How to prepare a butcher block countertop

Any finish is safe to use on a butcher–block table or countertop that will not be used as a cutting surface. If the surface won’t be cut on, the answer is simple: Any film-forming finish you would normally choose for durability and appearance will be just fine (Photo 1).

PRIOR TO INSTALLATION:

Your new countertop needs to rest flat/horizontally with air flow around all sides for at least one week to adjust fully and evenly. Once installed, wash your block by hand using dish soap and warm water. Allow the butcher block to dry completely after washing.

We generally recommend a natural oil finish for the butcher block tops we sell to homeowners due to the ease of application and maintenance. We sell the full line of Rubio Monocoat products and can include them with your butcher block order.

Food prep, chopping and finishing instructions

Butcher Block Oil to all surfaces, top, bottom and all four sides. A new unfinished butcher block or wide plank top should have at least two coats of butcher block oil before being used.

Waterlox is a superb choice for finishing wood countertops because it produces an incredibly appealing and durable surface. It is waterproof, food-safe and easy to maintain. Waterlox literally locks out water and locks in the natural beauty of wood.

If you want to chop directly on the surface of a wood countertop then you’re going to want to use a mineral oil finish or other 100% food safe oil like butcher block wax or walnut oil to name a few.

Apply a maintenance coat of linseed oil every four weeks. A lightly used countertop may only need to be touched up every six to eight weeks. The linseed oil adds hardness and water resistance. You can tell that a new coat is needed by splashing a few drops of water onto the surface.

While butcher block countertops do require routine maintenance, resealing the surface is only required after every 6-12 months depending on the level of use. The same goes for natural stone countertops, which must be resealed over time to maintain the original quality and look.

Sealing Butcher Block Countertops with Mineral Oil

To seal butcher block with mineral oil, you simply apply the mineral oil generously, let it soak in, and wipe off the excess. You need to do it fairly regularly at first but then only about once a month after you’ve gotten through several applications.

Placing hot pots and pans directly on the butcher block surface is one of the most common mistakes homeowners make. It is also one of the most problematic. The hot items can burn and even break the wood, leaving permanent damage, in most cases.

Con: Butcher–block is susceptible to scratches, dings, and stains. If you plan on chopping directly on your countertops, you’re going to end up marking things up a little (or a lot). That glass you dropped might just leave a dent, and the wine inside could settle into a stain. Pro: But they’re easily restored.

Once sealed, wood countertops are sanitary for chopping meat, and hot pots and pans can easily be placed on the surface because wood countertops are heat-resistant. Treat wood countertops with mineral oil every month. Stains can be sanded out; just be sure to re-oil the area to protect the surface.

While pretty, butcher block countertops require much more maintenance than their marble or stone counterparts. On average, this kind of re-treating must be done once a year, but it also depends on how you use the countertop. The positive is that, if maintained properly, these countertops can last a very long time.

Butcher Block Works With Hardwood Floors

It coordinates beautifully with the hardwood floors, and gold cabinet pulls.

You might want your kitchen floor to be darker than the countertops if you’re going for a high-contrast modern design. However, there are no concrete rules when it comes to kitchen design. If you’re going for a modern, contemporary look, then you might want to consider a dark kitchen floor with lighter countertops.

Putting butcher block around a sink is risky enough, even without the sinks being under-mounted. You definitely have to make sure to use silicone around the sink seam and also use a good wood sealer. Basically, it would seem the biggest con of having butcher block counters is having to think about them.

There are a wide range of wood species options, alongside grain types, finishes, and edge details. Lastly, butcher block is an affordable material, generally costing less than granite. If you have a smaller budget, then butcher block is a beautiful option that doesn’t put strain on your bank account.

Taking care of the counters is fairly simple. Every four to six weeks when the counters start to look and feel dry, we treat them with a butcher block wax/oil combo. We use a food safe butcher block oil / wax combo and we’ve been pleased with the results; I’ve also read that you can simply use mineral oil.

Laminate is the most affordable material for use in countertops. It comes in a wide variety of colors and styles, many of which are created to look like granite, marble or other high-end materials.

Painting Countertops

This is possibly the least expensive way to cover up old countertops, especially old wood or linoleum countertops. It’s very easy to paint your countertops yourself. Just sand, prime and then paint. You can use a pad sander, but sanding by hand will work just fine.