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Butcher Block Countertops
Wood countertops are a popular
choice for kitchens today. Since wood is one of the
cleanest and safest kitchen counter materials available,
butcher block countertops are practical as well as
naturally beautiful.
Development and manufacture of modern butcher block
countertops began in the 1880s. It was originally
developed as a more stable and sanitary work area for meat
cutting in butcher shops and called sanitary meat
block. Because of the proven durability of this solid
wood surface, butcher block remains a traditional choice
today for many kitchen items including countertops,
chopping blocks, cutting boards, carts, and islands.
Butcher block countertops are a great way to add beauty and
warmth to a new or remodeled kitchen. Wood is a neutral
counter material that blends well with any color or
decorating scheme and makes an excellent work surface for
several reasons.
Butcher block is solid. It has the durability and
hardness to withstand just about any type of
force. Another benefit to the solid surface is the
fact that it is made of tight grained wood with very small
pores, making it difficult for bacteria to hide and
grow.
Affordability is another reason that butcher block kitchen
counter tops are so widely used. As the least
expensive natural material, butcher block is a great
alternative to granite, marble, and other stones.
Butcher block is unique. Since it is natural, there
are no two pieces alike. Each has its own distinct
grains and patterns.
As mentioned above, butcher block counters are very
versatile when it comes to decorating styles. Cottage
casual, French country, traditional English, American
farmhouse, modern and contemporary kitchens all look
great with wood countertops.
Butcher
block countertop care is simple. Everyday
cleaning includes washing with mild soap and water after
use. Occasionally oiling the surface if it is
unvarnished wood will keep your countertop looking new
for years to come.
Several types of woods are used for making butcher block
countertops. The choices include maple, hickory, red
and white oak, cherry, eucalyptus (
a dark exotic wood similar to cherry), walnut, ash, beech,
birch and teak. Northern hard maple is the type of
wood most traditionally used, but others may be chosen for
different colors and grains. Character and clear
versions are available for many of the woods as well as
mixed varieties, such as maple with cherry.
Instead of replacing current kitchen countertops, many
homeowners choose to use a wood surface in their
kitchen another way. If more space is needed, it is easy
and looks great to add a butcher block kitchen
island, even if existing counters are made of a
different material. Movable islands, such as
butcher block
kitchen carts, are another option to create a
versatile food preparation area in your kitchen that can be
moved away from the area if needed. If the
kitchen is small and does not have an open area in the
middle, another option is butcher block cutting
boards, such as the popular John Boos chopping
block.
Butcher block also works great for storage. Many
knife holders, including the miracle blade butcher
block, are a great way to effectively and
decoratively store and display your cutting utensils.
In addition to butcher block countertops, cutting surfaces,
and storage, this beautiful wood surface has even made its
way into the dining areas of a home. Butcher block
tables have become a popular addition to dining rooms,
eat in kitchens, and breakfast nooks.
Many butcher block manufacturers sell multiple products
such as the popular John Boos Butcher Block.
Video 1: How butcher block countertops are made and the
options available.
Video 2: Maple butcher block Video 3: Do it yourself (diy) butcher block tops Video 4: Handmade butcher block Video 5: Custom made butcher block table
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