Is wood the best material for countertops? The answer depends on a few factors. If you have little kids at home and have a dishwasher, sink, or cooktop, then granite, marble, or quartz might be a better option. A stainless steel countertop may not be the best idea, as these have the tendency to stain quickly with foods and drinks spilled on them.
In general, wood countertops are durable, easy to clean, and sanitary. The general population says yes, wood is actually a very solid construction that’s built to last. A wood butcher block countertop surface can easily be cleaned by using soap and water and a cleaner designed specifically for wood surfaces.
Wood countertops are usually constructed from one of three types of wood materials including red oak, white oak, or maple. All three have their own unique grains which may not be darker than the other two. The grain of red oak is darker than the other two and therefore has a very distinct color. White oak and maple have a uniformity in color which makes it easier to recognize them but all three have distinctive grain.
If you have young children at home, you will want to consider granite or marble countertops because of their toughness. Granite and marble are the hardest substances found on a kitchen countertop and are almost impossible to cut through. These surfaces are also non-porous, so they don’t trap bacteria like wood does make them a sanitary choice for your kitchen. Since they are non-porous, you won’t have to worry about food particles being hidden underneath the countertop.
Granite and marble countertops are also great for a hot and humid kitchen setting. The cool thing about granite and marble is that they look like they’re made out of stone, but they aren’t. Marble is actually made out of very fine dust and when you place hot pots and pans on the countertop, it quickly collected and makes a paste that seals the cabinet and the pan so no food can seep out. Granite, on the other hand, is very much a stone and can withstand high temperatures, and is a popular choice for kitchens with a large amount of traffic.
Are our wood countertops sanitary? Well, they aren’t as good for you as granite or marble, but they are still worthy of mention. When people think of wood countertops, they tend to think of cheap particle board choices that are formed from cheap pieces of wood glued together. While this may be the case with some, it isn’t the case with all. There are real wood options available if you look for them. If you want to keep with the particle board theme though, you can still find real wood and not have to worry about it being glued together.