A quality timber benchtop or tabletop can act as the perfect feature piece for any room.
With the use of natural products growing, many are looking to timber as a way of bringing a piece of outdoor Australia into the home.
In this blog, we share some tips for using a timber benchtop or tabletop on your next project.
Choosing a Species for your Timber Benchtop
The type of wood you choose for your timber benchtop will depend on the design you have for the room. When it comes down to it, there are 3 key differences between the various timber benchtop products:
- Colour tone
- Grain pattern
- Durability
This means that you have a tonne of options when matching your timber benchtop to the style of the room.
You’ll also have the option of many Australian native species and some non-native species depending on your supplier.
Australian Native Timber Species
You wont need to look far to find timber that meets your needs, as Australia is home to a wide variety of beautiful solid timber species. Below is a guide for some of our native species:
Light Brown
• Victorian Ash
• Blackbutt
• Tasmanian Oak
• Tallowwood
• White mahogany
• Wormy Chestnut
Brown – Dark Brown
• Spotted Gum
• Ironbark
Light Brown
• Jarrah
• Red mahogany
• Turpentine
• Blue Gum
• Brushbox
Australian Native Timber Species
There’s also a wide variety of international timber species that are fit for benchtops. These include:
• European Oak
• American Oak
• European Beech Joinery (BauBuche)
Application of Timber Benchtops
In addition to the style you are aiming for, there are many different ways that timber benchtop products can be used in a home. This includes:
Tabletop
Kitchen Island
Benchtop
Desk
Pros and Cons of Timber Benchtops
- Cost – Timber benchtops will be a lot cheaper than quartz and engineered stone alternatives. However, if this is out of your budget you will most likely be looking at a laminate benchtop.
- Maintenance – In order to protect your timber benchtop in the long-term, you will need to ensure it has been coated after installation. Coating your benchtop will increase the durability whilst increasing heat and stain resistance. You will need to keep a close eye to this coating and be sure to recoat once it has worn down.
- Marks – Being a softer benchtop material, solid timber is more vulnerable to scratches, chipping and staining. This can be prevented by ensuring you use chopping boards and heat mats when operating on the surface.