How Do Wooden Countertops Really Hold Up?

How do wooden countertops really hold up? Are they practical?  Do wooden countertops stain? Do they wear well?

How do you clean them? A year after installing one in my own bathroom, I have a few answers.

And today, I'm sharing them with you.


Last spring, we renovated our bathroom.

It was a huge project that took months to complete. The finished product was revealed sometime late last summer.

That's when I shared our wooden countertop DIY.

And while that post was met with so many wonderful compliments, oohs and ahhs, I also received my fair share of disbelieving emails and questioning comments.

Oh, everyone was kind in their correspondence and thought the vanity topper was beautiful, but the refrain was clear.

Maybe. However, I've wanted wood counters since the day we moved into this house, and if it wasn't going to happen in the kitchen, the bathroom would do nicely.

Second, it was such a small investment, in both time and money, that it was worth a shot.

And third, my husband built a wooden kayak way back in the 90's and I figured it his boat could withstand 20+ years of salt water baths and look that good, my countertop could surely do the same.

And I was right.

Now, it's only been a year, but that slab of maple still looks just as amazing as it did the day we installed it.

And that room sees multiple hot showers, hair drying, teeth brushing, hand washing, make up application and more on a daily basis.

However, even though I've updated the original DIY to show this, I still get emails about its durability every day.  And they're always the same few questions over and over.

While responding to a few more of them over the weekend, I decided that maybe it was time I wrote all the answers down in one place.

So that's what I did.

A small disclaimer here, I'm no pro. I'm just sharing information based on our experience and our particular construction and usage.

We have a single sheet of maple veneer plywood countertop and it's in a bathroom with no windows. Lots of steam.

How Well Do Wooden Countertops Wear?

Of course, this answer depends largely on their initial construction. However, all things considered, wooden countertops wear very well.

We've had ours for over a year now in a heavily used bathroom. No one is careful in there and it looks like it did on installation day. No dents, no stains or scuffs and the wood is still shiny.

Plus, consider this. If the wood wears or does show signs of damage the future, a dent from a drop perhaps, it can be mended easily, with wood filler, a furniture marker or a quick sanding and re-staining.

If you chip granite or stain marble, there's no easy fix. Sure there are ways to patch them, but they're usually best left to the pros.

Wood is a great material for DIYers. Easily constructed, repaired and refinished.

A little note...we honestly don't do anything special to protect our counter and the kids are hard on it. The only thing we do use caution with, is hot hair tools. I have a heatproof silicone pad that we place under the appliances.

I wouldn't want the wood to get a burn mark or worse yet, catch fire. It's a long shot, but better safe than sorry.

Do Wooden Countertops Stain Easily?

This is a big one. Lot of people ask.

Again, the answer here is largely dependent on the initial treatment of the wood, but if you use an appropriate polyurethane sealer, no the wood doesn't stain, because the water never gets to it.

We used an oil based polyurethane to seal it. I believe it took about 4-5 coats, applied one per day, and each coat lightly sanded in between.

It was not a marine grade varnish, which you can use, but this worked just fine. Great, in fact.

And trust me, it's been tested. Like I said, every day.

Between the teeth brushing and excessive hand washing lately, this room is always under siege. As a matter of fact, when salons were closed, my daughter decided to color her hair at home.

In that bathroom...on that countertop.


It was not pretty. This is the towel she used. Stained forever. My wood countertop? Nope. Still perfect. The color just beaded up and wiped away.

Fabulous.

If you do happen to water stains on your wood furniture or countertops, you can try this quick heat trick. 

What Is The Best Finish For Wooden Countertops?

There are lots of different types of finishes out there to protect the surface and you'll need to choose one based on where your countertop is being used and what kind of wood it is.

If it's in the kitchen, for example, you'll need to consider food safety.

However, in the bathroom, that wasn't a concern. Constant exposure to water was though. A simple, clear, satin, oil based polyurethane was super protective.

As I said, you could use a marine grade poly since it's made to protect against water or an epoxy, but we've used them on boats, they're not always easy to work with and I didn't see a huge difference.

What Kind Of Wood Is Best For Countertops?

At this risk of sounding repetitive, this too is largely dependent on where you're going to put them, the size of the area needing coverage, whether they'll be in contact with food or water and, ultimately, your style.

Based on all those factors, we opted for a large sheet of maple veneer plywood. It was easy to work with, super inexpensive and available on the shelf at Home Depot for a grab and go.

It's basically the material used for cabinets. We chose it because maple is a hard wood and very clear, meaning relatively few knots and grain.

We also chose it because we wanted one solid surface. Wood is a natural element. It will expand and contract, especially in a bathroom where there are steamy showers taken on a daily basis.

If we'd joined wooden planks or boards to make this, the tiny movements could've allowed moisture to gather between them.

That would not have been good.

The boards could buckle, swell, separate and moisture could get into the cracks and to the wood that wasn't sealed...you get the picture.

If you do want to use that kind of planked construction, I don't recommend it for a main bathroom.

How Do You Take Care Of Wooden Countertops?

The simple answer is, the same way you would any other piece of wood furniture you have in the house.

I try not to let water stand or pool on the surface, but since I don't go in there often, sometimes it does.


Generally speaking though, wipe up spills and stains (toothpaste, liquid soap, make up) with a paper towel or soft rag as soon as possible.

You can use a furniture polish, but honestly I just use a damp, warm rag and go over the counter to bring up the shine.

If I need to clean it well, since it is a bathroom and it gets germy, I add a little bit of vinegar to the mix. It's exactly the way I clean my kitchen floors.

And they've been shiny for almost 20 years.


And that's that.

I have to say, I have been thrilled with the way our new bathroom looks and functions.

The wooden countertop has been a charming addition to the room and frankly it's worn better and looks better than both the marble and granite slabs we had in there before.

The marble stained and dulled very quickly from make up and liquid soap.

And the granite edges chipped every time someone dropped a hair dryer or curling iron. They both looked dingy and old in very short order and I had no simple recourse.

For much less money, the wooden countertop has proven to be a stronger, more durable option for our family.

And way better looking.

Which is really all that matters.

Right?

Just kidding. Sort of.

How do you feel about wooden countertops?