Hmmm. I saw the butcher block in their kitchen catalog–we live 5 hours away from an Ikea. Of course, to save a couple of hundred on counters, I’d do it. My only concerns were (a) quality and (b) thickness. Did you get to actually see the countertops? What did you think?

I am also looking at new kitchen counters and have researched the options.
The idea of a wood countertop is nice. It has a natural look and doubles as a cutting board. However, I have read caution after caution against installing one. Wood countertops are prone to staining, burning, and water damage. If you love the idea of a built in chopping board, the experts tend to agree that it is best to inlay a section of your counter with wood and cover the rest with something else.
If you want a DIY countertop, both laminate and tile are medium difficulty projects.
I recommend Ortho Start-to-Finish Cabinets and Countertops. I’ll be building my tile countertop from its instructions.

I had decided on a wood countertop, but after splashing water all over the counter while washing dishes this morning, now I’m wavering again. Argh.

There is another very inexpensive but high quality place to get a good wood couner top. A little poly and you have a great counter.

The source…

The same material that they put in the back of flat bed trucks. I saw it used on a television show, and they referenced shipping supply yards as the best place to get it, but I have not seen it (really haven’t been looking). If anyone finds it online, be sure to post the link.

Also, with wood, be sure to use plenty of bleach while cleaning your meat prep areas.

Hey guys,

I haven’t seen this particular countertop in person – the nearest IKEA is 3.5 hours for us. If anyone is closer, and gets a chance to check it out, let us know how it looks! I have seen IKEA countertops in their showroom before, and they seemed like a fairly good quality wood.

We’ve wavered back and forth between wood and tile countertop. Still haven’t decided! We installed new formica (the sheet type) in the last apartment we rented, and although it was cheap it was definitely a PITA to cut. It’s very brittle.

We’ll probably end up with tile countertops, in the end. But it’s fun to weigh the options.

~Mindy

Mindy, what about doing a cement counter top? It is a good DIY type of top, takes a good amount of effort, but it really looks nice when done. And you can put cool things in the bottom for a future renovator to find when it is broken apart.

Alex-

I like that idea too, but it seems like a lot of work….. looks great though. Think it’d be more time-consuming than tiling using small tiles?

I think that with concrete, the work done correctly, start to finish, would probably be shorter than tile. However, I would imagine, the first mistake with concrete will set you back much faster than many mistakes with tile. Add to that the fact that it is very difficult to get the cream to the top with a level hand when doing a counter top and it gets tougher. And then add the weight that it carries to an old house, where framing members may need some additional support, and the project quickly escelates. It would be a cool project, but not something that is quick and easy.

For a quick and easy temporary solution, you could always use spraypaint. We used something call Stone Creations. IT turned out so nice that people do not believe it is not some sort of stone counter top.

Before: http://www.santantonio.net/album/photo.aspx?photoid=1193
During: http://www.santantonio.net/album/photo.aspx?photoid=1197
After: http://www.santantonio.net/album/photo.aspx?photoid=1222

We used 9 coats of Poly on it to keep up with the traffic. 2 years later and there are only a handful of chips. It is the perfect solution for us since we will eventually be doing granite or soapstone, but until then didn’t want a green counter.

I have seen lots of granite tile countertops with very tight seams. There are plenty of DIY granite websites out there where you can order stuff. And it really saves on the cost.

Wow – that really does look good. I never would have thought to try spray paint! I know exactly the type you’re talking about, I think I have a can of it lying around somewhere from an old craft project. It might be the quick fix answer we’re looking for. Eventually we want to remodel the whole kitchen (it’s a mess) but for right now we want to make it tolerable – we don’t have the budget for our dream kitchen just yet. The current laminate countertop was once white with gold flecks, but is now covered in stains, and you can’t set your coffee cup down without leaving another one. It looks terrible.

Thanks for the great idea!

