Review of wooden kitchen countertops

Designers love to work with natural wood. The elegant and unique wood grain pattern fits perfectly into all styles and blends well with a variety of colors. The interior looks luxurious and thoughtful when such well-chosen natural elements appear in it. Wooden furniture attracts the attention of guests and becomes the centerpiece of the room. Wood creates the character and mood of the interior. Therefore, it is worth taking the choice seriously. On the other hand, if you follow the recommendations of experts, then the decision will be much easier.

In everyday life, "wooden" means something entirely made of wood. In the furniture industry, it is costly to make 100% natural wood, so products of this kind become piece, exclusive. Usually, Many things are called "wooden" in the furniture industry: for example, chipboard and MDF boards covered with wood veneer... Veneer is a thin, even layer of wood. There will be pressed shavings inside the board, so the furniture will be much lighter and cheaper.

It is difficult to work with solid wood slabs: the wood may dry out, deform, and this will not please the buyers. Therefore, they came up with a convenient option: glued wood, when the plates are formed from slab (natural wood-based panels) and glued together. Glued boards are more obedient, they are not driven away by moisture or drying out, like solid wood products. This material allows you to embody different ideas and configurations of furniture.The designers went further and suggested making the tabletop itself out of wood, and choosing the base from budget materials. So the purchase will be cheaper, but the beauty and properties of the tree will remain, and it will be even easier to bring, move and install a set or a kitchen island.

Why is buying and installing wooden furniture so controversial? The process of working with wood requires more labor, knowledge and experience. Most craftsmen make kitchen furniture from chipboards - simply, quickly, in a variety of ways. Slab headsets are such constructors: inexpensive, predictable and comfortable.

The tree, even after drying, remains a "living" material and requires attention and accuracy from the master when working.

And here if we talk about care, then the wooden countertop has not so many whims... Of course, the surface will react to moisture, temperature, mechanical damage. However, any other material will also lose its appearance if the owners begin to neglect the simple rules of care.

So, the disadvantages of wooden countertops are.

• Price. The cost is influenced by the size, species and quality of wood, the services of a carpenter or joiner, if you buy a finished product. The more a particular wood is valued in professional circles, the more expensive the countertop is.
• Delicate daily care. The tree requires careful treatment and special means to prolong its service.
• The need for restoration. The surface of the countertop needs to be renewed periodically.
• Risk of fire. Special formulations help to reduce the fire hazard.

Fans of wood in the interior emphasize its undoubted merits or pluses, of which there are many more.

• Natural origin of the material. Treated wood does not emit harmful compounds, which means it is safe and environmentally friendly in the house.
• Aesthetics. The patterns on the wooden canvas are beautiful in themselves. Over time, the pattern becomes more contrasting and noble. You can choose a color for the interior from pale light with barely noticeable lines to reddish shades and rich brown and dark, almost black options. The tree has a very wide color palette, which depends on the species and processing.
• The possibility of restoration. Wooden surfaces are amenable to processing, so the surface can be updated, to hide varnish chips, scratches or hot marks, making them invisible or removing them completely.
• Variability of finished products. The material is versatile and allows you to work on a turnkey basis.
• Processing the edge of the table top. The edge of the tile products is processed with a special tape-tape to protect the product from moisture and maintain its shape. At a tree, the edges can be rounded, made straight or curly.
• Endurance. Wood can withstand mechanical damage, temperature extremes, humidity (within certain limits), and sunlight. Other materials under similar loads can crack, break, and lose their appearance.
• Durability. Wooden furniture serves for decades.

Wood of different species differs visually and in terms of operational characteristics. Visually, these are the features of the pattern, the natural color of the wood, the saturation of the shade, the play, the contrast. It is easy to change the color using special varnishes, stain or paint. More attention should be paid to the density, hardness and moisture resistance of the tree. These qualities depend on the type of wood.

Beech and oak products will last a long time, so they will be especially good in the kitchen. From rare and expensive - membrane, iroko, wenge and teak, they will make the interior exclusive and luxurious. A larch countertop is not the cheapest option, but one of the best.This is the most resistant breed to humidity and temperature changes, so it is worth the money.

It will be easier to look after her. Pine, spruce and birch, traditional materials for our region, are distinguished from economical options. Also, the countertop can be made of ash, walnut, sweet cherry, cherry. These breeds look very elegant, giving the impression of a vintage interior.

Wooden elements in the kitchen look great in the form of accent pieces. If the facades of the cabinets can be painted or varnished, then it is better to cover the countertop with transparent compounds - oils or impregnations. This surface will be in contact with food, so it is worth looking for impregnation marked "may come in contact with food." Then the composition will make the wood resistant to moisture changes and detergents.

It is not worth covering the countertop with paint: due to frequent mechanical damage (scratches, cuts, dents), you will have to renew the coating more often. But you can treat the wooden surface with wood stain, achieve the effect of aged wood, then the pattern of the rings will become brighter and more contrasting. If the countertop will not be used as a work surface, then it can be painted with colored glaze, and then a finishing coat of interior varnish can be applied.

If we talk about color combinations, then the designers using natural wood in the kitchen interior, prefer to combine it with traditional and calm shades: white, blue, green, gray, beige, sometimes dark. It is worth paying attention to these combinations.

This rule applies not only to walls, but also to other furniture: the matte green facade of the curbstone is easier to beat than bright pink. Besides, soothing colors are better suited for staining the most wooden furniture... In terms of materials, other natural materials will support a wood countertop. For example, glass, ceramic, metal and stone interior details.

Whichever durable wood you choose for your countertop requires some maintenance. Try to wipe off wet, oily and other marks immediately. If the stain has time to paint the surface, then the trail can be sanded with sandpaper with a fine abrasive, and then the protective coating can be renewed. But wiping off immediately is much faster and easier. While absorbing water, the wood swells, and so that it does not spoil its appearance, do not leave wet rags, towels on the countertop, use holders for dishes and fruits.

Do not place dishes that have just been removed from the fire on the tree. This can darken the wood, especially light-colored species - birch or ash. But the temperature of about 60 ° C (the temperature of a cup of hot tea or a bowl of soup) the tree will tolerate calmly. For pans and pots, you will need hot coasters. Wooden furniture can absorb moisture or dry out from constant dry air. Oils and impregnations will help keep furniture in excellent condition. It is enough to carry out the procedure once a year, following the instructions on the package.

It can be varnished once every 2 years. Before applying, you need to clean the surface of the old varnish with an emery cloth, check that there are no chips or cuts, and level where necessary. Once dust and debris has been removed, varnish can be applied. Wait until it dries completely so that there are no traces left. These rules are pretty simple, and we follow many of them every day when we work in the kitchen. Observing them is not so difficult, but wooden furniture will last longer and will become a real decoration of the interior.

You will learn more about choosing a wooden countertop for the kitchen from the video.