BUTCHER BLOCK COUNTERTOPS CAN TAKE MANY FORMS AS A KITCHEN COUNTERTOP
Wood Countertops & Why I Choose Grothouse
Kitchens are said to be the heart of a home. Incorporating wood countertops instantly adds warmth, function, and sophistication to a home’s hub. Whether preparing meals, entertaining guests, or relaxing, wood countertops are the essential component to add character and refinement to your kitchen.
The various combinations of wood species and construction styles create unique designs. A popular look is to use white cabinetry with a rich wood countertop to provide a rich and classic accent. Designing countertops with sinks is also common at Grothouse; they have proprietary methods to ensure the opening is sealed, regardless of the finish used on the counter. All Grothouse countertops are covered under a lifetime warranty and protected for easy cleaning by either Grothouse Original Oil™ finish or Durata® waterproof finish.
Construction Styles
There are three basic construction styles available for your wood countertop: End grain, edge grain, or flat grain. Each style has its own distinctive look and application. Each particular style is outlined below.
End Grain AKA Butcher Block Countertops
Butcher Block Countertops can take many forms in a kitchen. The variety of uses includes lengthy countertops, an insert into another countertop material, or even a movable kitchen island. In any form, Butcher Block surfaces create a warm organic workspace.
Butcher Block Countertops are made in End Grain Construction, an ideal solution for culinary experts. Butcher Block is the preferred chopping surface by chefs, as this construction style is the kindest to knives and keeps them sharp.
In addition, butcher block tend to be self-healing and most knife marks disappear after cleaning. After years of use, the butcher block can be sanded and re-oiled to look like new again. Grothouse supplies butcher block surfaces finished with Grothouse Original Oil™. The oil is non-toxic and hypoallergenic unlike Tung Oil finishes that can affect people with nut allergies.
Butcher Blocks cannot be finished with Durata® Permanent Finish and cannot have a stain application. Butcher Block Countertops must be a minimum of 2-1/2″ thick to be covered under our lifetime warranty. Grothouse butcher blocks ship in 2 to 3 weeks and arrive with a lifetime warranty.
Edge Grain
In an edge grain top, the wood pieces are laid out with long strips running lengthwise along the top (shown at right). All strips will be continuous with no joints unless the length of the top is excessive. In such instances we will discuss this on a case-by-case basis with you. The pieces are generally 1-1/2″ to 1-3/4″ wide, although widths will vary depending on the species and sizes of wood available at the time of manufacturing.
This style of top is very stable and makes a great surface for counters. These tops are available in thicknesses of 1-1/2″ up to 8″ or greater. Heavier thicknesses are available but unusual.
Flat Grain AKA Wood Plank
In a flat grain top, the wood pieces are premium-clear wide plank flat sawn boards. The pieces are generally wider in size. Widths will vary depending on the species and sizes of wood available at the time of manufacturing and will be random-sized unless otherwise specified.
Tabletops, desktops, bar tops, and select countertops are frequently manufactured using this method. These tops are generally preferred for a fine furniture aesthetic surface. These tops are available in a thickness of 1-3/4″. Other thicknesses are available but rare; please contact me to discuss further.
