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Solid Maple Butcher

Choosing The Best Material For Your Kitchen Countertop

I was helping my daughter having her kitchen remodelled recently. She was having problems trying to decide on a new countertop material. Walking through the counters area in Home Depot gave her a few ideas, but she was still undecided when the time came to choose a month later. I decided to write out a quick comparison of all the materials and costs for her and when I was done I thought other people might find it useful as well, so here goes.

Most people are familiar with laminate countertops. (Formica is one brand name.) They're a thin surface of high-pressure laminate applied to a thicker base of plywood or particleboard. Pluses: The standby, available in literally hundreds of patterns and colors, laminates are the least expensive (next to tile) and durable, requiring less upkeep than tile. Minuses: Easy to scorch with hot cookware, the use of layers in their construction makes it tricky to repair chips, show scratches, especially lighter colors, so not usable as a cutting surface. Less durable than natural stone or solid surface; use with under mount sinks is not recommended. Cost:  $25 to $50 foot

Solid surfacing, (brand names Corian, Fountainhead, Avonite and Surrell) a newer countertop material, is durable and mimics the appearance of natural stone materials like marble or granite. Pluses: Gives seamless surfaces, easy to care for. High impact resistance, easily repaired, nonporous and seamless, so won't trap dirt, collect bacteria or stain; easily. Minuses: May melt from hot pot; looks non-natural in some color schemes, licensed contractor required for installation and repair work. Cost: $60 to $110 per foot.

Natural woods. Used in butcher-block style arrangement. Maple, oak and other hardwoods, make durable and elegant countertops. Pluses: Good surface for cutting foods; scratches easily repaired by sanding; easy match with wood cabinets and floors. Minuses: Requires a finish to preserve appearance, may scorch with hot cookware, allows bacterial growth, so needs regular cleaning. Not practical for entire countertop - good for small sections. Cost: $50 to $75 per foot

Granite. Popular for their elegant and rich look, natural stone countertops will last longer than most kitchens. Pluses: Adds to value of home, hard durable surface, very heat resistant. Minuses: very expensive, requires care since it is porous and must be sealed periodically, grease will stain. Cost: 60 to $200 per foot for granite $60 to $130 per foot for marble (stains easily and not recommended for food prep countertop)

Ceramic or Porcelain Tile: This is the countertop material my daughter was replacing. While the counters were in pretty bad shape, refurbishing was an option. Tile has a comforting, classic look and is inexpensive..  Pluses: Easy to clean up after a mess. More heat resistant than laminates solid surfaces, inexpensive, unless you are thinking about custom or hand-painted tiles. Minuses: Can chip and crack easily; needs regular maintenance to keep bacteria out of grout. Scrubbing grout. Cost: $10 to $25 per foot.

So, what countertop material did she choose in the end? For it's reasonable cost and reparability, Corian got the nod for the new kitchen. We found a color that was very close to a granite look and we also liked the ten year warranty.

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Ox Maple 25 x 16 Butcher Block $168 -Solid maple block intended for everyday use. -Made from maple with a mineral oil finish.

Ox Maple 17 x 13 Butcher Block $108 -Solid maple block intended for everyday use. -Made from maple with a mineral oil finish.

Ox Maple 21 x 15 Butcher Block $144 -Solid maple block intended for everyday use. -Made from maple with a mineral oil finish.

Soundview Millworks BEV1321 Beverly Butcher Board Standard $148.5 Beverly BoardAOur finest Eastern solid hard Maple butcher block with single Mohagany accent stripe. AA Double sided. 1.06 thick. Size: 21 x 13 .

The Butcher $4.99 The Butcher

BUTCHER $11.89 BUTCHER

Butcher the $18.55 Butcher the

Maple End Grain 20x15-inch Chopping Block $72.07 Every kitchen needs a professional cutting boardButcher block made of solid Northern Michigan hard mapleNSF-certified Safe chopping block prevents knife skipping Manufactured by Michigan Maple Block, a pioneer in the development of butcher block since 1881Made to last a lifetime Features 3/8-inch top and bottom edge radiusMeasures 20 inches wide x 15 inches long x 3.5 inches deep

Maple End Grain 18-inch Round Chopping Block $65.31 Every kitchen needs a professional cutting boardButcher block made of solid Northern Michigan hard mapleNSF-certified Safe chopping block prevents knife skipping Manufactured by Michigan Maple Block, a pioneer in the development of butcher block since 1881Made to last a lifetime Features 3/8-inch top and bottom edge radiusMeasures 18 inches in diameter x 3.5 inches deep

