Are Butcher Block countertops cheap?

Last Updated on September 12, 2024

When it comes to kitchen renovations or make-overs, butcher block worktops – known as wooden worktops – are one of the top picks among British households. As a natural product, wood radiates a positive, homely feeling, which binds the whole family together. Laminate, compact laminate, granite and quartz worktops are other types of worktops that are very popular – with each having its pros and cons and a unique look and style, but of course, each comes with a different price bracket. Granite and quartz are predominantly popular with high-specification kitchens, due to their higher price tag. While others, such as wooden, laminate, and compact laminate worktops are known to be a more affordable option, with compact laminate worktops being slightly pricier.

Butcher block worktops, together with laminate, are one of the most affordable kitchen worktops. A lower-priced butcher block worktop range is beech wood, which is priced slightly higher than laminate. Many factors influence the cost of countertops, including raw materials, supply and demand, economies of scale and availability.

One thing is for sure, households should not judge countertops solely based on their price tag. Laminate worktops are a more affordable option due to their mass production and relatively low raw material cost.

What is the cheapest Butcher Block worktop?

A beech worktop is considered to be a cheap kitchen worktop option due to the abundance of beech trees in European hardwood forests. Beech worktops are cheaper, compared to oak or walnut but are still durable and long-lasting. Depending on the size, a beech worktop is approximately 20-35% lower in price compared to oak.  Therefore, the price tag of a countertop is not necessarily determined predominantly by product quality. Households should pick the best butcher block worktop, to fit the style and budget of their kitchen.

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Is a Butcher Block countertop hard to maintain?

Every good thing comes with its price tag. Whilst wooden worktops add a homely feeling, they do require care and maintenance. This might be considered a drawback by some, as the surface has to be oiled when needed. However, the oiling aspect is a pretty easy, straightforward process – which does not require any particular skill or experience. Every butcher block worktop owner will know how to oil their worktop, and this is a great advantage as those worktops are fully repairable, which is as easy as the oiling process. The ease of repair is one of the most important characteristics. It is as simple as that – simply sand the damaged spot with a sanding paper of grit 120 (always along the direction of the grain) and then re-oil.

The most convenient time to oil a worktop is before going to bed – the oil will have sufficient time to soak into the wood and will allow the hard wax to cure.
A drop of water test is the real indicator if additional coats need to be reapplied.

If you need additional help with oiling we have prepared detailed guides on “How to Oil Your Worktops with Osmo“, “How to apply Danish Oil on your worktop?” and “When should I re-oil my worktop?”

Is a Butcher Block worktop cheaper than granite?

Granite and butcher block worktops share a common feature of being natural products – with the first directly from stone quarries around the world, while the second from hardwood forests. The first tend to be more expensive when compared to the latter, with some state-of-the-art styles costing significantly more. Granite is a high-end product, which is mostly popular among households with higher budgets. Butcher block worktops, on the other hand, are more versatile as they may be used in both lower-budget renovation projects as well as in more expensive kitchens. A beech worktop might be a good countertop choice for more affordable kitchens, while full stave rustic oak worktops are a popular choice among high-specification kitchens.

Despite granite worktops being considerably more expensive than wooden worktops, the combination of granite and wood as a countertop in the same kitchen is very popular, with wood mostly used as kitchen island worktop or breakfast bar worktop. This combination looks very stylish and can easily fit into classic and modern-looking style kitchens.

Unlike wooden worktops, granite is not DIY-friendly as it tends to require an experienced fitter, with stone cutting machinery and experience, therefore installation can be far more expensive compared to butcher block. In the case of wooden worktops, keen DIY-ers can also save on fitting costs and fit the worktops themselves, as they are very easy to cut and install.

Can you cut directly on a Butcher Block countertop?

The Golden Rule is – households should avoid cutting and chopping directly on the worktop itself, as even the most durable countertops may get scratched. Instead, householders should always use a chopping board when cutting and a trivet for a hot pan.

Wood is the ideal chopping board material, due to its hygienic nature and ease of chopping. It is possible to cut directly onto a butcher block countertop, however, the surface will immediately get damaged. Instead, it is possible to use offcuts left from the fitting i.e., the offcut from the sink and hob-cutout – cut them into smaller pieces and then use them for chopping. One of the chopping boards could be used for cutting meat, while the other one for vegetables.

What is the lowest maintenance countertop?

As wood and granite are natural products, with imperfections both need maintenance. Both surfaces have to be sealed regularly, to prevent any unwanted stains, as they can absorb any sort of liquids. However, as we have mentioned above the maintenance aspect is not so difficult and it does not require a lot of effort.

Despite some wooden worktops requiring less maintenance, all types of butcher block worktops require regular oiling. Aggressive cleaning products can dissolve the oil on countertops over time and that is why the surfaces need to be oiled whenever they cannot pass the water drop test.

Other engineered products such as quartz, laminate and compact laminate worktops, on the other hand, do not need any maintenance and the surfaces can be easily cleaned, however, households should also be careful with the number of cleaning products used, as these surfaces may be resistant to chemicals, but they are not chemical-proof.

Overall, whether you choose a budget or high-end kitchen, there is always space for a butcher block countertop. Even though the maintenance aspect might require attention, the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages which makes them a favourite contender when it comes to picking the right countertop. Wooden worktops are very durable, if they are well looked after they may look as good as new, for a very long period of time.

If you have any questions about anything worktop related, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us!
You can find us at 01727260688 or [email protected]
https://houseofworktops.co.uk/

Enjoy your kitchen and worktops!