If you enjoy a beautiful, warm kitchen in your home, a great way to accentuate your custom cabinetry is to complete the look with a custom wood countertop or bar top.
Custom wood countertops and islands are becoming increasingly popular, as they create a natural, elegant look to the kitchen. Where laminate was affordable and durable, a common upgrade has always been a move to granite for its value, durability, and variety of colors.
However, custom wood countertops are a great alternative and act as a true statement piece in any kitchen, especially with the wide range of woods, inlays, stains and customizability which only wood can employ.
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of using natural wood for your countertops, walk you through the process of how we make them, and discuss all the ways you can customize them for your home or your business.
Pros and Cons of Wood Countertops
There are several advantages wood has when compared to other types of countertops.
Pros
- Beauty
- Wood Variety
- Design & Style (Customizability)
- Durability
- Recyclability
The biggest reason many choose a wooden countertop is because of how beautiful they are. There’s a certain style and elegance to using a natural wood grain in your countertop you can’t find with any other material.
There are many different types of wood you can use for your countertop, so you’ll also have plenty of options to choose from. Some of the most popular hardwoods used for countertops include maple, oak, cherry, and walnut.
You can use a single species of wood for your countertop, or you could even mix and match different woods to create a unique look.
Because you’re using wood, you can also cut, shape, and mold the wood into different designs you might not be able to do with something less malleable like granite or quartz. Wood also can be combined with other materials, like colorful resins, which can add distinct aesthetics to compliment your kitchen.
Finally, wood countertops can be repaired, if needed, and even reused or recycled. They have lasting durability for daily use, but aren’t so permanent they can’t be repaired or repurposed many, many years down the line.
Cons
- Moisture
- Maintenance
Moisture is something you’ll want to be careful about over time as moisture can creep into the pores of the wood. However, with basic care and maintenance, this shouldn’t be much of an issue.
Some maintenance is required, though this is also the case for most any type of countertops. While wood countertops do require some preventative maintenance and an occasional seal, the cost and time to keep them in shape is quite minimal.
How We Make Custom Wood Countertops
Our one-on-one process of working with you includes finding which type of wood you love, what variety of edges and knots you may prefer, the colors of woods and resin, and more.
Many of our clients have remarked they enjoy the process of customizing their one-of-a-kind countertop, and it brings topics of discussion for years to come. Whether you prefer a face grain construction, edge grain construction, or end grain construction look in your kitchen, we can handmake it for you.
All countertops, islands, butcher blocks and matching cutting boards are handmade, in-house, and customized to your liking from cut to finish.
Wood Types & Textures
We make the highest quality wood tops using hardwoods, like walnut, maple, red oak and white oak. Other types of wood could be used, especially in combination with these types, but they may lose durability or become damaged more easily over time.
Edges
We offer a variety of different edge profiles on our wood tops, depending on the application and the wood species. Some edge profiles are more durable than others, and some are more resistant to staining and scratching.
Legs & Corbels
An interesting way to showcase your kitchen island or countertop end is to add legs and corbels. Both legs and corbels can also provide additional support for oversized kitchen islands, where the weight of the countertop may not be fully supported by the cabinets underneath.
Adding legs can also help you extend the wood top further than the counter or island would have gone otherwise, and has the added benefit of being able to provide more open area underneath, for movable islands, bar chairs, or general storage.
Finishes
Deciding on the finish of your custom wooden countertops and islands is a matter of choice and practicality.
Some love the natural feel of wood, but others prefer a more glossy finish. The more natural finish you choose, the more care may be required in order to keep it looking like new, where adding a more glossy finish may aid in sealing the top for maximum durability and protection.
You could also use a stain to modify the hue of the wood, especially if you like the grain of one type of hardwood but prefer a darkened color of the wood to deepen the tone of your kitchen or space.
Add-Ons
Cutting Boards
Have you ever considered the idea of having matching wooden cutting boards for your kitchen countertops or island?
A great alternative to the thin, plastic retail cutting boards available in big box stores, Woodshop QC can create beautiful, durable, heavy-duty cutting boards which not only look fantastic as a natural accent to your new countertops, but are much more functional and long lasting than what you typically find in stores.
Mobile Tuck Under
A mobile tuck under is something we occasionally create to give our clients extra mobility, space, and function in their kitchen.
A mobile tuck under is a mini cabinet or base frame organizer on wheels, usually topped with a cutting board-like surface, all contained in a single unit which can “tuck under” an extended countertop or island. In other words, It’s a multi-functional, mobile part of your cabinets which duals as another surface, as well.
Matching the Rest of the House
You likely have several places throughout the house you can tie in the look and feel of your custom counter tops, as well.
The most common are:
- Wet bar
- Wine case
- Bathrooms
- Utility rooms
- Fireplaces and mantles
Even if rooms or areas throughout your house have different color schemes or décor, using a statement piece such as a wood top can add a beautiful consistency and flow from one room to the next.
Commercial Uses
Restaurants and Bars
In a commercial setting, a bar top made of wood can provide a classic and sophisticated look which is perfect for a wide range of businesses, from upscale restaurants and bars to more casual taverns and pubs.
A wood bar top can also be a great way to add a unique touch to your restaurant or bar and will help it stand out from the competition. Many high-end restaurants or bars may implement special uses, like recessed drink holder cut-outs, or even simple design elements like logo inlays to casually remind their guests of the upscale nature of their surroundings.
Breweries
There are many popular ways to bring the natural and rustic feel into a brewery through the materials or material combinations by using natural wood.
Bar tops and perimeter shelving units are most common, as are tap handles, tables, and even custom wrappings for fermenters and kegs.
Offices and Reception Rooms
If you own a business and have a reception area or large desk which is public facing, a custom wood top can be a statement piece and great way to make a strong first impression to your guests and clients.
This can also be carried throughout the business on desks, within bathrooms, and especially conference tables.
Maintenance
Maintaining wooden countertops is quite simple.
First, the best way to maintain your custom countertops is to prevent damage in the first place.
You should always aim to:
- clean the countertops with a mild soap and water solution, and never use an abrasive sponge or towel.
- always wipe up spills immediately so they don’t soak in or stain the wood.
- use a cutting board when chopping and preparing food so a sharp blade doesn’t slice into the surface of the countertop.
- always use a hot pad or trivet under hot pans, dishes or serving trays to avoid excess heat directly on the wooden surface.
Prevention of these types will help you avoid the majority of problems many experience with their countertops over time.
An additional layer of protection would be to seal your countertops on a regular basis, using a food-safe oil or wood-safe sealer. These can bind a protective layer on top of the wood to help keep the porous woods free of contaminants.
In the vent some damage has occurred, wooden countertops can sometimes be sanded down and refinished and restored to their natural beauty.
