging at the island bar top with take out and a good novel. Wood is versatile as well as enduring. It s been around for longer than any other construction material for lots of reasons. Use a little or a lot to turn up the wow factor in your kitchen.
Some facts about wood countertops. There are a lot of myths in the marketplace about wood. Let s look at some facts. - Contrary to popular belief, wood is enduring. Throughout history, wood countertops were used in the best appointed kitchens and remained the first choice in countertop materials until shortly after World War II when laminate and ceramic tile became the trendy options. Many of those old wood work surfaces are still being used. Some are centuries old. - There are numerous practical benefits to wood. In addition to being durable, it s waterproof and foodsafe. With the use of appropriate finishes wood countertops provide a maintenance-free, worry-free surface. - Wood is warm to the touch, as well as the eye. The kitchen really is the heart of the home where wood provides a nice counterpoint to steel and stone, creating an inviting place to gather. - Wood is a green option. In addition to those types that are harvested from certified forests, there are also rapidly renewable plantation grown species such as bamboo and lyptus. Reclaimed woods are another option. Wood repurposed from old warehouses, homes and barns make beautiful countertops and are the ultimate in green construction. - There is no evidence that wood harbors more bacteria than plastic and in many cases wood has been shown to have natural antibacterial qualities. - Hardwood countertops work well around sinks and in other areas that come in contact with water. Current technology offers sealers that resist stains as well as being waterproof. Other sealers maintain the integrity of chopping surfaces while being safe for food prep. - If your wood countertop does get a scratch or ding, modern sealers make repair easy and fast with no need to engage a professional. - Because wood has been around forever and used as countertops for almost as long, it won t be going out of fashion like many trendy materials. Another plus is that wood ages with grace and grows more interesting with time. Even if you update the cabinets, floor or appliances, the wood countertop is classic enough to go with anything. - As a high end option in countertop material, wood lends a touch of class to an otherwise ordinary kitchen. Just small amount such as breakfast bar or modest island top will be a focal point that adds visually to a kitchen. - Because repairs are easy you won t need to replace your countertop anytime soon. A bit of extra outlay at the beginning will be a savings in the long run
FROM COOKIE CUTTER TO CUSTOM Would you like to add something really special to your kitchen? What about a coffee station or a wine bar? Is your island top grand central for everything from cornflakes to homework and beginning to show the strain? One of the greatest things about wood is the warm, inviting quality it brings to an area. No one really wants to prop their elbows on a sheet of stainless steel or icy stone. Marble is a great surface for rolling pastry but wood is a lot more comfortable for setting down to lunch or lingering over coffee. IT NEED NOT BE ALL OR NOTHING Whether you re remodeling an existing kitchen or starting from scratch, adding some wood countertop surface will make a positive impact. Here are a few ideas. Start at the island. If granite or some other stone is used throughout the kitchen, you may want to consider putting wood on the island top. As people gather round to eat or just be at the center of the action, it will be more welcoming than a cold slab of stone or a sheet of stainless steel. Not only will it be a comfortable material to serve on, the contrast with the stone or other countertop will add a layer of interest to the design and very likely become the focal point of the room. Try the stove. Another good area is near the cooktop. A certain famous chef constantly advocates the chop and drop, method of food prep. If you have a cutting surface near the stove it s a lot easy to transfer your ingredients to the pot. Using moveable cutting boards can easily mean two surfaces to clean up rather than one. Add a specialty area. How about a coffee or wine bar? Modern sealers offer great protection against water damage and stains. No need to hesitate using wood around a sink or wet bar. One of the most practical applications is to place a small prep sink in a chopping block top to create a very functional area. Acres of granite or other surface can often benefit by being accented with a wood section. It may be a utilitarian piece of butcher block or gracefully curved bar with richly a worked edge profile as your design style dictates. Great function can and should be great looking. SO MANY OPTIONS FOR DIFFERENT BUDGETS The many wood species, construction styles, and edge profiles as well a extra features such as drain board and knife block features give the homeowner lots of room to expand their creativity. Although wood countertops will probably never be considered a budget option, there are lots of ways to save and still enjoy the benefits of wood. DIY is easy and fun, requires no previous experience and only a few simple tools. Check out our DIY section for more information. Wood species vary widely in price. Often the simpler and therefore less costly tops are the best fit for the kitchen décor. Take time to look over the options and see what suits your taste and your budget.
