If you want to redo your kitchen, there are a lot of different countertop materials to consider. Most people think about granite, quartz, and marble countertops.
Butcher block is often forgotten because many people have myths about it. Which are these myths? Here they are.
The butcher block is high maintenance.
Many people must know that taking care of and maintaining a butcher block countertop takes a lot of time. But this isn’t true.
Butcher block countertops do need to be cared for, but they won’t take up much of your time and aren’t that different from caring for other materials.
To keep your butcher block countertop looking and working its best, reseal the surface. You should do this once or twice a year, depending on how often you use your counter.
Butcher block countertops are easier to keep clean and fix than other materials. If your countertops get dents or scratches, you can sand them down and put a new coat of sealant on them.
The countertops scratch easily.
People also worry that butcher block countertops will get scratched easily, which is another reason they don’t use them. People worry that their countertops won’t look good and will be an eyesore in their kitchens instead of a beautiful focal point.
Even though they are softer than stone and will get nicks more easily, the same is true of slate and other hard stones.
If you slide something unfinished over a butcher block countertop, you are about as likely to scratch it as you are to scratch a countertop made of a different material.
No matter what material you use, you need to be careful with this.
To protect your surfaces, use a food-safe coating. This will protect the natural wood from scratches. And, as was said above, if your countertops get scratched over time, you can sand down the finish and reapply the sealant to make them look new again.
The countertops aren’t durable.
Some people decide not to put butcher block countertops in their kitchens because they are worried about how long they will last. In reality, butcher blocks last about the same amount of time as a number of other materials.
When well maintained, they can last about 20 years, the same as laminate and cultured marble.
To extend the life of your countertops, seal the surfaces at least once or twice a year with a sealant that is safe for food and water. You also should smoothen the scratches and stains with sandpaper.
The countertops hold a lot of germs and bacteria.
Everyone has heard it. Butcher block countertops are dirty and dangerous because they hold germs. But this is just a story. Yes, wood is porous, but if you take care of your countertops, you should be able to use them to prepare food and do other cooking-related tasks in a clean way.
To keep your countertops clean, make it a habit to clean them after each use, just like any other material.
Remember that you can’t place a raw steak on any countertop and expect the spot where it was, free of germs or bacteria.
Ensure the butcher block countertop you choose doesn’t have a coating that lets water through.
By doing this, bacteria won’t get into the wood itself. After using the counter, always clean it with either soap and warm water or vinegar and water.
The countertops aren’t water resistant.
Many rumors also say that butcher block countertops can’t stand up to water or heat, but this is untrue.
Yes, water can get into wood countertops that aren’t sealed. The trick is to give your countertops a finish that doesn’t let water in. This will make it less porous.
Several mineral oil products that are safe for food will protect the wood from anything you put on the countertop. Then, all you have to do to protect your countertop is put on a new coat of sealant about twice a year.
It’s not too hard. Even though it’s true that you can’t let water sit on butcher block countertops or they’ll warp, the same is true for stone.
Marble kitchen countertops NC can get permanent stains from water. Like marble, butcher blocks need to be cleaned of any standing water to keep them from getting damaged.