HIGHLIGHTS:
Material definition: Minimally processed, natural material; durable.
Tips for Selection: Look for Forest Stewardship Council-certified, salvaged, or reclaimed wood. Ask for a Chain-of-Custody certification. If product is laminated, avoid product with added formaldehyde. Look for sealers and cleaners that are environmentally benign and low VOC emitting.
Advantages:
- renewable resource if harvested from a sustainably managed forest
- low embodied energy, particularly if harvested and produced locally
- scratches can be removed by sanding
- can be mechanically fastened, avoiding use of glue
- can be recycled in slabs
Disadvantages:
- conventional forestry causes overharvesting and destruction of habitat
- naturally occurring formaldehyde
- requires regular cleaning and sealing
- easily burns and scratches, but can be sanded out in most cases
Average Material Cost: $50 to $75 per linear foot
OVERVIEW on Kitchen Countertops: The kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home, and the right choice for kitchen counter tops is key to the successful execution and ongoing use of the space. Now more than ever, you can choose from a diverse range of kitchen counter materials. For each aspect of home design and remodeling you can also strive to make choices that are 1) Functional, 2) Stylish, 3) Cost-Effective, and 4) Environmentally Sustainable. These are the four key guiding principles in the GREENandSAVE strategy. You will find that in certain cases, one or two of the criteria take precedent over others. However, as you review the home improvement options that are right for your home, you may be surprised to learn that reaching all four is more achievable than you thought.
Selection Tip: In choosing a kitchen countertop material make sure to think through its integration with your kitchen cabinets, appliances, and the backsplash that will work best for your design and installation. Solid surface and natural stone materials typically need to be precut prior to installation versus tiles that can be cut and set right on the job site. Kitchen countertop backsplashes sometimes look great when they match the countertop material, but you can alternatively enhance the countertop material by choosing a different tile to run from the top edge of the counter all of the way up to the underside of the head cabinet. If you decide on the tiles, also take care in choosing the right color grout and look for new tile grouts that are stain resistant.
DETAILS on Kitchen (Butcher Block) Wood Countertops: Wood countertops offer a beautiful warm look and are available in a wide range of colors and finishes. Hardwoods such as maple and oak are most often used as countertop woods.
Wood is a handsome staple in country and traditional kitchens. But because the material is susceptible to warping and cracking if exposed to water, countertops are typically made of butcher block, which consists of many small wood pieces glued together. Since wood is porous, it should be regularly cleaned with an antibacterial cleaner. A polyurethane finish will increase the wood's sheen and life.
GREEN Considerations: Look for wood with FSC certification, and use of low-VOC sealants and water-based finishes.
Craft-Art now offers eight new custom countertop options made from reclaimed wood from the 1800s to the 1900s. The manufacturer is recycling wood from old mills, barns, river bottoms and swamps for consumers who want an environmentally friendly countertop. Some reclaimed wood offerings include:
- Barn Red Oak—Dates back to pre-1900 with a high-quality dense grain
- American Chestnut—An expensive wood species that is now very rare
- Tobacco Barn Beech—Hardwood with beautiful red streaks
- Antique Heart Pine—Features a quarter-sawn technique, which highlights red streaks in the heartwood
- Sinker Cypress—A wood species pulled from swamps and bayous of Louisiana
- Barn White Oak—European oak with a coarse grain with a brown to tan color
