3 advantages of installing butcher block kitchen countertops

Butcher block countertop is a popular choice of material for kitchens these days, as we’re seeing when looking at family homes for sale. There are many big benefits of butcher block kitchen countertops, as you’ll see below.

About butcher block kitchen countertops

By gluing together straight cuts of wood into thick slabs, a sturdy and stable work surface is created that is ideal for high-traffic areas like those surfaces where you’re making meals daily. Plus, the warm and woody tones of butcher block make it a great option for rustic-style kitchen interiors. There are 3 other important advantages too! They are:

1. Easy to keep clean

Did you know that a butcher block can be cleaned using household cleaning products? Although soap can streak and spot shiny glass or stainless-steel countertops, and acid-based cleaners can damage and erode quartz countertops, both of these cleaners are safe to use on butcher block countertops.

You can learn more about the general maintenance process for a Butcher Block Island by checking out some of the resources over on the construction2style website. Also, food debris can be scraped off a butcher block easily using a plastic spatula, and everyday dish sponges can be used to wipe away any residue.

There are also plenty of homemade and natural cleaning products that can be used to keep your butcher block looking its best. Vinegar can clean and disinfect butcher block countertops when soap and water don’t seem to work. Get rid of stubborn stains too by sprinkling a layer of salt over the area and rubbing with a slice of lemon.

2. Butcher block kitchen countertops are surprisingly affordable

On average, butcher block countertops cost between $20 to $60 per square foot. This makes it a much cheaper option than many other countertop materials, such as:

• Stainless steel
• Glass
• Concrete
• Marble
• Soapstone
• Limestone

Furthermore, if you are handy, butcher block is a popular material of choice for DIY kitchen makeovers. Provided that you have the confidence and safety know-how to cut sheets of wood down to size with a circular saw, you can even take on this home reno yourself.

This DIY project involves creating the necessary holes for sinks and allowing room for appliances like the stove. Then, mount the various segments over a cabinet with screws. Obviously, there’s more to it than that, but those are some of the basic details. You can save a lot of money on installation costs by doing it yourself. Again, only if you can do so safely and have some experience in this area, otherwise leave it to the professionals to install it.

Although alternative countertop materials like quartz can be tempting, these types of work surfaces are usually expensive and aren’t great choices for DIY kitchen renovations. For example, quartz countertop slabs are much too heavy for one person to lift, and they also have to be cut using a wet saw.

Understandably, not everyone has access to these kinds of tools! Thus, you’d hire equipment or outsource the necessary installation work to a contractor, on top of the pricey cost of the materials. It can be a costly process.

3. The butcher block countertop: Highly customizable

Whereas glass and stainless-steel countertops are usually only available in uniform sizes, butcher block is entirely customizable. What does that mean, exactly?

You can pick a hue and pattern of your chosen wood, as well as the wood grain, to suit a specific vision for your kitchen. Butcher block is available in a wide variety of hardwoods, each with a distinct color and character, that can easily tie into the overall scheme of your kitchen. For instance, if you want to create a dark and dramatic vibe, then you can choose teak and cherry woods.

Comparatively, blonde bamboo styles are well-suited to modern family kitchens with sustainable design features that use reclaimed and ethically-sourced elements. Moreover, the final finish of your countertops can be refined via your choice of edge or end wood grain.

Um, Christy, what’s the difference between edge grain and end grain butcher block countertops? Put simply, edge grain is made by placing long boards on their sides and joining them so that their long narrow edges form the surface. In comparison, end grain is made from small rectangular blocks arranged so that the ends are visible on the surface.

A few last words for you and your home

Ultimately, if you are looking for a kitchen countertop material that is warm and accommodating, then butcher block is an affordable choice with plenty of unique perks. Above all, by maintaining butcher block countertops carefully, your kitchen surface should age gracefully allowing you to reap the rewards of this versatile material for years to come.

Keeping your butcher block countertops clean ensures that you can enjoy a safe, sturdy, and long-lasting work surface. To learn more about keeping your kitchen clean, take a look at these DIY household cleaning tips.