Ours took us about $50 worth of paint, $10 worth of plastic, $12 worth of tape, $20 worth of poly (Get the minwax that is made for painted, not stained, surfaces), and about 2 days. I think we sprayed 5 coats to get the good stone look. And it should last you a good 3-4 years at least. We bought the paint from The Home Depot. So go for it, just shy of $100 and you can’t go wrong, just be sure to let the paint dry pretty well between each coat, and also let the poly dry really well before you set things on it.

Cool idea, Alex! Mindy, we also have the dreaded white-with-gold-flecks countertops.

Alex –

$100 for prettier countertops is a great investment – especially if it’ll last a few years. (Since I’m sure we’ll be way behind schedule by the time we get around to the kitchen remodeling!) Thanks for the tips.

Took a look at all the pics on your site – your house is great. And you have some gorgeous furniture. Love all that dark wood.

Alex –

$100 for prettier countertops is a great investment – especially if it’ll last a few years. (Since I’m sure we’ll be way behind schedule by the time we get around to the kitchen remodeling!) Thanks for the tips.

Took a look at all the pics on your site – your house is great. And you have some gorgeous furniture. Love all that dark wood.

Thank you very much! We are trying to buy all pieces from the 1940’s or older (1800’s when we can afford it). The dining room set (http://www.santantonio.net/album/photo.aspx?photoid=2892) was from an antiques store in Cleveland, where we are from. If you can ever make it out there, just ask for the “Lorain Rd. Antique Strip.” Tons of salvage and antique/junk stores. 6 chairs, table, buffet, and china cabinet for $1400. The bedroom set was mostly passed down with the exception of the 19th Century bed (http://www.santantonio.net/album/photo.aspx?photoid=2678) from ebay. The rest of the stuff is largely Pottery Barn, but it is on the way out to make room for more antiques. Next up I REALLY want a 18th – early 19th Century mahogany grandfather clock, time to start saving my pennies.

I did use the butcher block countertop in my Ikea kitchen, which I installed myself in 2002. It is wonderful.

They recommend you treat it with a wood oil they have and also that you treat it with the oil every four months. When my mother was sick and finally passed away a year ago I completely forgot about treating your countertop. I have ignored it for more than a year with no consequences.

I find that the water does not discolour the butcher block. I only had a small whiter spot caused by Javex. You sand away the blemish and apply more oil. That’s all there is to it.

The portion that was cut for the sink I sanded well around the sides and use as chopping board. I love my butcher block countertop.

My husband and I went to our local home and garden show and met Chip Wade of HGTV’s Design to Sell. We were looking for what kind of countertop to buy and he told us to go to IKEA for their butcher block countertops because they are inexpensive and very durable. He told us in April they will air some makeovers they have done using the IKEA butcher block counters. We’re sold and bought ours last weekend and had it shipped right to our door!

Hey…Dont use the wood counter tops around the sink….it will be a disaster…especially the glued up ikea kind…once water gets near the counter top it will twist, warp, separate etc….design your kitchen with tile around the sink or stainless…then use the wood for everything else..I bought the Varde kitchen from ikea and its mostly solid Birch….very nice…but also got the porcelain double sink from ikea and will use a melamine base…and will build a box around it from lightweight white brick and tile over it…seprerating the dish area from everywhere else…going for the commercial look without the commercial look :-)

We used remnant solid wood flooring for our counter tops, the t&g type, Brazillian cherry. I LOVE it, the surface is great and was only sanded upon installation and treated with food safe oil…. I have a vintage porcelean sink and the wood is right against it, silicone applied… gorgeous!

Penny- any chance you have some pictures of your kitchen. I am thinking that may be the way for us to go.- Thanks!

I’d love to look at the photos in the album that Alex Santantonio referred to in his posts, but a password is needed. Any guidelines for that?

thanks

For DIY wood countertops or butcher block tops, even from Ikea, you should use Waterlox Original Wood Sealer tung-oil. It’s great for tops that will not be used as food prep areas. Very good water protection and easy to apply. All you need is a rag.