Wooden Kitchen Worktops – which Woodoc product to use?

Wooden kitchen worktops give a kitchen a warm, top-end look and feel, and are more forgiving than stone and hard surfaces. However, they can be a challenge to maintain. Using oils requires regular reapplication and the surface is easily marked because oils don’t really give much protection. Varnishes can provide more protection but often look artificial. Luckily, Woodoc offers products that solve both these problems.

All Woodoc products protect from water, heat (well in excess of 100 deg. C), alcohol and stains. Depending on the desired look and use there are 5 main products to recommend:

A rich oiled look

Woodoc 10 – this contains polymer and waxes and give a very silky look and feel to the wood. It brings out the richness of the grain in the wood and it wears naturally, so any areas that get worn just need a light sanding and application of more W10. We have found customers report needing to touch up around the sink area after about five years. Woodoc Deep Penetrating Furniture Wax (IPW) is the ideal companion product to clean the surfaces and maintain the finish over time (IPW has the same waxes as the other Woodoc interior products).

3-coat application. 1^st coat dries in ~8hrs. Subsequent coats in ~4hrs.

A high gloss tough finish

Woodoc 20 - for a very tough long-lasting glossy finish that brings out the richness of the wood colour. Woodoc 20 is pure polymer and retains its gloss very well. The surface is very resilient, so it is ideal in high wear environments including commercial setting. It is very popular on bar counters for example. It also works well on very hard, difficult to treat woods such as bamboo.

3-coat application. 1^st coat dries in ~8hrs. Subsequent coats in ~4hrs.

A tough matt finish

Woodoc 25 Matt – this gives a tough matt finish (the product can be used on floors) that brings out the colour of the wood. This product has been used successfully in many commercial settings such as hotels, restaurants and bars, e.g. Kodhipparu Resort in the Maldives. Note that because W25 is a film-forming product, even the matt version will have some residual sheen against the light. This product also comes in Satin for a higher sheen look. It also works well on very hard, difficult to treat woods such as bamboo.

3-coat application. 1^st coat dries in ~8hrs. Subsequent coats in ~4hrs.

A tough matt finish with minimal change to wood colour

Woodoc Water-borne Floor (25W) – this gives a tough matt finish with very little change to the wood colour. This “flat, modern” look is often desirable on light woods such as white oak or maple. The product has very little odour while applying and dries quickly. This makes it popular with contractors who want to finish in one day or where odour is an issue (Bars, restaurants, etc). It does not change colour with age. This product also comes in Gloss Clear, and pre-mixed White Gloss and Matt. 100ml Testers are available for this product. It also works well on very hard, difficult to treat woods such as bamboo.

3-coat application. 1^st coat dries in ~2-4hrs. Subsequent coats in ~2hrs.

A near-invisible finish with almost no change to wood colour

Woodoc Water-borne Ultra Matt – this product marks a new standard in wood finishing. It is nearly invisible and is aimed at those customers that want the wood to look as though there is nothing on it but still be protected from water, heat, alcohol and stains. It is particularly suited to light woods such as white oak, maple, beech or poplar. The product has very little odour while applying and dries quickly and it does not change colour with age. It is a premium product for those customers that don’t mind paying extra to achieve a remarkable finish. 75ml Testers are available for this product. It also works well on very hard, difficult to treat woods such as bamboo.

3-coat application. 1^st coat dries in ~2 to 4hrs. Subsequent coats in ~2hrs.

Note on use of Exterior Products in Kitchens

It is sometimes assumed that exterior products will be more water resistant and tougher than interior products. This is not the case. Exterior products need UV protection and need to cope with greater variations in temperature so need more flexibility than interior products. Both interior and exterior Woodoc sealers offer excellent water resistance, but interior products are harder and therefore better able to cope with knocks and scratches.