How to use wood for countertops is one of the best decisions you can ever make. There are many advantages to building your own countertop. First of all it’s a great way to save money. You can do this in many ways: by choosing materials that are less expensive, cheaper stores sell less expensive materials, you can cut corners by using leftover materials from other projects, or by finding a piece of wood that’s cheap enough to change the look completely. All of these are good reasons to use wood kitchen countertop plans.
You might be thinking that you don’t have the skills needed to build a countertop. The truth is that most every project can be done with basic skills. If you want to learn how to use wood for countertops, the first thing you need to decide is what kind of surface you want. The most common choices are: using natural stone or wood, ceramic tile, granite or stainless steel. Of course if you don’t have any of those surfaces available you can always start with a butcher block or other flat surface and work from there.
Now that you’ve decided what type of material you’re going to use for your DIY wood counter tops, it’s time to get started on the construction. To prepare the surfaces for installation, you will need to use a sealer. Most stone countertops and some ceramic tile require an epoxy or acrylic based sealer. Some people like to use a silicone sealer. You should always test a new sealer on a small hidden area to make sure there are no damaging reactions before installing it in an area of the kitchen that you plan to see daily.
Once you’ve installed the sealer you’ll need to decide what color and texture to apply to the countertop. Most people go with a wood grain look. That can be achieved by sanding the wood boards and applying a thin layer of the sealer. If you’d rather keep it more natural looking you can also paint the wood with a color that compliments your countertop. Keep in mind that laminate counters and slate don’t work well for use with wood products as they have a smooth feel to them which makes the wood appear more porous.
Once the sealant has been applied and it’s dried to cover the entire surface, the next step is to apply a finish. The two most popular finishes are a wood lacquer and a polyurethane coating. For a smooth, shiny finish you can use a wood lacquer while if you want a matte finish, you can use a polyurethane coating. This finish will require some sanding between coats to provide a professional look.
To ensure that your DIY wood countertop has a professional appearance, you should finish it using wood enough sealer. Finishes vary from a light sanding to a light application of furniture polish. If you want a glossy, non-marking finish, you can leave the wood alone without any additional sealing. However, you must make sure the finish is water based so it doesn’t peel.
Next you’ll want to make sure your countertop has smooth, sharp edges. It’s possible to buy pre-sanded wood counter tops or you can prepare the surface yourself by sanding and then finishing it with a file and compound. Either way, you must make sure the edges are straight. Dull edges are very easy to catch and cause splinters. If your countertop has sharp edges make sure you smooth them before applying the sealer.
When you’re done, you need to let your countertop dry thoroughly between coats. It’s important not to cover the edges with the sealer as you will mar the wood. Once your countertop is dry, apply a coat of finishing sealer to protect it. Finish coats don’t last long, but they will keep your counter tops looking great for a long time.