The Upsides And Downside Of Timber Kitchen Benchtops
A kitchen benchtop is something you would glance at hundreds of times in a week, if not thousands of times. So you should choose something you love to look at that does the job. Timber benchtops offer a treat for the eyes even when clear and empty of tasty food.
While timber bench tops do need regular care and attention, they come with plenty of upsides.
Wood Is Naturally Beautiful With Great Variety Of Colors
The main benefit of a timber benchtop is its beautiful natural appearance that brings warmth into the kitchen. Added to this is the great choice of timbers on offer, each with distinguishing colours and grains. In Australia, countertops are constructed from native hardwoods such as Tasmanian oak, Victorian ash, Blackbutt, Spotted gum, Brushbox, Blackwood, Jarrah, Ironbark and others. Blackbutt timber shows off a creamy brown with a hint of pink; Ironbark ranges from red-brown to deep brown; the heartwood or middle of Jarrah displays as dark red and the outer sapwood as light yellow. The great variety of beautiful woods for kitchen benchtops provides plenty of choice for the kitchen renovator.
Wood Can Carry Wear And Tear
While timber is relatively easily scratched, stained or burnt, on the plus side it can be resanded and finished to look new again. Not only that, but natural wear and tear, within reason, provides wood with a beautifully weathered patina. Wood is one surface where aging adds to its charm; being natural and warm, the weathering increases its appeal. You only need to look to the shabby chic trend in which wooden furniture is deliberately aged to get the look.
But Wood Requires Regular Maintenance
While the weathered look is a big plus for timber, you do need to maintain i,t both for protection and to prevent the wood from drying out. Wood needs periodic coating with polyurethane or wood oil. Polyurethane provides a glossy sheen and more protection than wood oil. Coating a timber benchtop with wood oil offers a lovely matte finish, but you will need to repeat the process to maintain the protective film more regularly.
Timber is an excellent choice for kitchen benchtops. After having one for a while, it will become second nature to simply place hot pans on the side of a metal sink or on a trivet and to take care when cutting or with hot drinks. For the minimal work of periodic coating, you get in return a beautifully textured surface that is one of a kind. To get the best value, a kitchen wholesale supplier should be able to advise on the availability of local timber benchtops.