You may hear about finishing butcher block countertops quite often. But what does that actually mean? Well, it’s a true thing that the name itself can be pretty misleading. So, consider taking your time to understand deeper about one of the most suggested countertops for slicing and chopping—just like a true butcher!
A true butcher block is mostly used as a work surface. This surface itself is made from strips of wood, all glued together to form a kind of slab. It can be said as one of the countertops that never goes out of style; not to forget that the slab itself is eco-friendly and biodegradable. You’ll find butcher-block countertops in many rustic farmhouses, as it brings a glimpse of an earthy element to your kitchen. Warmly natural—that’s what they say.
If you desire to make butcher block as part of your countertops, you can have two finishing butcher block countertops, depending on the countertops use.
Lacquer finish
For general use, such as for dining surface, consider adding a lacquer finish. This kind of finishing is definitely fast drying, waterproof, transparent, and it isn’t prone to yellowing as it ages. Hence, if you’re that kind of person who’s too lazy to maintain your furniture, lacquer is the right finish to go.
Oil finish
In contrast with the earlier kind of finish, oil finish acts well to laminate your butcher block countertop when it’s used for slicing, chopping, or any kinds of meal-prepping processes. It’s not an only once process, you will need to reapply that finish periodically.
Aside from choosing the right finishing for butcher block countertops, you should also choose the right species of wood. Generally, you will find cherry, walnut, oak, and maple wood to be used as the main material to make the butcher block.
For a countertop that serves well for broader purpose, the higher the wood density, then it’ll be better. Also, make sure that you pick a closed-grain hardwood to make sure the wood isn’t easily broken even after chop-chop or slice-slice. One type of wood that matches all the qualifications mentioned earlier is maple.
Even though maple is said to be the ultimate option for butcher block countertop, that doesn’t mean you have to be focused only on that material. Never hesitate to choose on other material that suits your preferences, but make sure that you apply the type of finish suitable with the main use of the butcher block countertops. That way, you can get the best benefit from finishing butcher block countertops.
