Here’s how our DIY Ikea wood butcher block counters have held up, why we like them, and the simple care tips we take to maintain them.
In the fall of 2012 we installed Ikea wood butcher block countertops to top off our budget farmhouse kitchen remodel. We used the oak counters, specifically, although I see they don’t sell the oak anymore – but that’s okay since they were more expensive and haven’t worn as well as the beech counters we have in our bathroom.
We’ve both been super happy with them in the years since – I love wood counters and had them in our previous kitchen, so I knew I would – and have gotten a lot of questions and comments about them, asking how they wear and how we finished them.
Whenever we get questions on DIY projects like this, we immediately think: video! It’s visual and we can cram a LOT of information in a video that would just be one loooong blog post otherwise.
In this video we not only show what our counters look like after 2+ years of daily, normal, scratch-cooking use (this isn’t a counter in a kitchen that’s just for looks, that’s for sure!), we also give installation tips and the care tips we’ve used that help keep the counters looking almost like the day we installed them.
You can watch the 5 minute video below, plus a few notes and the main points after (for those of you who just aren’t into videos, or are reading on devices it’s hard to see):
Two video notes:
- Yes, I said two reasons and then proceeded to clearly list three…sigh. Have I mentioned making videos is not my favorite thing? Let’s just say I’m not a natural, ha!
- When I mention purposely not blogging about how I finished the counters because I wasn’t happy with them – and then go on about how happy I am with the polyurethane coating…confusing, right? Sorry, another example of watching it later and going, “shoot, that doesn’t make sense!” Here’s what I was trying to say: I wasn’t happy with the wood stain I used on the counters – I used a water-based stain for the first time after years of using oil-based stains. I’ve always topped everything with a water-based polyurethane, but since these counters were expensive and I didn’t want to wreak them (ugh, lesson 1: go with what you know for sure…), I actually read the directions on the water-based poly for the first time and saw they said you had to use a water-based stain (lesson 2: you do NOT – see these counters and this table, both perfect many years later) so I did. Horrible. It goes on thick like paint, doesn’t soak in so it covers the wood grain, and dries super fast so that it’s hard to wipe it off in time. I’d NEVER use water-based wood stain again and will not recommend it. But the water-based polyurethane top coat? LOVE it for all the reasons I listed (yes, three reasons!).
Main points after living with wood counters:
- We love them!
- We do not have to do any monthly upkeep or reapplying top coats since we used a water-based polyurethane coating.
- It’s not “food-grade,” but we don’t put food on our counters for any amount of time, or eat off of them.
- We use dish mats to dry dishes, fruits & vegetables, lots of different sized cutting boards, and a microfiber/foam type of dish cloth to wipe up water. We keep up on water to make sure it doesn’t sit forgotten but…
- If water does sit and you see a white film when you wipe it up, don’t worry, it just goes away soon (actually sooner than the 90 minutes in the video – that’s just when Brian got back to the spot!).
- There are two areas of buckling/warping (around the stove) – not a lot and we think it adds character.
- Brian mentions some installation tips, including the need to leave more room at the front when cutting the hole for the sink, since butcher block is small pieces of wood sandwiched together and leaving a narrow strip weakens the joints – like ours did, since I wanted the sink as close as possible to the edge.
- We’ve had one knife mark and it was quick and easy to repair/hide with more stain and poly – try that with laminate!
So – do any of you have wood counters? Do you like them? What did you use to finish them?
Norma says
Hi, Jami–
Am finding this post to be very helpful as we are considering wood countertops for our cabin kitchen remodel. Question: will you be putting in wood countertops in your current remodel?
Jami says
Yes, we will! I will either leave them natural or stain them lighter, though – I learned that my dark counters and dark floors showed everything and I think lighter would just be easier to maintain. 🙂
I may try Waterlox instead of water based poly, but I haven’t decided.
I still love wood counters. 🙂
Norma says
Jani, Have you considered Teak oil? Just wondering. It really soaks into the wood. We have used it for other wood projects, but not for counters. One advantage is the natural look and also it supposedly is not affected by something like a hot pot being set on it. I am careful not to set hot things on my counters and also not of course cut food on them, but there’s always that one time….
