You can find plenty of duplicates or imitations, but no matter what you do, you aren’t going to be able to find any imitation that is as good as the real thing when it comes to wood.  Lots of manufacturers come close in the warm appearance of real wood, but when you want solid wood countertop, there simply is no substitution.  Wood isn’t necessarily the cheapest or the easiest material to take care of, but those people who have chosen this natural material for their homes have nothing but wonderful things to say about the grace and charm it adds to their home.  If you are thinking solid wood countertop options might be right for your home and space, take a look at some of the basics of wood countertops.

Solid Wood Countertop 

The first thing to look forward to with a solid wood countertop is option.  You already know that there are all kinds of different trees in the forests. Among those kinds, you will often find sub species of the same type of vegetation.  What that means to you is tons of variations on the various wood types.  Each wood has its own distinct grain and color.  Even from tree to tree in the same species, you can expect to see all kinds of unique looks.  You can even decide to have your solid wood countertop made with several different kinds of wood for a special look that is all your own.

As noted, a solid wood countertop will require special care after it has been installed though.  It’s important to never place too hot pots or pans directly on the wooden surface.  Mineral oil treatments on a regular basis will help to ensure that the wood doesn’t dry out and lose its natural color and beauty.  These treatments will also boost the solid wood countertops inherent anti bacterial properties.  No one else on the block might have it, but wood in the kitchen is a great way to show your personal taste and style. 

For more information on solid wood countertop

Many more homeowners are making concrete countertop upgrades to their kitchens for a number of reasons.  Not only is this material highly flexible and adaptable to your needs, but the concrete is also tough enough to withstand even the heaviest of use – without looking dull or scratched. If your kitchen is the center of the action in your home, you might want to look into making concrete countertop upgrades.

Making Concrete Countertop

To be honest, the hardest part of making concrete countertop upgrades is that actual formation of the countertop.  Since you will have to create a mold, pour in the concrete, allow to dry, and then remove from the mold, that part of the process may be something you simply skip and leave to the professionals.  To move to the ‘fun’ steps, call around to see who sells pre-made concrete pieces for countertops or who might be able to pour one that meets your exact specifications.

Once you have the actual countertop piece in hand, you need to remove the existing countertop piece.  Some of these have been screwed into place, so removing the screws is the first step, but for others, they may have been nailed or even glued into position.  Using a crowbar and a heavy duty hammer should help you get the existing countertop off of the island or the countertop foundation.

You will then need help for the last stage of making concrete countertop upgrades – lifting the piece into place.  When you are placing the concrete onto the existing counter, make sure to remove any items from the exposed cabinets to avoid getting anything dirty in the process.  Then, place the concrete in place and move until it is perfectly lined up.  Some like to add an epoxy substance on the countertop foundation to help keep the top piece in place, but with the overall weight of the countertop, this may not be necessary.