Exploring the Charm and Maintenance of Wood Countertops
Over the past few weeks we’ve been looking at and talking about tons of the different nuances and details and looking at examples related to stone and solid surface countertops. Today, we’re going to switch it up a bit and start taking a look at some of the details related to wood countertops, including trade-offs. We’ll start by saying that if it helps to talk to a kitchen and bath professional, feel free to reach out to our company because there are so many options that sometimes too many options is almost as bad as not enough options.
The countertop in the picture below is one of the simplest and purest types of wood countertops. This is an edge joined flat-sawn wood countertop with a natural stain and a low sheen finish. The craftsmanship used in the building and installation has been well executed. The sides of the countertop base have used the same full length boards so that the side panels match the countertop. The end grain is exposed at the edge, but instead of detracting from the overall aesthetic, the exposed and grain highlights the authenticity and realness of the solid wood.
In the construction industry, the term solid wood is used to mean several contradictory types of things. Rightfully, many people in the industry, myself included, take issue with what I consider to be misuse of the terminology. It’s like the word organic, in the United States, the word can mean almost anything you want it to mean. The USDA says that for 3 years prior to harvest of the plant, in the case of vegetables, there are certain chemicals that can’t be directly applied to the soil. Essentially, that means that anything, not on their limited list can be applied to the soil including non-organic chemicals. It also means that a lot of what reasonable people will consider to be toxic chemicals can be applied directly to the leaf and fruit produce of vegetables and still be technically called organic from a marketing perspective.
A similar misleading, and confusing conundrum applies to wood and wood by-products in cabinetry and countertops. Even in the case of the picture above which we consider to be a near pure example of solid wood is it actually one continuous piece of a flat slab cut from a single tree, instead it’s an amalgamation of individual boars, joined adge to edge.
The countertop in the picture below has a bit of the warmth and natural colored tone found in wood materials but it’s actually a solid surface countertop.
Wood countertops and cabinet materials that are sometimes misleadingly referred to as “solid wood,” could actually be one of the following types of materials:
- Engineered Wood:
- Description: Made from wood fibers, particles, or veneers bonded together with adhesives.
- Examples: MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard), particleboard, plywood.
- Often used as a core material with a wood veneer surface.
- Less expensive than solid wood but can be less durable and more susceptible to moisture damage.
- Wood Veneer:
- Thin slices of wood glued onto a substrate (often MDF or particleboard).
- Provides the appearance of solid wood at a lower cost.
- Can be book-matched for aesthetic appeal.
- Less durable than solid wood and can’t be refinished multiple times.
- Thermally Fused Laminate (TFL):
- Melamine-impregnated paper fused to a substrate under heat and pressure.
- Offers a wood-like appearance but is entirely synthetic.
- More affordable and often more durable than real wood, but lacks authenticity.
- High-Pressure Laminate (HPL):
- Similar to TFL but with more layers and higher pressure in manufacturing.
- Can mimic wood grain very convincingly.
- More durable than TFL but still not real wood.
- Wood-Plastic Composites:
- Made from wood fibers and thermoplastic materials.
- Often used in outdoor applications due to moisture resistance.
- Can look like wood but lack the warmth and texture of real wood.
- Reclaimed Wood Products:
- Made from recycled wood but may be processed and reformed.
- Can be a mix of solid wood pieces and engineered components.
- Somewhat environmentally friendly, in some cases, but may not have the consistency of new solid wood.
- Acrylic-Impregnated Wood:
- Real wood that’s been infused with acrylic resin.
- More durable than natural wood but loses some of its natural properties.
In my personal opinion, HPL and TFL should never be referred to as solid wood, in almost any circumstances because it’s almost always misleading.
The countertop and backsplash in the image below looks like real wood, is pretty close, but is actually a manufactured veneer product.
The next countertop shown in the picture below is also not an actual solid wood material. It could be a veneer but one of the elements that gives it away, right away, is the edgeband does not show the end grain that would be perpendicular to the long grain or flat grain shown at the horizontal work surface of the countertop.
The next picture below shows a dining room table surface, table tops and countertops are different, but this table top is covered with glass for a good reason. Just like a kitchen countertop where people are making and preparing food, at a dining table people are eating food and naturally the process makes a mess. The glass countertop protects the wood surface below because the wood surface is sensitive and easily stained or damaged. The point is, countertops are the same and wood countertops lack a significant amount of the durability and stain proof nature of most solid surface countertops.
In this coming week, we’re going to talk more about wood countertops and look at some of the methodologies and products that can be used to seal and protect wood countertops.
Dupont Kitchen & Bath Can Help
As dedicated and local DC metropolitan kitchen and bath builders and installers, we pride ourselves on turning your visions into reality. Your kitchen can reflect your unique style and be designed with personalized aesthetics. It can be a process from creative designs to the realization of your dream space. Specializing in kitchen and bath construction, we bring expertise and skills to every project. If you’re contemplating a renovation, upgrade, or modernization in the local market, we’re happy to be your team. Consult with us, and we can start together on a path to redefine and elevate your DC living experience.
You can visit our company website at https://dupontkitchenbathdc.com/
Here at our website you will find a simple and convenient web form that you can fill to contact us quickly.
