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 |  | Butcher Block: $320-$520 for 8 sq. ft. Island |  | Wood Plank: $900-$4,500 for Typical Kitchen |
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Wood is a traditional kitchen countertop material. Butcher blocks are composed of planks glued together vertically, with the ends of the boards sanded and oiled to create a durable work surface. Butcher blocks are most popular as small or medium-sized kitchen islands. Because wood absorbs moisture and can warp in damp environments, it is not usually used as a bathroom counter material, and may not be the best choice next to kitchen sinks.
Typical costs: | - Butcher block countertops cost $40-$65 per square foot; that is, $320-$520 for an 8 square foot butcher block island, including professional installation. For a full typical kitchen with 30 square feet of counter space, butcher block tops will cost $1,200-$1,950
- Wood plank style countertops cost $30-$150 per square foot, or, $900-$4,500 for a typical kitchen, depending on the type of wood, length and width of the countertops, and style of edge treatment. Specialty kitchen remodeling stores, local lumber mills, and some home improvement stores like Home Depot[1] sell plank countertops.
Related articles: Granite Countertop, Laminate Countertop, Kitchen Countertops, Kitchen Remodeling
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What should be included: | - Custom-fabricated wood countertops typically include cutting to specifications, edge shaping, sanding, staining, and finishing.
- Installation of custom wood countertops is usually included in the price of the countertops. Installation of a wood countertop should include a professional pre-installation measurement, preparation of the counters (including leveling and shimming, and insulation near stovetop if required), installation of the countertop, cleanup, and final inspection.
Additional costs: | - Wood countertops must be refinished monthly to keep the wood from drying out and becoming damaged. Mineral oil costs $5-$10, beeswax costs $10-$20, and it takes up to an hour to oil and then wax the counters in an average kitchen. Bobvila.com describes the basic care[2] of a wood countertop.
- Fancy or thick edge sculpting costs $5-$10 per foot extra.
- Custom-colored stains cost $10-$15 per square foot.
Discounts: | - Discount department stores like Target and Walmart sell small butcher block or plank topped kitchen islands and free-standing cupboards. These usually cost $50-$500, depending on size, type of wood, and sturdiness of construction.
- Wood countertop "blanks" (prefabricated planks in common sizes with basic edge styles) in common woods like maple are sold at home improvement stores for as little as $20 per square foot, installed.
Shopping for a wood countertop: | - Before beginning to price wood countertops, measure the countertop area. Home Depot provides a worksheet[3] to help calculate the measurements. The installer or contractor will do an official measurement later, but a good estimate can give a rough sense of the costs.
- Decide whether to top all counters in the kitchen with wood, or whether wood will work best as a work surface on a smaller area, such as an island or on one end of a longer counter.
- Select the style of wood countertop that will work best, depending on the use it will be put to. Butcher block is durable and thick and resistant to scratches, making it a good choice for work areas that will be used for cutting. Plank style wooden countertops are more vulnerable to cutting and scratching, making them better for areas where cutting boards will be used or work will not be done.
- Choose the wood to be used for the countertops. Many hardwoods can be made into countertops. Maple and red oak are common and economical, while exotics like mahogany and zebra wood add expensive flair to a kitchen. BobVila.com[4] describes these and a few other woods in detail.
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External Resources: | - www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/ContentView?pn=SV_HS_Countertop_Buying_Gu...
- www.bobvila.com
- www.homedepot.com/hdus/en_US/DTCCOM/Home_Services/Countertop_Installation/Docs/cou...
- www.bobvila.com
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