Types of Wood to Make Butcher Block Countertops

You may have entertained the idea of placing a butcher block countertop in your kitchen. While they are very beautiful, you will have to do some careful research on the types of woods that can be used. There is more to a butcher block countertop than just the aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Appearance

Your first decision will be deciding on the type of grain that will be visible from the top. There are three types: face grain, edge grain and end grain. Face grain is the least suitable for counter tops that will also be used as a chopping block. Edge grain is a strong and stable surface and is great replacement for the costly end grain butcher block. End grain is the best choice for butcher block as it does not dull your knife and hides cuts and marks in the wood.

Wood Color

The next thing to consider is the color and texture of the wood. There are many different shades from the very light to the very dark. This just depends on the color scheme of your kitchen and what type of look you are trying to achieve. Once you decide on the shade of the wood, then you can narrow your choices of wood down and eliminate the colors you do not want.

Stability

Finally you will need to decide on the firmness of wood. Different woods measure different hardness on the Janka hardness scale. This scale measures how hard or soft a wood the wood is when a steel ball in pushed into the wood. The type of wood you choose will depend on the use. If you are just getting a butcher block for the look then you can use a softer wood if you decide. If you want to use it as a chopping block then you will need a harder wood that won’t score and easy when hit with a knife.