Wood Countertop Pros & Cons
Wood countertops have many pros and cons. They can be inexpensive, low maintenance and an environmentally responsible design choice. They can also be the exact opposite: expensive, high maintenance and an environmental irresponsible. Does this Spark an idea?
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Cost
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Butcher-block countertops tend to be one of the cheaper options, especially when compared with granite. Installation of maple butcher-block countertops will be half the price than that of granite. But maple is a cheap option because it is a common wood and readily accessible. Build a butcher-block countertop out of teak or another exotic hardwood and your cost will rise.
Design
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Wood countertops reflect a different design aesthetic. Wood is warm, while granite is cold and stainless steel is sterile. Wood countertops also reflect signs of everyday kitchen abuse. Butcher-block requires TLC to erase dents.
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Function
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Butcher-block allows you to use it as a cutting board. But it will show every knife nick, dent and every other sign of everyday kitchen abuse. As for extreme kitchen abuse, you can't take a pan hot from the oven and place it on a wood countertop without leaving a burn mark.
Maintenance
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A simple sanding can erase any sign of abuse, from dents to burn marks. Butcher-blocks also require monthly mineral oil treatments to keep the surface clean.
Environmental Concerns
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Using reclaimed lumber for your countertop is environmentally conscious and also reflects an individual design aesthetic. It is, in some opinions, environmentally irresponsible to use exotic hardwoods for countertops. The use of teak, for example, is frowned upon because some species are endangered.
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