All About Wood Countertops

After being eclipsed by showy stones like granite and marble and maintenance-free engineered materials like quartz and solid surfacing, natural-wood countertops are enjoying a real revival. Constructed from pieces of hardwood laminated together with glue for strength and stability, they provide a warm, organic landing surface in a kitchen, one that is wonderfully forgiving, gentle on dishware, and able to absorb the noise of a busy household.

The majority of wood countertops are made from traditional butcher block, and while they may see some mild meal prep, they’re rarely used for chopping these days. Less expensive woods often line the kitchen as a handsome, budget-friendly surface; pricier species top islands or breakfast bars, where they provide a welcome textural contrast or a furniture-like finish.

The variety of woods available is impressive, from subtly grained maple to deep, rich walnut to dramatic mesquite to exotic iroko. This Old House’s guide to buying, installing, and maintaining these countertops will ensure that the surface you select will look and perform beautifully for years.

In the early 1900s, it was discovered that pieces of hard maple glued together in big blocks provided a stronger, more durable surface that better stood up to meatcutters' cleavers. A homeowner comfortable with cutting and matching can install them in a weekend (making sink and faucet cutouts may void any warranty).

Order from kitchen showrooms and custom retailers or shop at home centers and big-box stores. A butcher-block counter made from birch or beech can cost little more than laminate and less than half the starter price for natural stone or engineered materials. A butcher-block counter made from birch or beech can cost little more than laminate and less than half the starter price for natural stone or engineered materials. DIYers can cut prefab butcher-block tops to fit around corners, sinks, and appliances much more easily than most stone.

DIYers can cut prefab butcher-block tops to fit around corners, sinks, and appliances much more easily than most stone. Unlike with stone, there's no clatter when you set down a plate or a glass, and dropped dishes are less likely to break.

Unlike with stone, there's no clatter when you set down a plate or a glass, and dropped dishes are less likely to break. Knife scratches, deep gouges, even burn marks can be sanded out and a DIY finish restored to look brand-new.

Knife scratches, deep gouges, even burn marks can be sanded out and a DIY finish restored to look brand-new. Most companies offer sustainably grown, Forest Stewardship Council-certified woods, including exotics.

All wood expands and contracts with changes in atmospheric moisture, so there is the potential for these countertops to cup, warp, and gap if not properly constructed, installed, and maintained. All wood expands and contracts with changes in atmospheric moisture, so there is the potential for these countertops to cup, warp, and gap if not properly constructed, installed, and maintained. Liquids can penetrate wood, causing stains, cracks, and joint separation—vinegar can actually dissolve glue—so spills, especially water around the sink, should be wiped up right away.

Liquids can penetrate wood, causing stains, cracks, and joint separation—vinegar can actually dissolve glue—so spills, especially water around the sink, should be wiped up right away.

The most common type of butcher block is made from boards placed on their sides and glued so that the narrower edge forms the surface. End-grain butcher block requires more wood and labor, so you'll pay about 40 percent more than for edge grain.

This may expose soft areas in the grain, making these tops more likely to show scratches, dents, and dings. Highlights: Prized for its rich chocolate colors and striking black grain; perfect as an accent piece on an island. Highlights: Hardest of the woods shown, this fine-grain exotic is tough to scratch or dent.

Highlights: An African import; bright gold boards mellow in time to a teak-like brown.

Highlights: Dense, heavy, variegated wood with black stripes on a rich brown background. Maker: Williamsburg Butcher Block Co.; sold at Lumber Liquidators only as a prefab top.

Highlights: New South American find; yellow-brown wood with gray and black streaks. Also known as a beveled edge, this profile boasts a bold angle that works for contemporary as well as traditional kitchens.

A steeply rounded edge with a decorative ridge, typically 1/16 to ¼ inch high. A single slice of wood, often with a live edge that follows the contours of the tree, is a sought-after look for a counter that doesn't see heavy use. Search online for custom and specialty suppliers or find a local woodworker to source and install one. Avoid particleboard or MDF with wood veneer, which can swell when exposed to moisture and limits sanding to fix stains or nicks.

Avoid particleboard or MDF with wood veneer, which can swell when exposed to moisture and limits sanding to fix stains or nicks. To get an accurate price, measure the tops of your base cabinets, then factor in the overhang you want; 1 to 1½ inches is typical. To get an accurate price, measure the tops of your base cabinets, then factor in the overhang you want; 1 to 1½ inches is typical.

A wood kitchen counter is incomplete without a food-safe protective coating on all sides and edges.

Apply liberally with a clean cloth in the direction of the wood grain, let sit for 20 minutes, remove excess, and buff to a satiny finish. Urethane, acrylic, or resin-curing-oil finishes provide superior protection against water, stains, and wear and are food-safe once fully cured.

Adding a stain can enhance the color and grain of a wood countertop, but you'll pay 5 to 10 percent more than you would for the same species in its natural state. You can get a pricey look for less, however, by choosing an inexpensive, light-colored species (such as beech) and staining it a rich color (like walnut).

To DIY, sand off any finish and use a lint-free cotton cloth or natural-bristle brush to apply the stain, then wipe off the excess. It temporarily fills in the grain, so the color will be absorbed more evenly.” —Dan Vos, owner, DeVos Custom Woodworking, Dripping Springs, TX

For a water-resistant barrier, all cutouts, edges, and surfaces must be treated with your choice of finish to seal out moisture. Cutouts that extend slightly beyond the sink lip and over the bowl prevent standing water from saturating the edge, making the counter easier to maintain.

Drop-in sinks work best with clear-coated or factory-finished countertops along with a flexible sealant beneath the rim to protect the wood. Avoid marine varnish; while water resistant, this high-VOC finish is not food safe. Avoid harsh cleansers with ammonia or bleach, which can eat away the finish and raise the grain.

Sprinkle the affected area with a generous amount of table salt and rub it in with a lemon quarter, squeezing juice on the counter-top as you go. Rub on a colored paraffin-wax stick, such as FastCap Softwax, in a shade that matches the wood. Melt a 1-to-4 mixture of beeswax or household paraffin wax and mineral oil in a double boiler.

With its rich color and fancy edge profile, this glossy island top looks at home with a marble backsplash and copper range. Crafted from varied species, this unique counter celebrates wood's natural beauty. Similar to shown: 2-inch end-grain cherry, maple, and mahogany butcher block, about $250 per sq. Simple, sturdy cabinetry in rich, earthy colors calls for a warm, neutral-colored wood island top.

Tight grain and a robust reddish hue make a cherry counter and backsplash a focal point in a space washed with white. Salvaged fir floor joists repurposed as a plank-grain top add character to a space that blends industrial and old-world elements.