Maple End Grain 15-inch Round Chopping Block $38.28 Every kitchen needs a professional cutting boardButcher block made of solid Northern Michigan hard mapleNSF-certifiedSafe chopping block prevents knife skipping Manufactured by Michigan Maple Block, a pioneer in the development of butcher block since 1881Made to last a lifetime Features 3/8-inch top and bottom edge radiusMeasures 15 inches in diameter x 2 inches deep

Maple End Grain 12x12-inch Chopping Block $39.03 Every kitchen needs a professional cutting boardButcher block made of solid Northern Michigan hard mapleNSF-certified Safe chopping block prevents knife skipping Manufactured by Michigan Maple Block, a pioneer in the development of butcher block since 1881Made to last a lifetime Features 3/8-inch top and bottom edge radiusMeasures 12 inches wide x 12 inches long x 3 inches deep

Solid Rear Door-Erk-12 Maple $57.99 SOLID REAR DOOR-ERK-12 MAPLE

Solid Rear Door-Erk-8 Maple $51.99 SOLID REAR DOOR-ERK-8 MAPLE

Solid Rear Door-Erk-16 Maple $59.99 SOLID REAR DOOR-ERK-16 MAPLE

Country Butcher Block $471 This classic butcher block table has a solid 3” edge grain domestic hardwood top. It features an oil finish and stainless steel towel bars for durability and style. This item is made in the USA. Please note accessories are not included.

JK Adams OX1713 Ox Butcher Block 17 in. x 13 in. $122.85 This rugged durable solid maple block is intended for everyday use. Made from maple with a mineral oil finish and offers a lifetime guarantee. Dimensions: 17 x 13 x 2 .

JK Adams OX2516 Ox Butcher Block 25 in. x 16 in. $197.1 This rugged durable solid maple block is intended for everyday use. Made from maple with a mineral oil finish and offers a lifetime guarantee. Dimensions: 25 x 16 x 2 .

JK Adams OX2115 Ox Butcher Block 21 in. x 15 in. $164.7 This rugged durable solid maple block is intended for everyday use. Made from maple with a mineral oil finish and offers a lifetime guarantee. Dimensions: 21 x 15 x 2 .

Diversified Woodcraft PT62M TablePlanningSolid Maple Top30H $809.23 Planning tablesDesigned to be used in most any environment from art and general planning to sewing and model construction. The base is constructed of two tapered solid maple pedestal style panel legs and two solid maple truss bars. The table is finished with an earthfriendly UV finish. 13/4 maple butcher block top. 60 W x 42 D x 30 H.

Diversified Woodcraft PT62M26 TablePlanningSolid Maple Top26H $809.23 Planning tablesDesigned to be used in most any environment from art and general planning to sewing and model construction. The base is constructed of two tapered solid maple pedestal style panel legs and two solid maple truss bars. The table is finished with an earthfriendly UV finish. 13/4 maple butcher block top. 60 W x 42 D x 26 H.

Clinton Hydraulic Work Table, Hard Maple Top $1019.54 Features of the Clinton Hydraulic Work Table: Solid butcher block hardwood Maple top. 28" chrome base. Foot pump height adjustment with swivel snug-top. Length: 52". Width: 28". Height Range: 27"-34".

Maple Edge Grain 20x15-inch Cutting Board $42.04 Every kitchen needs a professional cutting boardButcher block made of solid Northern Michigan hard mapleNSF-certified Safe cutting board prevents knife skipping Manufactured by Michigan Maple Block, a pioneer in the development of butcher block since 1881Made to last a lifetime Finger grips both endsReversibleFeatures 3/8-inch top and bottom edge radiusMeasures 20 inches wide x 15 inches long x 1.75 inches deep

Maple Edge Grain 14x10-inch Cutting Board $23.64 Every kitchen needs a gourmet cutting board Butcher block is beautifully made of solid Northern Michigan hard mapleNSF CertifiedSafe cutting board doesn't allow your knife to skipManufactured by Michigan Maple Block, a pioneer in the development of butcher blocks since 1881 Made to last a lifetime Finger grips both endsFeatures 3/8-inch top and bottom edge radiusMeasures 14 inches wide x 10 inches long x 1.25 inches thick

Maple Edge Grain 24x18-inch Cutting Board $58.55 Every kitchen needs a gourmet cutting board Butcher block is beautifully made of solid Northern Michigan hard mapleNSF CertifiedSafe cutting board doesn't allow your knife to skipManufactured by Michigan Maple Block, a pioneer in the development of butcher blocks since 1881 Made to last a lifetime Finger grips both endsFeatures 3/8-inch top and bottom edge radiusReversible Features 1/2-inch gravy ring and well on one sideMeasures 24 inches wide x 18 inches long x 1.75 inches thick

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