Care and Maintenance for Butcher Block Countertops
By Frederick
M. Hueston, stoneforensics.com
Butcher block wood
is widely considered the healthiest building material in the world. The solid
wood represents a reliable, sturdy material that can last very long without
requiring excessive protection. However, Butcher Block is a natural living
material and, unlike man-made materials, it reacts to different environments in
specific ways. We would like to draw your attention to the basic maintenance
instructions for Butcher Block countertops. Following these directions will
result in having a great looking, easy to maintain custom countertop that will
last for many years.
Tops with a Mineral Oil Finish
The countertop must be oiled carefully on top, bottom
and sides, giving a special attention to the end-grain area, as the section
that the wood is most likely to absorb humidity through. Each cut or drill you
make in the countertop (either for size adjustment, sink cutout or other
purposes) must also be oiled thoroughly. Proterra mineral oil (Hesse, Germany)
is a product that we recommend for kitchen tops applications given that it was
specially designed to come in contact with foods. For situations where there is
a great deal of humidity involved (like sinks, water faucets, etc) the mineral
oil only will not assure the best protection and it is advisable to use
polyurethane or any other similar finishing instead.
With a soft brush, oil the wood generously on all
sides or simply pour a small quantity of oil on the wood and then spread it
with the brush. Let the wood soak the oil for about 20-30 minutes and then
remove the excess with an absorbent paper towel. When the top is first installed,
it is advisable to apply 2-3 successive coats of oil, after which, the oil can
be applied once several months or whenever needed. Every time you sand the area
to remove scratches or cut marks, a new coat of oil must applied.
Maintenance
In order to keep your top clean, periodically scrape
or brush away any food residues existing on its surface, wash with warm soapy
water and dry it well using either a dry cloth or paper towels. Apply a new
coat of oil any time needed. Alternatively, you can warm up a 1:4 combination
of beeswax and mineral oil until the mixture becomes homogenized and then apply
it uniformly on top’s surface, thus getting supplementary protection against
both stains and humidity.
Avoid setting your butcher block next to extreme heat sources
like stoves unless there is appropriate insulation between the heat source and
the top. Avoid spilling vinegar on a wood top having a mineral oil finishing,
as it can cause cupping or cracking. Do not use corrosive chemicals or
excessively harsh detergents on a wooden top having a mineral oil finishing, as
they can cause irreversible depreciation.
Repairing
If properly installed and sealed and periodically
oiled, there is no reason that your top won’t last a long period of time in the
same good shape it was when new. Sometimes however, due to poor maintenance and
improper environmental conditions, some problems might arise; it is our duty,
therefore to inform about these problems and the way to solve them.
· Cupping
and warping
Are prone to appear whenever there is a significant
difference of moisture between the topside and the bottom side of the panel. If
possible, place the top on a flat, hard surface, concave side facing down. On
the convex side, uniformly place some fairly heavy objects. It will take up to
12 hours until the panel will straighten completely, after which, oil it
abundantly on all sides.
If it is not possible to manipulate the top, simply
apply generously mineral oil on the concave side until the panels straightens.
In this case, however, you might need to repeat this operation several times to
obtain the desired result.
· End
splits
Will manifest whenever the panel is placed in an
excessive dry environment without being properly sealed. To repair, mix wood
sand with a small amount of water-based wood glue and fill the cracks
thoroughly. Allow 15-20 minutes to cure, sand the area with a 120 grit sand
paper and then oil the top freely.
· Scratches,
cut marks and food stains
Can be removed by sanding uniformly the affected area,
brushing away the resulting wood dust and applying a new coat of mineral oil.
The finger-jointed panels can be sanded to a 3/8” depth, while for the
continuous lamella panels and the end-grain butcher blocks, there are no such
restrictions.
Tops with a Polyurethane Finishing
A solid wood surface finished with polyurethane based
finishing requires no maintenance at all. However, scratches, cut marks and
other damages will be difficult to repair; therefore extra care is required.
Keywords:
solid hardwood tops, wood countertops, butcher blocks,
healthy products, kitchen butcher block, countertops, ecological finishes,
cabinets and countertops, kitchen cabinets countertops, end grain butcher block
