Butcher Block Countertops
Natural and Aesthetic Butcher Block Countertops
Butcher block countertops are one of the best natural countertops because they are aesthetic and very easy to maintain. They offer a wide range of options with unique styles and can be made from oak, maple, cherry, walnut trees, and other available woods.
Types Of Butcher Block Countertops
Butcher Block countertops come in various types because wood is their primary material. Each tree will give your kitchen a unique look and style. If you are looking for a traditional style that gives off a natural feeling, oak, walnut, and maple countertops are the most common. On the other hand, if you want uniqueness in your kitchens while maintaining the naturalistic aspect, you can also select bamboo, tigerwood, red oak, and mahogany. You can also have other available wood options for your kitchens.
Popular Butcher Block Countertop Colors
These countertops can be made from any hardwood tree with sufficient durability and hardness so that there are many colors you can choose for your kitchen. Some of the most popular ones are the traditional colors, such as brown and umber. These colors blend perfectly with the kitchen environment and create the natural feeling you want. You can also select green and a mix of black-red colors of bamboo and tigerwood countertops.
Butcher Block Countertops Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Regarding longevity, if proper care is given, butcher block countertops can stand for as long as 20 years, which is close to a natural-stone quality of longevity.
- They are straightforward to clean and do not require any cleaning materials. You can use some vinegar to disinfect them and salt and lemon to remove stains. Be sure to avoid using any bleach and chemicals to clean them.
- They create a more traditional and natural kitchen. You can also combine tradition and modernity with professional help when you remodel your kitchen.
Cons:
- Wood can dry out if proper care is not given to it. You need to apply mineral-grade oils that will prevent materialization routinely.
- They are not heat resistant; burnt spots will be created if any hot material is placed onto them. In these cases, you will need to refinish your countertops to eliminate the burnt area.
- Using butcher block countertops as cutting boards are not advised as this type of usage can lead to scratches in wooden countertops. Also, no matter how formidable your countertop is, using it as a cutting board will invite germs and bacteria that can pollute it.
- Butcher block countertops are not water resistant; if they are not cleaned immediately after too much water is spilled, they will form stains.
Different Grains For Butcher Block Countertops
The grain is the side of the wood board you want your countertop made of. For each type of wood, there are three different types of grains for your counters.
- Edge-Grain: Edge-grain is where rails go all the way to the end of the countertop, creating a line separating the wooden parts. They are also more rigid in terms of resistance to scratches due to cutting boards than face grains.
- End-Grain: End-grain separates the countertop into rectangular parts to give a unique design to the countertop. It has the best resistance against scratches caused by knives but is also the most expensive one out of the three due to the costly process of creating it.
- Face-Grain Plank Style: Face-grain plank style is a combination of planks without any straight or rectangular lines. Regarding durability against knives, they are the least resistant to scratches due to their soft faces.
Costs Of Butcher Block Countertops
Butcher block countertops’ costs change vastly accordingly to their tree’s characteristics, such as how formidable and aesthetic they are regarding their appearances. The average quality countertops are 30-50 dollars per square, while the high-quality butcher block countertops can cost up to 70-90 dollars. The best ones, however, such as custom oak and cherry countertops, can cost 200 dollars per square.
Butcher Block Countertops Vs. Granite Countertops
- Butcher block countertops and granite countertops are two natural countertops that can be recycled and reused.
- Both give off a natural and aesthetically pleasing aura in your kitchen with their appearances.
- Both countertops require annual sealing processes to keep their look and be bacteria-free.
- Regarding durability, granite is better because it has more resistance against heat and scratches
- If proper care is given, butcher block countertops are very easy to repair and can be used for long years as granite countertops.
CabinetLand offers maple, black walnut, EcoLyptus, Cherry, Red Oak, Teak, and Ash countertops for your kitchen. You may also wish to see our other kitchen countertops for your kitchen design.