natural looking solid wood worktops

[martyc]

Is there such a thing or do all worktops have that machined/manufactured look about them?
Am looking for a counter top...preferably natural untreated beach(like what would come from a sawmill)
Is there a reason why i cant seem to find these??
Cheers,
Marty.

 

[Jasonb]

Most off the shelf timber worktops are made up from short narrow strips of timber called staves, this allows all the odd bits of timber to be used up and keep costs down.

There are a few companies that do worktops made up from wide(150-200mm) full length boards, not sure whats available locally for you but I have used the first company below and the second do good hardwood.

http://www.slhardwoods.co.uk/worktops/main_price.htm

http://www.britishhardwoods.co.uk/worktops/prep_work.html

The other option is to go to a joinery works and have them make up the tops for you, beech is available in quite wide boards but to get it through a planer two 300mm width swould be the best you could expect. As the width goes up so does the risk of the worktod cupping!

Jason

 

[WoodYouLike]

untreated beech as worktop? Hopefully not in a kitchen?
Beech is a very nervous wood, reacts extreme in changes in humidity (kitchens can be rather humid: cooking, washing machine, dish-washer etc)
It can expand 7 to 10mm per meter wide.
Treated beech (steamed, which makes it 'salmon pink) reduces this effect a bit, but not all.

Just so you know before you decide on wood type.