The Woods That Make The Cut

Wood makes a perfect countertop. This is beautiful and adds warmth and drama to the kitchen. Wood is naturally antimicrobial so it will not grow mildew or mold making the wood easy to clean. Wood is also natural, durable, and cost effective. What wood is the best wood for you? There are many choices so lets walk through some of the most popular woods out there. Red Oak Wood, is one of the popular choices because it is hard and resist scratches and dents. It can be stained any color and is beautiful. The down side is the grain patter may be to distracting for some. Ash is another very popular wood. It is what they make bats out of. It is harder than Oak and is a white to light tan color. It may be to light for some and it does tend to cost a slight more than oak. Pine is another choice. It is a very soft wood with pins and knots that add to his character. Pine is hard to keep from getting scratches and dents but will add the lived in feel to your home. Bamboo is treated and just as hard as oak but give a modern look and feel to the countertops. They resist scratches and are simple to care for. They are also eco-friendly and green. You can buy bamboo that doesn't look like bamboo right off. Maple is a light colored hard wood that is cool and light. It has a light air feel. The disadvantage of maple is that it doesn't hold a dark stain very well because it is naturally light in color. It is dent and scratch resistant making this a wonderful option if you want a light countertop. Cherry is a beautiful reddish wood that is naturally moisture-resistant. The fine grains and smooth texture make this rich colored wood a perfect selection. IT also takes stain and finishes well. On the other hand, cherry wood tends to change color over time, requires more maintenance than others and it is softer than maple or oak making it prone to nicks and scratches. When thinking about wood counter tops it is important to know about the grain orientation of the wood. The orientation of the grain will make the wood more beautiful or more durable. So this is an important thing to consider. Face grain or flat planks are get for decorative counters but may or may not hold up to cutting chopping and other kitchen work. This grain would be great for the counters that are just used to set things on or make sandwiches. They are more beautiful but they are also more likely to be damaged. Edge grain is the edge of the plank. It is more durable than face grain. The look is thin lines of wood that is pretty and durable. This will stand up to moderate kitchen use. End grain is the result of the edges of the planks being used to make the countertops. They produce a tiled effect with swirls in the grain. This grain will endure industrial kitchen use. Cut, chop and live in your kitchen and this grain will pass the test every time.