Thank you for your question, Charnell! The wear of a wood surface depends on the intended use, the construction style of the surface, and the finish of the surface.

Wood surfaces built in End Grain construction, also known as Butcher Block, are the best surface for chopping and direct food preparation. This is because small wood pieces stand vertically to show only the ends of the wood. The photo attached to your question is an End Grain Butcher Block. End Grain Butcher Blocks are finished with Grothouse Original Oil Finish. It is a food safe oil that requires ongoing maintenance. It allows for the butcher block to be sanded when scratches appear on the surface. When butcher blocks are re-sanded, they look like new!

We also have wood surfaces available in Edge Grain construction. In an edge grain countertop, the wood pieces are laid out with long strips running lengthwise along the countertop. This style of top is very stable and makes for a great surface for counters. This construction style can be used for direct food preparation as long as it is finished with Grothouse Original Oil.

Edge Grain countertops can also be finished with our exclusive Durata Waterproof Permanent Finish. This finish is the most durable finish in the market. It makes the countertop completely waterproof. Direct food preparation, such as cutting and chopping, cannot be done on a countertop with Durata Finish. This is because the knives may scratch the finish. Indirect food preparation is allowed however, for example kneading dough.

Countertops can also be constructed in Flat Grain style also known as Wide Plank style. In a flat grain top the wood pieces are premium-clear wide plank flat sawn boards. These tops are generally preferred for a fine furniture aesthetic surface. Flat grain countertops can be finished with Grothouse Original Oil or Durata Finish. If finished with Durata it follows the same rules as edge grain countertops with Durata Finish.

All Grothouse wood surfaces are covered under our comprehensive lifetime warranty.

For more information about the different construction styles available, read this page on our website: http://www.glumber.com/wood-countertops-design-guide/countertop-construction/.

For more information about our finish options, visit this page on our website: http://www.glumber.com/wood-countertops-design-guide/wood-finish/.

If you have any further questions or concerns please feel free to give us a call at 610-767-6515 or email us at glumber@glumber.com.