When deciding to purchase a wooden tabletop, it is necessary to take into account not only the interior style of the room, but also the practical side of the issue, since the operation of products from this material is associated with a number of features that cannot be overlooked. Particular care must be taken when choosing a kitchen, since a wooden worktop will be exposed to frequent moisture and other negative factors related to the operating conditions of this room.
Choosing the right wood for your kitchen worktop
The wood used for the manufacture of such products must have sufficient hardness, because it will often come in contact with various items of kitchen utensils, and at the same time be stable (resistant to moisture and temperature extremes, due to which the wood is deformed). A wooden tabletop made of such a material is better able to maintain its geometric shapes and sizes, does not crack and does not swell. The following tree species have the best combination of hardness and stability indicators:
- oak;
- nut;
- cherry;
- sweet cherry;
- Iroko
- merbau;
- teak.
In addition to the material, the performance of countertops is also affected by the way they were produced, as well as which coatings and adhesive components were used.
Solid wood kitchen worktops
Solid wood products are most attractive from an aesthetic point of view, because they can have original solutions with a heterogeneous surface texture, such as knots, imitation of aging and other effects. However, due to the tendency of wood to deform changes, a wooden countertop is not quite suitable for use in rooms with high humidity and temperature differences characteristic of a kitchen or bathroom.
Modern paint and varnish and other protective coatings, as well as existing technologies, can significantly protect wood from harmful effects, but over time they lose their properties and require replacement. In addition, this is the most expensive option, especially if the countertop is made of noble breed material. Therefore, the array is mainly used for the production of premium products.
However, the wooden white countertop, made of light wood of natural oak, successfully combines with elements of glass and metal. And if the kitchen is made in a rustic style, this will be the most successful solution, since it is with the help of whole material that you can recreate the old atmosphere of antiquity.
Wooden kitchen worktops from glued wood
The most common products are glued wood. They can be made both from one species of wood, or from a combination of several. First, a furniture board is made from separate boards (lamellas), from which a tabletop of the required size and shape is then cut out, or the lamellas are directly glued and a finished product is obtained.
Due to the fact that the maximum dimensions of the shield are up to 1.3 m wide and 2.5 m long, a wooden tabletop for a kitchen table can be made even for a large family. In addition, this is the most suitable option for the kitchen also because the tension in glued products in wood fibers is not as high as that of countertops made of solid material of large size, and as a result it is less susceptible to deformation changes.
As for the appearance of such countertops, the variety of design solutions is greater, especially if they are made of several types of wood having contrasting colors and textures that can emphasize the rational geometry of modern kitchen furniture.
Worktops from laminated MDF, particleboard and veneered
Laminated countertops from MDF and particleboard panels are made of pressed sawdust. As a coating, a polymer film with the texture of a natural tree of almost any breed is applied. It is in greatest demand among consumers due to its attractive appearance, although it is inferior in performance to its wooden counterparts.
Countertops coated with decorative natural wood veneer are also made from MDF panels, but a shield made of inexpensive wood can also be used. Appearance is not inferior to products made of solid material and glued analogues, but performance is worse - the veneer is deformed and peels off from the base over time.
Advantages and disadvantages
A wooden countertop has such advantages as:
- ease of processing of the material, so that you can make the product of any desired shape;
- the ability to combine several types of wood in one product;
- the elasticity of the material, which reduces the likelihood of chips and cracks on the surface, which often occur on stone countertops;
- when defects appear, it is easily repaired, and this can be done repeatedly.
Disadvantages:
- over time, it is necessary to change the protective coating;
- flammable;
- hot dishes may leave marks on the surface;
- the surface can be scratched with a knife.