THE CHOOSING A WOOD SPECIES There are a number of wood species to choose from for a kitchen island or butcher block. Domestic and exotic wood species range in color from the palest beige to nearly black and everything in between. You can also choose from a broad range of thicknesses from 1-1/4 up to 4-1/2. There are also three construction styles and edge profiles to choose from to complement the design styling of the kitchen. With regard to price; the domestic hardwoods are less expensive than those considered exotics which are produced in tropical areas. In the dark color category walnut is the most popular domestic. Light colored domestics include red and white oak, hard maple and hickory among others. White oak is especially popular when a pickled finish is the goal and also takes the darker stains well. The price of exotic hardwoods is higher as they grow in the tropics, primarily in Africa, South America and Indonesia. Many of these trees are taken from the rainforest causing responsible harvesters to incur high expenses. That coupled with transportation costs drives up the price to consumers. ENVIRONMENTALLY FREINDLY CHOICES We re all concerned about the environment and want to make responsible choices in everything from heating our homes to choosing our food. Any construction project is likely to bring up green issues. With the worry over damage being done to the world s rainforests, you may ask if exotic hardwoods are a responsible choice for a countertop. Are domestic woods the more acceptable choice? The answer is that both are good options. Wood in general is a renewable resource and with careful management all species are acceptable from an environmental stand point. EXOTICS Here at J. Aaron we deal only with providers of exotics who have been certified responsible in their practices from harvesting the trees all the way through milling and exporting the lumber. International watchdog agencies police the management of these wood products and certify only those companies who comply with all regulations regarding environmental issues. For a closer look at this topic, please read, Are Exotic Hardwood Countertops Ever a Responsible Choice, in our blog. DOMESTICS Domestic hardwoods are a good choice in that they are a totally renewable resource which provides not only a beautiful element in your home, but create jobs for thousands of people and are produced here at home in the US and Canada. RECLAIMED Maybe the greenest options available are the reclaimed woods. These are domestic woods, originally used in the building of barns, warehouses and other buildings, which are being salvaged and repurposed. Heart pine and American Chestnut are popular reclaimed wood species but there are other choices as well. These woods are going to have their history written upon them in visible nail and peg holes, nicks and dings and evidence of long gone insect invaders. Reclaimed wood is a good choice if you re aiming for a rustic or antique expression in your design.
CHOOSING A CONSTRUCTION STYLE Plank style is the most popular choice owing to the beauty of the wood grain it displays and the price point it offers. This construction method has less waste involved as well as less labor, which translates to lowest cost. Plank construction is the choice that showcases the grain of the wood in the traditional look of fine furniture construction. This is not a good choice for a chopping surface. Edge grain is classic butcher block for food prep areas. In this construction, the wood is laid on its edge, providing a very strong surface with a clean, linear appearance. The wood surface tends to have a uniform color without a lot of visible wood grain. Often, homeowners will choose this style if they desire a contemporary look and/or a hardworking chopping and food prep area. End Grain lends itself to smaller areas of the kitchen as a focal point. As this is the most labor intensive and least efficient in amount of waste wood generated it is the most expensive. It s a durable work surface, good for chopping and food prep, but not recommended for countertops with sinks. We also discourage using this option if your top is going to have an overhanging edge for eating. If you re looking for an wow factor design, this is it. Whether constructed from the same wood species or contrasting woods, this construction style is very distinctive and eye-catching.
CHOOSING A SEALER 3. Mineral Oil 100% food safe certified. Preserves the wood's natural oils but provides little protection against water or other liquids. Ideal for counters designed to be cut on or butcher block tops. No sheen other than the wood itself. Not recommended for tops with sinks. Can not be used on plank style tops. Needs re-applied 5-6 times a year. This treatment is totally food safe and results in the look commonly associated with classic butcher blocks. We don t recommend mineral oil on plank construction tops as it tends to fuzz the grain. 4. Monocoat - 0% VOC - Natural Oil Sealer Totally VOC free. No sheen in it s initial application but sheen can be added by the use of Monocoat Universal Maintenance Oil. Very water resistant. Good for use in areas around sinks and other places where water may be an issue. Stain resistant. Safe for food contact. Re-application is only needed every 4 to 8 years, depending on the amount of use. Though not recommended as a chopping or cutting finish, this treatment is very user friendly if a spot repair is needed. Someone is bound to leave a knife mark sometime and with this sealer its easy to sand out and repair without redoing the whole surface. Monocoat is my personal favorite as it offers good protection not only from water but from other stains such as wine, and is so simple to work with if accidental damage does happen. 5. Polyurethane Polyurethane comes in varying lusters from satin to high gloss. Aa a deeply penetrating sealer it strengthens the wood fiber while at the same time creating a permanent surface barrier. Poly is a good finish to use around sinks as it s impervious to water. Extremely stain resistant. Safe for food contact but not for use as a chopping surface. Little to no maintenance required but easily repaired if damage does occur. We recommend Howard Restore-A-Finish. Polyurethane is a good choice if you re going for a furniture type finish. With selections of luster including matte, satin, semi-gloss and high-gloss it will give your island or countertop the look of fine furniture and a tough, hardworking surface.