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Choosing wood as the material of choice for worktops within the kitchen comes with numerous benefits within aesthetic home design and food preparation. Each form of timber available to be used as surfaces provide variable levels of durability and hardwearing consistency, in addition to aesthetic quality within the differential patterns and grains which have the potential to mature in age and colour. Both factors go towards creating an enjoyable kitchen area in which to operate in; this is particularly important for individuals who spend considerable periods of time preparing meals or baking. In this respect, beech worktops are considered the most popular choice for food preparation within the kitchen due to its considerable durability and strong character which improves the overall design.

In accordance with instalment requirements, measurements are essential to determine the size of timber needed to proficiently carry out the job to include oak worktops or any other wood-based surface in the kitchen. Cabinet dimensions in depth and width are required; it is vital to include the required overhang amount to the depth measurement to ensure any new instalments match the same levels as other counter tops. It is also important to include a small gap between all wooden worktops and the back edges of a wall to allow the wood to contract and expand as it matures.

It is essential that there is a 3-4mm gap between the back edge of the worktop and the wall, as this will ultimately allow the worktop to expand and contract with the kitchen’s humidity and will prevent damage. If a worktop is placed close to an aga or oven stove then there should be a gap of 30mm and a solid wood end cap should be fitted along the edge of the worktop. There should also be extra care taken when placing a worktop over brickwork, washing machines or dishwashers as it is important to create a moisture barrier.

You should only use slotted angle brackets when fixing worktops and a round head must be screwed. Three standard worktop bolts should also be used to join each joint and the end grain should be sealed with an appropriate sealer on both sides of the joint. You should also ensure that the worktop is dry and clean before you apply a finished oil coat – the face of the worktop will require four to five coats and there should be a break of six to eight hours between each coating.

Wooden worktop specialists source their timber from Central Europe to ensure customers purchase the highest quality woods ready to be integrated within kitchen worktops.