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Butcher Block

February 27, 2019

Originally published on ashevillekitchentops.com

The simple beauty of natural wood can add warmth and texture to any kitchen. A butcher block countertop, when used in combination with colder surfaces such as stone or quartz, gives the room a softer appearence. Butcher block also makes for a functional work surface or a handy food serving area, and a butcher block island or bar is always a comfy gathering spot for family and friends.

The wood species we offer include hard rock maple, black walnut, cherry and Appalachian red oak. We use John Boos butcher block; their full length rails are cut, selected and matched to provide an unbroken appearance over the length of the slab. The tops are 1 1/2″ thick and are available in a variety of lengths and widths. Slabs can be seamed together (you’ll never see it) to make extra wide tops, and thicker slabs are available for tables, carts, etc.

If you want to use your butcher block countertop for chopping and food prep, it can be left unfinished. It will need to be cleaned like any other countertop surface, and it’s a good idea to oil it regularly. There are several good oils on the market that combine food grade mineral oil and beeswax for a natural, food-safe finish.

If you want to preserve the beauty of the wood, and don’t plan on using your countertop for a cutting surface, we offer several water and stain resistant finishes to protect and seal the surface. Clean up is easy – just mild soap and water. Depending on the finish you choose, the sealer may need to be re-applied eventually.

Not many countertop materials are as practical as butcher block, and the surface is renewable. Nicks and scratches that may occur over time can be sanded down to bring the wood back to like-new condition. Wood countertops are dense and will last a very long time. Butcher block will hold up under heavy use, but it’s not recommended as a resting spot for hot pans out of the oven.

Butcher block is an attractive and practical choice for kitchen countertops. It’s a softer, more forgiving surface than stone, it makes a wonderful food prep area, and bakers love it for rolling dough. These naturally beautiful countertops impart a warm, friendly glow to any kitchen.

Countertops Design, Kitchen Countertops

Should You Choose Polyester or Acrylic Solid Surface Counters?

February 23, 2019

Posted by Christina Palmer

Originally Published on thespruce.com on February 20, 2019 By Lee Wallender

Not all solid surface counters are made with the same ingredients. Some are considered acrylic and some polyester.

Both words are shorthand for complex formulas of resins + fillers. While fillers–essentially the “body” of the material–will be similar between the two (usually a white fine powder called alumina trihydrate), the number of acrylics or polyesters within the resins will differ.

Solid surface manufacturers don’t make the resin content obvious; it’s something you may need to search for in technical specifications.

1 -Is One More Durable Than The Other?

All solid surface counters, no matter the brand, no matter the blend, will scratch. That is why you need to religiously use cutting boards on this material.

Avonite puts it succinctly, “Solid surface scratches…because the items that are deposited on it are harder than it is.”

This axiom applies to any kind of counter material, not just solid surface.

Using the Barcol indentation test, polyester and acrylic, while not exactly the same, are close enough that differences are functionally insignificant. Both stand up equally well to boiling water (212 F), a minimum standard for residential kitchen counters.

One difference is that acrylic counters should not be installed in spaces where solvents (dental glues, ketones, acetones, nail polish removers, thinners, etc.) are used. These substances will damage acrylic surfaces. This mostly applies to commercial spaces (dental offices, nail salons, etc.), it is good to know that polyester is preferable in residential areas where these substances may be used

2-Polyester: Points To Help You Decide

If you want a high-gloss finish, you may want to go with polyester. This material imparts brilliant color and texture when honed.
Polyester is more brittle than acrylic. Most of the danger of breakage occurs during transportation and fabrication, not consumer usage.
Fabricators may have a more difficult time ensuring a solid seam with polyester materials than with acrylic. Polyester requires that the ends be abraded so that the adhesive can properly stick. While competent fabricators should be able to do this, it is another potential failure point.

3-Acrylic: Points To Help You Decide

Less visual depth than polyester.
Exhibits greater tensile and flexural strength than polyester.
If you want a lower gloss, choose acrylic. Acrylic shows off its best side when polished to lower glosses.
Solid seams.
Plan on thermoforming? Solid surfaces can be “baked” in industrial ovens and curved to create fantastic 3D shapes. Acrylic solid surfaces lend themselves more to thermoforming and can be bent to tighter radii

4-Which Should I Choose?

The world of solid surfaces is slowly shifting from polyesters to acrylics; 80% of the market is now acrylic. Formica is one such company that is in transition. It is possible to still purchase polyester-based solid surfaces.

Acrylic solid surfaces are less liable to chipping and cracking during fabrication. During use, if cracks do occur, they will occur along the seams. That is one reason why acrylic’s superior seaming properties push it to the top of the market.

Countertops Design, Homeowners

Butcher Block

Should You Choose Polyester or Acrylic Solid Surface Counters?

1 -Is One More Durable Than The Other?

2-Polyester: Points To Help You Decide

3-Acrylic: Points To Help You Decide

4-Which Should I Choose?

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