Butcher block can be made from nearly any wood. Maple is one of the best and most popular for butcher block counters because it's hard and has a clear grain. Cherry and red oak offer rich color.
Maple is the most common type of wood used in countertops. Its light hues blend well with any color while adding an open feeling to the kitchen. At a moderate price, many find it a good balance between quality and cost. Though not as durable as oak, maple offers a little more variety in slabs than other types of wood.
Thanks to the wood's hardness, maple cabinets and furniture resist scratching better than birch. However, because of its tight grain pattern and glossy surface, even small dents or scratches on maple are visible. Birch, with its more complicated grain patterns, hides scratches better than maple.
Wood countertop thickness generally ranges from a three-quarter inch to six inches, and butcher block from two inches to 12 inches. A wide variety of edge options exist. Grain Types.
With proper care, we feel confident that the walnut species we love will be a fine choice for a butcher block countertop.
Hickory is definitely one of our favorite wood choices for hardwood counter tops. The transitions from light colored sapwood to darker heartwood makes for a beautiful one of kind counter top. A hickory countertop's durability is a premier feature.
A black walnut countertop is perfect for your kitchen. Walnut works in every construction style, including butcher block. Whether you want rustic or sophisticated countertops, count on Maryland Wood Countertops to deliver the piece of your dreams.
For example, pine butcher blocks are less expensive but are not as durable as maple or other hardwoods and will need to be replaced sooner. Other considerations include the wood's ability to conceal knife marks, the available thickness, whether it is harvested in a sustainable manner and the appearance.
Hickory. Hickory is the strongest American wood, the “Hercules” of American countertops, and the very first American hardwood.
Hickory is not the best option for butcher block.
There are nice in appearance and have a great hardness that can resist against sharp knives edges. But in terms of functionality, It is an open-grained wood which sucks up moisture like a sponge and that helps bacteria to grow easily inside of the wood.
Poplar wood is too soft and not a good choice for making a butcher block. Poplar will easily tear up when working with heavy cutting tools. It dents and scratches easily. Eventually, you'll regret using poplar wood to make a beautiful butcher block but very little in strength.
Made by using the finest solid White Oak wood, these Butcher Block Cutting Boards are practically indestructible.
Maple is the most common wood species for butcher block because it's relatively inexpensive, durable, and widely available. But almost any hardwood can get the treatment: cherry, oak, beech, birch, tigerwood, and walnut are other great options.
The acacia wood countertop has nice texture and color, thus it brings a naturally warm and bright atmosphere to kitchen and living space. It meets the needs and maintains your comfortable feeling when used. One more important factor is that acacia butcher block countertop could last long over the years.
Grown in the Midwestern and Eastern United States, Red Oak wood's heavy and dense nature make it a great choice for a wide plank countertop. Red Oak is a good option for staining and finishing on site since it is known to accept wood stain more evenly than many other hardwoods.
Ash is an excellent cutting board material. Though it's ring-porous, Ash rates about 1,300 lbf on the Janka scale and makes a hard, durable cutting surface.
Reclaimed pine is often considered the best wood for kitchen countertops in farmhouse kitchens. Resin is what makes pine such a long-lasting wood. Reclaimed pine is a durable wood that stands up to daily use.
A common penetrating sealer is tung-oil, though we use a product called Rubio Monocoat. It's a hand applied oil that has resins in it. As the oil soaks into the wood it takes the resins with it deep into the wood fibers .
You can make up your own butcher-block countertop, or the same technique can be used to create cutting boards, or a top for a roll-around cart. The steps in creating the top are fairly easy, but the project does require some special tools, especially for the larger size tops.
Food-Safe Film Finishes
Film finishes leave a coating, or film, on the surface of the wood. However, oil-based finishes soak into the wood. Shellac, derived from Indian lac bugs, is a common food-safe film finish. It is highly water-resistant.
Walnut wood countertops costs $20 to $100 per square foot. This is a tough material that comes in a variety of hues. You might find that some of your other furniture is also made of this material.
American Cherry wood countertops are the perfect choice for many kitchens. With its natural beauty and durability, it is versatile enough to use in the most eclectic of spaces. American Cherry Wood Countertops are the perfect solution to warm up the cold interior of today's modern kitchens.
Though they can be less expensive than other popular countertop materials such as granite, walnut countertops can cost more than other types of wood. Walnut trees are known both for the lumber and the nuts they produce. Generally shaped from thick slabs, walnut countertops are heavy for stability.
Maple, Cherry, Hickory and Walnut make excellent and intriguing hard counter surfaces and will age wonderfully with proper care (which we will detail below).