What are the cons of butcher block counter tops? UPDATE

I don't like the idea of cutting food on one and being unable to bring it to the sink to clean the wood propertly

i just installed some in my garage kitchen. here's the the thing: i wouldn't cut directly on them buecase you're right, you don't want to have to refinish them. but i also wouldn't cut on my stone ones inside.

i sealed mine with several coats of minwax water based polycrylic and i'm not gonna lie, i love them. i took my time and they are smooth as glass. i sealed extra around the sink including the first few inches under the sink (i have an undermount sink in this location).

will they last forever if not treated right, probably not. but they were inexpensive, look great, and i have no doubt will serve me well for a long time.

ETA: I thought I had a pic on my phone but can’t find one. Will snap one tonight. I used the acacia countertop from Lowe’s.

I’m also going to join two 25” pieces to make a 50” wide island.

I’m not a guy overly worried about sanitation I’ll drink from the hose and eat a sandwich when I’m fishing after a quick dunk of my hands in the water after baiting a hook, but having a wood counter where you cook just seems like a bad idea. No matter how you seal it liquids find a way.

I have one. probably only 12 soft on the island. I would never cut directly on it. It's stained and has a varnish so upkeep is easy. Well except for my daughters paint splotches

I have them in my kitchen, several coats of a warm gloss polyurethane and they are very easy to clean. Never cut on them, always use heavy duty poly or wood cutting boards with thick stainless steel trivets for hot stuff.

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He’s looking for a cost effective countertop for a small kitchen that will look good.

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Exactly what I'm looking for. We don't plan on being in this house more than 2 or 3 more years and then it will be a rental property.


Any tips for self installing?

Thanks for the responses

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Are they a pain to keep up?

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Nah. Do a good job sealing it and it can last forever without much care. We have a regular ol wood counter top in our camp that gets neglected all summer every summer. Cleans right up and serves fine all hunting season. It's probably 50 years old now and is still just fine.

It's the way to go IMO.

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For that reason I would go a different route. No renter will put any thought into taking care of that.

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good point

I couldn't ignore the cost savings for going with butcher block. My dad helped me install them a couple of weeks ago. I used a Kreg track saw for the cuts and it all came out looking great. The hardest part was the undermount sink.

I sanded the blocks well, finishing with 400 grit. We used Watco butcher block oil and they are now slicker than glass.


Our granite/quartzite quotes were anywhere from 4k to 8k installed. Not counting the cost of my time (my wife doesn't consider my time as worth anything so why should I?) we came out to around $1200.

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What exactly did you get?

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Hampton Bay unfinished birch butcher block

Home Depot

Had to do a good bit of sanding on them.