Jami says
I have and am using that on the wood doors in our farmhouse. My only issue is that it requires yearly reapplying. While that’s not difficult in itself, it is smelly and disruptive to a kitchen. I’m not sure yet, but I do know that the poly coating was easy, low maintenance, and lasted a long time. 🙂
Norma says
Thanks, Jami! Good information. Will look forward to following your project!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Sarah says
Thanks for your tips. I am trying to decide about putting IKEA butcher block in my kids bathroom. I love the look, but am scared of the upkeep. What are your thoughts? It would be so helpful to me. Thank you!
Jami says
I loved our wood counter in our bathroom, too, Sarah. You can see what it looks like in our Home Tour here. I have to say that I was amazed that the counter looked as good the day we sold our house as the day we installed the counter 6 years earlier! This was the main bath used by our kids, guests, and visitors. Two things I think helped: 1) the sink style had a large lip (overhang? whatever it’s called) that maybe helped keep the water in the sink area and 2) we used a couple coats of water-based polyurethane over the stain. We never had to even touch-up any of the areas in all those years.
I don’t know if it’s the answer for you, but I loved it and will probably do another wood counter in a bath in the future, if that helps. 🙂
Sarah says
This is very helpful, Jami. Thank you! I am hesitant because I didn’t want to have to seal or oil it often. And I’m worried about something being left on it and leave a spot. So great to know that after that length of time, yours look good and you would do it again!
yolanda says
HI Jami. We just finished installing our Ikea Karlby counters. Of course Thanksgiving is tomorrow…and I have to cook! #reallife. I just finished putting the Waterlox on…waterbased poly……did you just coat your counters once or did you do several coats. The WAterlox rep said to give it at least three coats. At this rate I wont be able to put anything on them until tomorrow. Should make for an interesting Thanksgiving!! thanks for the great video.
Jami says
Sorry, Yolanda, I didn’t use Waterlox. I’d follow the directions to the “T” if I were you – you don’t want to ruin your hard work or money. Hope all went well with your dinner!
Marilyn Scattoreggio says
We used the Ikea Butcher Block also–in 2011. We used Waterlox to seal them. It’s oil based and so it penetrates deeply and makes the wood impervious to water. It held up well and when we sold the house it went FAST. We had off white cabinets (we refaced–the cherry cabinets were not something I was about to rip out, and I left the insides dark!). We had installed a wood floor years before. People fell in love with our kitchen. At at time when every house on the market had a modern kitchen with granite countertops and ceramic tile, ours was white cabinets and wood floors and wood countertops. We sold the house in 4 days!
Jami says
I hope ours sells as fast when it comes time to sell, Marilyn, since it sounds a lot like your kitchen. 🙂
Maureen says
Very helpful video — great info. And, I just assumed you were talking about the wood stain and not the poly. 🙂 BTW, you and your husband did an awesome job with the video! Thanks for sharing your experiences. Now I just have to persuade my husband that wood is the way to go…
Wendy Nielsen says
We have an island with a maple counter at our cottage. I just seal it with mineral oil twice a year and make sure everyone uses a chopping block. It looks beautiful!
Jami says
Thanks, Maureen! I hope you get your wood 😉
Shelly says
We have tile counters in our kitchen, but we replaced the lovely peach laminate in our bathroom with granite after 16 years.
We would love to do the kitchen counters in wood, but we have a bay window at sits level with the tile. Until we get it apart we are not sure what kind of thickness we will have to work with so we might have to go with tile again, but we will see.
Right now our main bathroom has the toilet on shims and the floor is down to the plywood. Next step is tearing out the tile and tub. It’s going to be a process to get the bathroom done but at least we have it underway.
Jami says
Oh, gosh, I remember bathroom renovations, Shelly! I hear you loud and clear – we lived with exposed pipes and plywood floor for months, ugh! Sure nice when it’s done, though. 🙂 I look forward to seeing it – your granite counter turned out nice!