Before embarking on the design of a wooden counter, several elements must be considered.

First, you need to determine whether a measurement is necessary. Is the piece of wood placed on a self-supporting element or is it integrated? Be aware that without taking a measurement, you are responsible if adjustments need to be made.

Secondly, ask yourself what you will use the wooden counter for. Will you use your counter as a simple decorative surface or will you use it to work on and perhaps even cook directly?

Subsequently, here are other points to consider before finalizing your choices.

Wood species

The choice of wood species is generally made according to the design of the space and other surrounding materials. The important thing is to choose a hardwood, that is to say with good density and resistance to shocks. All our native wood species such as maple, ash, cherry, white oak or walnut are hard enough for the manufacture of a solid wood countertop.

However, if you want a wood surface for cooking, cutting, and shaping food, it is important to choose a closed-grain wood such as maple, birch, cherry, or walnut. Open-grain woods such as oak are a no-no.

Thicknesses

Typically wood countertops are between 1 and 2 inches.

It is possible to make a countertop ¾ thinner for a nice minimalist effect, but you have to make sure you have a screwing surface underneath it.

Otherwise, choose between 1 ¼'', 1 ½'', 1 ⅝'' or 2''. Depending on the choice of assembly of the boards, it is possible to make thicker countertops up to 3'' or even 6''. We will see countertop surfaces this thick, especially for butcher blocks.

Assembly

We consider that there are three types of assembly for a counter.

1. Regular: Like a regular wooden table top, this involves gluing 2'' to 6'' wooden boards flat to make a fairly uniform surface.

 

 

2. Glued laminated timber: This involves gluing together thinner boards of wood, 1'' to 2'' thick, which will be placed on their edge. The wood on the edge is even harder than flat wood and allows us to make much thicker surfaces. This is an ideal countertop assembly for cutting boards or kitchen work surfaces. In this case, a non-toxic food-grade glue and a food-grade natural oil finish are used.

 

 

 

 

3. Standing timber assembly commonly called "butcher block". These types of countertops are used for cutting and preparing food. It is then an assembly of end-grain wood boards. It is ultra resistant to knife cuts since the hardness of the end-grain wood assembled in a square is multiplied. In this type of countertop manufacturing, a non-toxic food-grade glue is used and a food-grade natural oil finish in turn.

 

Specifications

Additionally, there are various details to specify when you are ready to order your solid wood countertop.

• The type of border or edge finish is something to plan for. Do you want straight or slightly rounded edges for added softness and comfort?
• Do you want a 45 degree or 90 degree corner assembly?
• Is a fallout required in the case of an island?

Finishing

Depending on the use of the wooden counter, there are two possible types of finish.

If you do not plan on doing any food preparation or cutting on it, it is suggested to apply a lacquer . This finish is a spray-on varnish in a paint booth that requires no maintenance and is highly resistant to wear, stains or fading.

If you plan on cutting your food on your counter then it should be protected with a natural food grade oil .

You will have to be more careful because the wood, despite being sealed and protected, remains more porous. You will have to plan to apply oil to maintain it in the short or medium term, depending on use.

Interview

You can refer to our page on solid wood maintenance for valuable tips on how to take care of your countertop. This depends on the finish chosen for the wood surface.

The golden rule: Prevention is better than cure!

In summary, the main difference between the different types of solid wood countertops lies in the choice of wood, style, finish, thickness, and cost. The choice will depend on your aesthetic preferences, your budget, the maintenance you are willing to provide, and the intended use of the countertop. It is important to consider these factors to choose a solid wood countertop that best suits your needs and space.