Home » Home design » interior design » How Durable are Wood Countertops?

How Durable are Wood Countertops?

ByJennifer
16 Comments
I still love my Ikea butcher block counter tops and it’s been 15 years. I have to admit, I thought at some point we would replace them with a stone of some kinds, but here we are and they are still working hard!  If you are considering them yourself, you might wonder, how durable are wood countertops? While our wood countertops have help up well, but there are a few things to know about maintaining them to keep them in good shape and looking good, and how they actually are after (quite!) a few years.
Three green apples in a white dish, fresh sage, a silver pitcher, square plates, and a teapot on a glass stand are arranged on wood countertops. How Durable are Wood Countertops?—still looking charming and timeless atop the wooden surface.

How Have the Wood Countertops Held Up to Daily Use?

The countertops we purchased were oak. They are holding up beautifully-for the most part. The biggest area of issue is where it is to be expected. Right around the sink.Most of the main countertop I’ve sealed every year and has done really well, but it is constantly getting wet there and being wiped down. It’s easy to reseal them, its just a matter of wiping  the sealer on before bed and they are ready to go the next morning! A year later I would do them all over again.

White kitchen cabinets oil painting over stove

What Kind of Maintenance Do Wood Countertops Take?

-We use the sealer from Ikea and it’s super easy to use. I chose to not use a sealer like Waterlox because I wanted to be able to control the depth of the color. If you use a sealer where you do the entire thing like that of you ever have to fix a stain, you have to sand down the entire section and re-sand so it all seals the same. Now I can just sand down a section and reseal.

-Don’t cut directly on the countertop

-Make sure to use a safe sealer

-I do not put hot pans on my counter top, I use a marble slab for that.But I do still love them and would do them all over again! Check out this post with the review 8 years later!

Three green apples on a white dish, silver pitcher, decorative plates, and green leaves rest atop wood countertops after 4 years, showcasing their timeless beauty and natural charm.

The rule of thumb is if water can’t sit on the surface for 10 minutes with out being absorbed they need to be resealed.

And any thing that might stain needs to be wiped upright away. We had a pickled beet jar sit on the counter overnight and it left a red ring. I sanded it and resealed it in about an hour and it was done. With a natural stone it would’ve been there forever, the same with a lighter laminate.

A bright kitchen sink under a window with a vintage-style faucet, potted plants, a pitcher of tulips, stacked mugs, and a dish towel hanging on the cabinet—showing how beautifully wood countertops age after 4 years.

The Biggest Issue with Wood Butcher Block Countertops?

Our biggest issue has been around the sink, and specifically behind the faucet. It tends to stay wetter and stain quite bit. We do get some pooling because of faucet placement and that there is constantly water on it. That is one of the biggest drawbacks of the wood countertops. We don’t have much space behind the faucet and it’s really hard to keep dry. If I had to do it over again, I would actually find a sink that went up to the backsplash and cover the wood completely.

A white kitchen sink with a silver faucet, potted plants on the windowsill, and a white towel with an orange fruit pattern hanging neatly from a brass towel bar on the cabinet.

Do Butcher Block Countertops Change Color?

We have notice they have darkened slightly over time but not so much that we don’t like it. Even though our cabinets have changed colors several times, and we’ve even added a tile backsplash, for the most  part they have kept their original color.

A kitchen with green and white kitchen cabinets, wooden countertops, stainless steel appliances, and decorative items on the counters.

 

Are Wood Countertops Worth It?

I think so!  They were really affordable, have held up well, and look nice! I would do them all over again.

Jen
If you are reading this post at any other sites or blogs besides Jenniferrizzo.com, your rss feed,e-mail or in your reader this is stolen content.*This was posted Via Jennifer Rizzo. com

16 Comments

  1. What a great post! I have been thinking of replacing our countertops with wood and my friends think I’m crazy. (I have granite and I’m a little ‘over it.’)As for the firefighter stuff–I have often heard that the most trusted people in the US are firefighters. Which kind of segues into do-it-yourself advisor nicely, I think.

  3. Love this post! I’m considering reaching out to local businesses to sell my products. Is there a rule of thumb on the percentage the business should keep from the sale of an item?

    Thanks for your tips and Happy New Year!

    Abby

  4. Loved reading this Jennifer…knowing more about who you are from who you have been and how your tenacity has kept you going in new directions. Quite inspiring!

    I also value that you share information readily…so many people keep their secrets to themselves…your generosity is not just refreshing it is valued!

  7. Jen love this post! Your countertops look beautiful, I love the color of the paint in your Kitchen. I always enjoy your blog! Have a wonderful 2012!

  8. You are such an interesting person, Jennifer! I only started following you recently and I must make time to go back to your older posts. Your home is just lovely and I took a quick peek in your Etsy, too. Lovely stuff! I look forward to getting to know you better. Happy New Year!

  9. Thank you all for such nice comments! Abby, with wholesaling, it depends on the place. Some places do a 50/50 split, Some places 40/60 and some places will buy outright. It’s important when you sell somewhere for you to decide if it’s worth your while or not.Make sure you are at least getting back your supplies plus. This may be a great post on it’s own!

  12. You rock, Jen!
    Just look at those guns on you, I love it!

    I’m still loving your wood countertops, too.

    I also love how you are not afraid to get out there and make things happen…heck, even “ambush” someone if need be. I’m the same way!

    Wishing you a wonderfully Happy New Year!
    XOXO,
    Anne

  16. To tile your kitchen countertops is actually a very good thought and you will find lots of tile solutions out there in which to choose from. It seriously depends upon your budget as to which tiles you opt for and some supplies are more high priced than others.

Comments are closed.