Fitting and caring for your wooden worktops

When fitting wooden worktops, it is important to carry out certain operations to ensure a long-lasting, trouble-free installation.

Cut worktops to size and shape. Join worktops using a butt joint. Do not use masons mitre joint for wooden worktops. As wood moves, a masons mitre joint would open up slightly at any internal 90° worktop joints the wood expands and contracts across its width.

Dry fit. Take apart. Lightly sand. Oil. Wait until dry.

Lightly sand. Oil Wait until dry. Lightly sand. Oil. Wait until dry.

Three times is really the minimum amount of oiling; we thoroughly recommend that you oil them even more times before you fit them if you have time.

Oiling wood will lift the grain slightly so it is vital to sand down between coats.

It is not recommended that you sand using wire wool as small wire wool particles break off during the sanding process. They are made of steel and will rust and can cause unsightly stains, especially with Oak worktops. This is because Oak contains tannic acid which causes steel to stain the oak black.

Oil can be Junckers oil, Rustic Oil, Danish Oil etc which are all readily available in most high streets throughout the UK.

Oil every exposed surface; top, front, back, underside, ends, inside of tap holes, worktops jointing bolt recesses. End grain really slurps up oil at a phenomenal rate so apply liberally.

When fitting wooden worktops fit the front edge of the worktop by screwing up through the front rail of the base unit using washers and an over-sized screw hole to allow for movement. Allow gap around edges of wooden worktops to allow for expansion and contraction.

Fit the back of the worktop from underneath using screws, large washers and slotted brackets to allow for expansion and contraction of the wooden worktops. The screws go through steel slotted angle brackets which are fitted to the sides of the kitchen units at the back.

After fitting, oil regularly so that when water is dripped onto the worktop it doesn't lay as a flat pool on the worktop surface. If it does lay flat, you should have re-oiled it a couple of months ago!