Butcher Block Counter top

12 years ago

Hi, I was dreaming of a natural butcher block island, but the company my contractor suggested I order from said any big island has to be sealed and they recommend Waterlox, which gives it some kind of semi-finished look. Has anyone used this? Or not sealed at all...did it crack & split & etc? With 3 littles & their markers is this just an impractical dream anyway? I can deal with a certain amount of ageing...
Help!

Featured Answer

PRO

Craft Art Elegant Surfaces

12 years ago

The short answer - we Definitely recommend going with a high quality wood and having it finished/oiled with Waterlox.

UNFINISHED WOOD: There's nothing intrinsically "wrong" with unfinished wood. But remember - you are truly getting unfinished wood. It can & will easily stain (if anything ever spills on it - and with my own kiddos I know it certainly would at least!).

There is a ton (no, seriously, a ton) of maintenance with unfinished wood. If you do get a spill you have to wipe it up immediately. Not just because it will leave a stain (it will), but also because the added moisture from the spill can (and eventually will) change the moisture in the wood and can lead to rotting, cracking, warping or all of the above.

FINISHED WOOD: We use Waterlox brand on our wood tops. The reason it's WATERPROOF is because it's a crosslinked modified Tung Oil. Basically, the oil goes into the pores of the wood, and it's sealed from the inside out. That means that it's not a separate layer of urethane on top of the wood. The wood Itself is actually filled/finished. (myth- people assume wood can't be waterproof which is totally wrong. It just depends on the finish.)

How to Clean a Waterlox-ed wood countertop:

How to Re-Apply a top coat to a Craft Art wood countertop with Waterlox (every 3 to 5 years):

WATERPROOF: With Waterlox you will never get white rings, and you can certainly have an undermount sink without worry. White rings are a result of condensation between the wood and whatever finish is on top of the wood. If the finish is literally IN the wood, there's nowhere for condensation to exist, and voila! No white rings!

VERY STAIN RESISTANT: The pores being filled are also the reason that it makes your wood top food stain resistant. Stains are when the food (like mustard or red wine) get into the actual wood. With the Waterlox finish that isn't a physical possibilty which means (voila again!) no food stains.

You DO need to use a trivet for things like pans of hot oil right off the stove. Waterlox can be damaged by high heat. Basically, treat the wood countertop like any countertop and use a cutting board and a trivet.

The maintenance of a waterloxed wood countertop is very low and is very similar to granite. Any non-bleach, non-amonia cleaner will do. We actually recommend a vinegar water mixture. It's cheap, easy, and a gentle natural disinfectant. If you notice in 3, 4, 5 years that water isn't beading up on the surface as well as it used to then its time to "re-seal" (apply a fresh top coat of oil similar to resealing your granite).

How to Know When to Re-Apply Oil (typically 3-5 years):

Longer answer than you were expecting, huh? I hope it helps, though! Best of luck.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (12)

User
12 years ago
Google waterlox and read about it. It is a great product for sealing wood. It is also food safe once it cures. If I was installing butcherblock, this is certainly the way I would go.
ammks
12 years ago
I have birch countertops and I sealed them with 4 coats of watco butcherblock finish. I've had them 8 months now and no issues, but I'm also OCD about wiping up spills and splashes immediately. I keep a stack of folded dish towels on the shelf above the sink.
Related Professionals
Muskogee Interior Designers & Decorators · Waco Interior Designers & Decorators · Santa Fe Interior Designers & Decorators · Great Falls Interior Designers & Decorators · Toms River Architects & Building Designers · Austin Architects & Building Designers · Spring Architects & Building Designers · Bloomington Architects & Building Designers · Coldwater Architects & Building Designers · Amherstburg Architects & Building Designers · Sarnia Architects & Building Designers · Nashua Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Pocatello Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Salem Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Salt Lake City Kitchen & Bathroom Designers
Frank M
12 years ago
@ammks - We have the same birch countertops and used 4 coats of watco finish with a very light sanding in between. It's been roughly 4 days since my last coat (and I thought it was safe to start putting things back on the counter) - after about an hour of putting the coffee pot on the counter - it left 4 little pea sized marks from the rubber stoppers on the coffee pot. Have any suggestions as to why this would still be an issue? Thanks!
ammks
12 years ago
@fmilianti- Do you have black streaks now from the rubber? I've gotten those from the feet of my blender and found that spraying with simple green and wiping down removes them immediately. Alternatively you could try coarse salt and lemon or lightly sanding. I would start with a little bit of simple green in the affected area first. Hope this helps.
Frank M
12 years ago
@ammks - Thanks! I will definitely try this. Do you recall when you applied Watco if you put it on pretty thick for each application? There's very much a 'cover' on the counters if that makes sense. They are very soft to the touch though and look beautiful - just want to be sure they keep the water out and remain fairly sturdy!
PRO
Craft Art Elegant Surfaces
12 years ago
Ps. -I know - after all that I have more to say!!- If you like the aged look check out some Distressed options. I've included some photos here. That's my personal favorite look for a wood top.

Photo Credits:
1. Distressed Black Walnut wood island countertop by Craft Art with design by Classic Cabinetry TN
2. Distressed Black Walnut wood island countertop by Craft Art Homeowner submitted photo - requested to remain anonymous
3. Distressed American Cherry wood island with design by Splash Kitchen and Bath
ammks
12 years ago
@fmilianti- Hi, when I did my butcherblock countertops I put a very thin layer of watco on with each of the 4 layers. I used a folded up blue shop towel (the disposable ones) or a cheap foam brush for each layer. I think a thick layer will just glop up and create uneven blobs. Thankfully, even if the layer applied is too thick it can still be sanded down.
With watco the way to go is to do thin layers, allow to dry thoroughly and sand between coats.
It's been a year and my countertops are holding up wonderfully. As I said above, though, I'm very OCD about them. Everything gets wiped up immediately. Anyone who dares to leave a glass or plate on the countertop will be shot on sight ;)
ammks
12 years ago
Oh, and by "cover" I know what you mean. I have a smooth layer on my countertops too. When sanded in between the watco provides a finish that is very smooth to the touch.
Frank M
12 years ago
@ammks - I really appreciate your replies! Now off to tiling, grouting and new cabinetry. It never ends! Thanks again.
ammks
12 years ago
@fmilianti- Great progress so far! Your kitchen is going to be gorgeous!
Kristen Mudd
5 years ago
Did y’all have an issue with the odor from Watco oil? It is giving me head aches!