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Timber Worktop FAQ's

Timber Worktops - Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Are timber worktops an appropriate material for a kitchen worktop?
A: Timber worktops have gained an unfair and unjustified reputation with some people as being an inappropriate material for a kitchen worktop.
Some people view them as unstable, high maintenance and liable to be damaged by water.
The reality is that a timber worktop properly constructed and correctly installed will give a lifetime of service with very little maintenance.

Q: Are timber worktops difficult to install?
A: No, timber worktops are relatively easy to install and are very forgiving in that slight damage and breakout can be sanded away.
You will need some basic knowledge of machining timber and you should follow our basic installation instructions carefully using the correct materials.
If you are in any doubt about your installation then you should consult with a joiner or contact MAK Distributors Ltd.

Q: Are timber worktops hygienic?
A: It is always surprising how frequently we are asked this.
Why do you suppose that butchers always use timber blocks for cutting up meat? It has been scientifically proven, for example, that salmonella will be "killed off" by a timber worktop within 48 hrs whilst it will live indefinitely on a worktop made from solid surface, granite, laminate or stainless steel.
The fact of the matter is that timber worktops are extremely hygienic!

Q: How long will a timber worktop last for?
A: A timber worktop which has been properly constructed and correctly installed and maintained appropriately will last for a lifetime. Quite literally, it will outlive you!

Q: Are timber worktops really so high maintenance?
A: No! This is a total falsity. After installation, you should oil the worktops perhaps once a month for the 1st 3 months, maybe once more in the next 6 months and then maybe once a year after that.
There are some vagueness in this answer because it varies from species to species and according to use and personal taste. The more you oil your worktop, the more it will take on a beautiful sheen and of course it will become even more water resistant.
Some people who like the beauty of wood look upon the oiling process as a therapeutic pleasure rather than a laborious chore!

Q: Will a timber worktop change colour over time?
A: Yes, all timber will change over a period of time. How quickly it changes, and in what way it changes will vary from species to species and the conditions which it is exposed to.
For example, Iroko will start to darken as soon as it is exposed to light. If you install a worktop and then place your ornaments on it afterwards then go and have a look under these ornaments after a few days.
You will see the lighter patches which have not been exposed to light.
You will need to rectify this by moving the ornaments around for a while until a balance has been reached.
This may take a few months.
Eventually, all worktops take on a beautiful matured look.
Note, this does not mean weathered!

Q: Are timber worktops environmentally sound?
A: This is a big question! The answer depends on where you buy you timber worktop from and what species it is.
Some people will tell you that African species such as Iroko and Wenge are (I quote) "damaging rain forests".
It is true that many companies are selling timber worktops these days.
Almost all of the companies are buying through distributors and agents and therefore they have to hope that their worktops are environmentally sound or rely upon their distributor having some sort of policy.
I can tell you factually that the larger companies put their profits way higher on their priority list than their concerns about the environment.

At MAK Distributors Ltd, not only do we buy our own worktops directly from the worktop manufacturers, we have made the effort to visit the Beech, Oak and Walnut forests in Europe and the Iroko & Wenge forests in Africa to establish that the timber is sustainable.

The Iroko forest in West Africa for example is truly immense.
We took a helicopter ride around this forest to establish the size of the forest and it took more than 12 hours to circumnavigate it.
This is not an easy trip to make but we feel it is essential and we will repeat this every year to make sure we keep up to date with events.
We also established that the replanting programme started about 30 years ago and today, for every Iroko tree cut down another 10 are replanted. There is enough Iroko to last forever if it is carefully managed.

The problem comes when less scrupulous timber dealers cut down the forests illegally and then sell the final product on to manufacturers who then tell the agent or distributor that it is from a sustainable source.
They just accept this at face value because it is in their interests to do so.

So, the answer is, if you want to be sure about the environmental background of your timber worktop then buy it from MAK Distributors Ltd or one of our appointed outlets.