How To... - DIY Finishing - Finishing Techniques

What are the most suitable materials for protecting wooden kitchen worktops

In the past, wood was a common presence in the kitchen, and I don't just mean furniture. Spoons, choppers, juicers, bread kneading troughs, they were all made of wood. That's why many prefer to choose wood for their kitchen countertops. Now the situation has changed, the aggressions that wood can withstand are much greater due to aggressive cleaning materials. What's more, we want the furniture to look as good as new for as long as possible, which is impossible without wood protection. Which begs the question: what is the most durable finish for your kitchen worktop?

materials for protecting wooden kitchen worktops

What are the problems with a wooden kitchen worktop?

In order to choose the most durable finish, we first need to know what problems it must withstand. In the kitchen, the presence of water, steam, the high temperature of objects on the stove, abrasive and aggressive cleaning agents are all tests for the worktop. These aggressions cause the wood to warp, stain, scratch, stain and even rot. This is why it must be protected with materials that are resistant to all these stresses.

The finishing products used to protect wood are subject to the same tests. That's why the most resistant ones should be chosen. Not all oils and varnishes are equally resistant, and sometimes it is better to leave wood unprotected than to use a varnish that softens and sticks when you put a pot on it straight from the fire. Varnishes suitable for the kitchen should be resistant to water, steam, alcohol, high temperatures, staining with various hot or cold liquids, scratching or abrasion. There are standardized tests to determine these resistances, the results of which can be found in the product data sheets.

Kitchen worktop finishes - pluses and minuses

Wooden kitchen worktops can be finished and protected with several materials that have different qualities, strengths and maintenance methods. What strengths each of them comes with, or what compromises we make in choosing a particular material, you will see below.

Oil

It's a classic finish favored by many who choose a wood kitchen countertop. There are many types of oils, many of them totally synthetic. I say this because the most often cited reason for choosing oil is that it is natural. The natural oils commonly used in wood finishing are linseed oil, tung oil and, of course, blends of these (Danish oilKreidezeit oils).

Linseed oil only protects against water, but has no chemical resistance (alcohol, acetone) and no mechanical resistance because it does not form a film. If abrasive cleaners are used, the resistance is based solely on that of the wood, linseed oil does not contribute much. The idea of applying a coat of wax to increase its strength is not a good idea at all, as the wax film is of no help in kitchen conditions. Water resistance is quite low over time because the oil is washed off by cleaning products, even water. That's why a linseed oil finish should be refinished after 6 months, maximum one year, especially if the worktop is used intensively. Learn more about linseed oil here.

Tung oil (sometimes also called wood oil) is much stronger because it forms a film. Unlike linseed oil, which remains sticky unless wiped off, tung oil hardens in contact with air and forms a film. The oil normally dries very slowly. The commercially available natural version is a more viscous boiled oil, which dries more quickly. Even so, it should be left for a few weeks before it reaches full strength. But once fully hardened, tung oil is very resistant (it even resists acetone). To better penetrate the wood, dilute the first coat with orange peel oil or turpentine oil. More information about tung oil here.

There are also many synthetic oils on the market. If you want a truly natural finish, check the label carefully. Sometimes products are presented as natural oils that contain other substances in addition to the two oils mentioned above. But if you're more interested in the oily look, there are very hard-wearing products in the synthetic oil range, some even chemically hardened to withstand the abrasive action of cleaning products as well as alcohol, wine or coffee stains.

materials for protecting wooden kitchen worktops

One-component varnishes

One of the oldest varnishes used to finish wood is nitrocellulose lacquernitro for short. It's a varnish similar shellac, but the resin dissolved in the solvent is synthetic. Hardening takes place by removing the solvent and the process is reversible. It is therefore a varnish without chemical resistance (alcohol, acetone). It does not have good mechanical resistance and scratches easily. It does not resist water very well either, and if water often gets on the surface and remains there for a long period, the varnish whitens and flakes. It is a thermoplastic varnish that softens at high temperatures and becomes sticky. Nitro varnish is a low-strength varnish and is not recommended for refinishing wooden kitchen worktops. 

There are also single-component varnishes which dry following a polymerization reaction and are more resistant. This is the case with waterborne varnishes. The curing reaction is not reversible, the varnish does not become fluid again if you pour water over it. There is, however, a period, 2-4 weeks, when the reaction is not finalized and the varnish can absorb moisture if the water reaches the surface. The film becomes opalescent, but after removal of the water and gentle warming, the surface recovers. Uncured (one-component) waterborne varnishes are generally resistant to alcohol, less resistant to acetone, and have average scratch and abrasion resistance. They are recommended for less-used wood countertops. 

materials for protecting wooden kitchen worktops

Hardening varnishes, two-component varnishes

They harden (dry) as a result of the chemical reaction between the two components. The result is a coating that is resistant both to water and to chemical or mechanical aggression. Recommended varnishes for coating wooden kitchen worktops.

Polyurethane varnishes are among the most resistant hardenable lacquers. They have very good scratch and abrasion resistance, do not soften under the action of alcohol and acetone, do not stain, are highly resistant to water and high temperatures. Once the chemical reaction between the two components is complete, the resulting film is totally inert and safe for the user. It is one of the most widely used finishes for kitchen furniture, both wooden and wood. MDF furniture.

In the industrial environment, other types of hardenable lacquers with very good resistance are also used. For example, UV-curable varnishes are some of the toughest varnishes. But they require special application machines. Polyurethane varnishes can also be applied with an ordinary can spray gun and are affordable for a small workshop.

materials for protecting wooden kitchen worktops

The type of wood and the way in which it is protected influence the resistance of the countertop over time

For the countertop to be durable, the wood chosen is also important. No matter how strong a varnish is, if the wood underneath it is soft, the film will easily crack. Hard woods with high resistance to mechanical stress are usually used. Oak is most commonly used. Spruce is softer, but is used quite a lot because it is affordable. Even though it is used for spoons and other kitchen utensils, poplar wood is not recommended for a kitchen worktop because it is soft and has a high risk of water absorption. To make your worktop as durable as possible, choose the same wood as for a chopping board.

The strength of the countertop also depends on how well it has been coated. Both sides must be protected, especially the areas with fiber ends. There absorption is increased and it is a place where water can easily penetrate. If it is next to the sink, we need to make sure that the water does not puddle and there is no possibility of it getting into areas of high absorption. The better it is covered, the more resistant it will be.

I hope you find the information useful. If you have any questions or queries, please leave them below in the dedicated space. I will certainly reply.

About the author

Mihaela Radu

Mihaela Radu is a chemical engineer but has a great passion for wood. She has been working in the field for more than 20 years, wood finishing being what defined her during this period. She gained experience working in a research institute, in her own company, as well as in a multinational. She wants to continuously share her experience with those who have the same passion - and more.

Add comment

Add a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Categories

Subscribe to newsletter

Newsletter Friday morning
Information and advice from the experts

en_USEnglish