Solid Wood Worktops
Everything About Solid Wood Worktops
Natural beauty that rewards care. A living surface that you can renew for decades if you look after it.
High maintenance in daily use
Solid wood is one of the highest-maintenance worktop materials. It looks impressive, but it is not a fit and forget choice.
- Needs frequent oiling in the first months, then top ups every few months, based on use and water beading.
- Standing water can stain, swell end grain and cause warping or cracks.
- Hot cookware can scorch the surface. Always use a heat pad or trivet.
- Food oils, wine and coffee stain if you leave them. Wipe spills straight away.
- Scratches and dents appear in normal use, although you can sand most marks out.
Understanding solid wood worktops
Solid wood worktops bring warmth and natural character that engineered materials cannot fully copy. Every board has unique grain and tone, and the surface develops a richer patina as the years pass. The flip side is that wood is organic and reactive. It moves with humidity and absorbs liquids unless you build and maintain a good oil layer.
The strength of wood is repairability. You can sand and re-oil light damage, and even after decades a full professional sand can bring the worktop back close to new. If you value natural materials and accept a regular care routine, wood can be a satisfying surface to live with.
Water is the main risk
Moisture management decides how long your wood worktop looks good.
- Standing water can cause black staining in a short time, especially with steel items left on the surface.
- Repeated wetting near sinks and taps leads to swelling, warping and splits in end grain.
- Joints around sinks and hobs need extra care, sealing and regular checks.
- Many households now mix materials and keep wood away from the sink zone, using it on islands or breakfast bars instead.
Popular wood species for UK kitchens
Oak
Around £200 to £400 per m². Strong grain, good hardness and a classic warm honey tone when oiled. The most common choice in UK homes.
Walnut
Around £400 to £700 per m². Deep brown colour and striking grain. Slightly softer than oak, so you see dents sooner in busy family kitchens.
Beech
Around £300 to £400 per m². Light and fairly uniform. Durable, but more prone to movement and visible joints in large runs.
Maple
Around £300 to £500 per m². Very pale and hard, with a fine grain. Works well in modern schemes that need a light timber tone.
Iroko
Around £350 to £500 per m². Oily, dense African hardwood with better moisture tolerance than many species, often used around Belfast sinks.
Bamboo and similar options
Around £250 to £400 per m². Technically a grass, but very hard and dimensionally stable when engineered into boards. Good for a more modern, eco driven look.
What makes solid wood different
Renewable surface
You can sand and re-oil to remove many stains, scratches and scorch marks, even many years after fitting.
Living patina
Colour deepens and the grain softens with use, which gives a more lived-in look rather than simple wear.
Warm and quiet
Wood feels warmer under your hands and produces less harsh noise from plates and pans compared with stone or ceramic.
Lower embodied energy
When you choose certified timber from responsible sources you support a renewable material with a smaller footprint than many man-made surfaces.
Natural antibacterial behaviour
Studies suggest that some woods show natural antibacterial activity at the surface, especially when you keep them well cleaned and oiled.
One-off grain
No two boards are the same, which suits buyers who want a kitchen that feels less manufactured.
Solid wood worktops: pros and cons
Advantages
- Renewable surface. You can refinish several times over the life of the kitchen.
- Natural beauty. Real grain and warmth that you will not get from a printed decor.
- Comfort. Softer under hand and kinder on dropped crockery than stone or porcelain.
- Character over time. Ages into a patina rather than looking simply worn out.
- Eco credentials. Renewable and biodegradable when you choose responsibly sourced timber.
- DIY friendly fixes. Many marks can be dealt with using basic sanding and re-oiling at home.
Points to weigh up
- Regular upkeep. You need an oiling routine and careful day to day use.
- Water risk. High risk of damage around sinks and standing moisture.
- Heat and stains. Scorching and deep staining stay visible until you sand them out.
- Marks show quickly. Scratches and dents appear faster than on stone or quartz.
- Movement. Seasonal changes in humidity can open joints or cause slight cupping if you do not allow for it in design and installation.
Solid wood vs quartz worktops
| Feature | Solid wood | Quartz (engineered) |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance requirements | ||
| Daily care | High. Wipe spills straight away and keep the surface dry. | Low. Wipe when needed with mild cleaner. Preferred |
| Periodic treatment | Frequent oiling in the first few months. After that, most UK suppliers suggest re-oiling every three to six months, or when water stops beading. | No oiling or sealing in normal use. Preferred |
| Water resistance | Limited. Standing water and leaks can stain and warp the surface. | Excellent. Non porous and stable in normal kitchen conditions. Preferred |
| Stain resistance | Moderate to poor if you let liquids sit, even on freshly oiled tops. | Very good. Most everyday spills wipe off without marking. Preferred |
| Feature | Solid Wood | Quartz |
|---|---|---|
| Durability and performance | ||
| Heat tolerance | Low. Direct hot pans burn and mark the surface. | Moderate. Resin binders dislike very high heat so trivets stay essential, while brief warmth is usually less of an issue. |
| Scratch resistance | Low to moderate. Everyday use leaves marks which you remove by sanding. | Very good under normal use. You still use chopping boards to protect knives and surface. Preferred |
| Impact behaviour | Dents rather than shatters. Helpful in family kitchens. Preferred | Strong overall, yet exposed edges chip under heavy knocks. |
| Repairability | You sand and refinish large sections when needed. Preferred | Local chip repairs are possible but often remain visible. Full resurfacing is not realistic. |
| Cost and value | ||
| Material price (per m²) | Around £200 to £700 depending on species and thickness. | Around £300 to £600 for mainstream colours, higher for premium patterns. |
| Installation | Around £50 to £100 per m² from joiners. Preferred | Around £150 to £250 per m² from specialist fabricators. |
| Lifetime value | Lower initial cost and refinishing options balanced against regular oiling and closer care. | Higher initial cost with lighter maintenance, often attractive over ten to fifteen years. |
Suggested solid wood maintenance schedule
Wipe spills and dry surfaces, especially near sinks and hobs.
Clean with a wood friendly cleaner. Check for dark spots around taps and joints.
Oil every 2 to 4 weeks to build protection on new worktops.
Top up oil every 3 to 6 months, or when water stops beading on the surface.
Lightly sand and re-oil local stains or scratches as soon as you notice them.
Plan for a full sand and refinish if the surface looks tired across large areas.
Typical UK costs for solid wood
Figures vary by region, species and market conditions, but these ranges are a realistic guide for many UK projects.
Oak and similar
About £200 to £400 per m². Classic and widely stocked, with many block and full stave options.
Walnut and premium hardwoods
About £400 to £700 per m². Richer colours and more dramatic grain patterns.
Other species
About £300 to £500 per m² for beech, maple, iroko and similar ranges.
Installation
About £50 to £100 per m². Cutting, joining, cut outs and final on site oiling.
Annual products
Roughly £100 to £200 a year for oils, pads and occasional professional help, depending on kitchen size and level of care.
Full professional refinish
About £200 to £400 every five to ten years for sanding and new finish on a typical family kitchen.
How to decide if solid wood is right for you
Choose solid wood if you:
- Enjoy caring for natural materials and can commit to a simple oiling routine.
- Like the idea of a surface that gains character and can be renewed rather than replaced.
- Want a warmer, more tactile worktop on an island, breakfast bar or feature area.
Choose quartz instead if you:
- Prefer minimal maintenance and do not want to think about oiling schedules.
- Need strong resistance to water and staining across the whole kitchen.
- Want a more consistent, low stress surface for a very busy household.