Wood Kitchen Countertops - Are they the right choice?
It is a common belief that anything made out wood would look elegant, beautiful and is timeless. As a result, many people even prefer to have their kitchen countertops made out of wood. Although wood offers certain advantages, it also has a number of disadvantages, thus making wood as a material for designing kitchen countertops a matter of concern. Wood kitchen countertops are commonly made using several small, thick pieces of maple wood that are joined together with a sealant or glue, a design that is better known as butcher block countertop. Apart from maple, designers also use certain other types of woods such as Brazilian cherry and red oak in making countertops.
Although wood kitchen countertops look handsome and provide warmth, they are highly susceptible to stains and scratches. Apart from that, one cannot keep any hot items on a wooden surface since they can get burnt leaving a charred mark. Wooden surfaces are not resistant to moisture and need to be cleaned regularly using an antibacterial cleaner. Moreover, cleaning and maintenance of wood countertops is a bit difficult and consumes good amount of energy. Presence of wood surfaces also increases the incidence of cockroaches and other insects inside the kitchen. Another disadvantage of using wood is that it tends to lose color and shine with passing time as a result of oxidation. Hence, these surfaces need to be sealed and furnished periodically so as to avoid any damage.
