Wood is a natural living material, which is subject to
natural forces. With this in mind, we would like to draw your
attention to the maintenance instructions for your solid wood countertop,
island top, or butcher block. The Mineral Oil section of this page
also applies to chopping blocks and cutting boards.
If you
follow these directions carefully your custom countertop will be easy to maintain,
will look great, and will last for many years. See our
Finishes page for more information on our Mineral
Oil Finish or our Waterlox Tung Oil Based Finish.
Please note that our guarantee is not valid if you do not
follow the maintenance instructions.
If you follow these directions carefully and are diligent
about oiling your top every few weeks you should enjoy many years or even a
lifetime of use and beauty from your solid wood countertop, island top, or
butcher block.
Your top will be treated with mineral oil and sealed in
plastic prior to shipping. The top may be somewhat oily when it is
first taken out of the packaging. Simply wipe it down with a clean
paper towel and prepare for installation.
DO NOT cut, drill or change your top in any
way without refinishing all exposed surfaces thoroughly. See our
Installation Instructions for additional
information.
DO NOT use or spill vinegar on a top that
has a mineral oil finish. It will cause cupping, cracking and
warping that is beyond repair.
DO NOT use harsh detergents or chemicals.
DO NOT place these tops near excessive heat
(such as stove or dishwasher) without proper insulation between heat
source and the edge of the top. See our
Installation Instructions for additional information.
DO
NOT expose tops to excessive heat, cold or moisture! Never put in microwave
or dishwasher or use as a hot pad. Never place on stove burners. See
our Installation Instructions for additional
information.
DO
oil your top
with mineral oil on a regular basis. All sides of the
top should be oiled (top, sides, and bottom). Depending upon use and
household conditions (humidity levels, etc.) a heavy coat of mineral oil
should be applied once per week for 4 weeks, then once per month
or as needed on an ongoing basis.
FOR EXTRA PROTECTION: melt a 1 to 4
mixture of paraffin wax and mineral oil and apply to all sides of your top.
This mixture will provide extra protection against stains and moisture. Continue maintaining
your top with mineral oil on a regular basis after this mixture has been
applied.
Cleaning your top:
-
Scrape any heavy food particles or foreign
matter that may have adhered to the surface with a steel scraper or
spatula.
-
Brush or scrape any loose particles from
the top surface.
-
Dip a wash cloth in warm soapy water and wash the top.
-
Wash out the dishcloth in clear warm water,
wring it out, and go over the surface again.
-
Take a dry cloth and go over the entire
surface. Dry it thoroughly.
-
Apply a coat of mineral oil to all surfaces
once a month or as needed.
How to oil your top:
-
Let the oil warm slightly. This can
be done by placing it in a pan with hot tap
water. Do not heat the oil over the stove.
-
Pour a small amount of mineral oil onto a
paper towel or directly onto the top.
-
Wipe the oil onto the wood leaving a
thin layer of oil (remember to oil all sides of the top, paying special
attention to any end-grain surface).
-
Let the top sit for 20-30 minutes, then
remove excess oil with an absorbent paper towel.
-
Dispose of the paper towel.
Problem Solving:
Almost all problems on solid wood
countertops, island tops, and butcher blocks are due to dryness.
Your butcher block will look great and last for many years if properly
treated with mineral oil on a regular basis. For specific problems
see the following:
End checks or
splits: (separation of the joints along the end of the top or
block). This situation is caused by excessive dryness or because the
top is not oiled frequently enough. To repair this, melt a 1 to 4
mixture of paraffin and mineral oil and fill all checks or splits.
Make sure that paraffin mixture seals any split thoroughly. Continue oiling
the top on a regular basis.
Warping:
This situation is caused by an uneven moisture content between the top
and the bottom surface of the wood. To correct this situation, liberally apply
mineral oil to the concave side of the top. This may need to be done
several times to correct the problem.
Stains: Water spots, food stains, etc, can occur when food is
allowed to remain on the top for too long. To correct this situation,
use light sandpaper or fine steel wool on the stain. Then oil the
surface liberally and continue regular maintenance practices. Staining
can be minimized by applying a paraffin/mineral oil mixture to the top as
described under End checks above.
Color Variations: Dark streaks can occur in
wood. These are caused by a natural discoloring of the wood due to
mineral deposits in the tree. Other color variations are natural
characteristics of the wood. This is not a flaw or problem. It
is normal and adds to the individuality of your top.
Nicks, Gouges, etc; Knife
wounds or other environmental damage can be repaired or minimized by
sanding and re-oiling the top. Remember to oil liberally, then
continue regular maintenance practices.
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These tops receive a minimum of four
coats on the visible side of the top and three coats on sides that are not
visible. Six coats are typical for tops with an integrated sink.
DO NOT
use
bleach based cleaning products on the Waterlox Finish. Bleach is the
only chemical we have found that will harm this finish. Be aware that some
dishwasher detergents, such as Liquid Cascade, have bleach in them. If
this type of detergent comes in contact with the Waterlox Finish, it should
be wiped up immediately. If allowed to sit, it can harm the finish.
See Nicks, Scratches, etc. below for information on how to repair this type
of problem
DO NOT cut, drill or change your top in any way without refinishing
all exposed surfaces thoroughly. See our
Installation Instructions for additional information.
DO NOT place these tops near excessive heat
(such as stove or dishwasher) without proper insulation between heat
source and the edge of the top. See our
Installation Instructions for additional information.
DO
NOT expose tops to excessive heat, cold or moisture! Never put in microwave
or dishwasher or use as a hot pad. Never place on stove burners. See
our Installation Instructions for additional
information.
Cleaning your top:
-
Dip a wash cloth in warm soapy water and wash the top.
-
Wash out the dishcloth in clear warm water,
wring it out, and go over the surface again.
-
Go over the surface with a dry cloth or let
it air dry.
Problem Solving:
Nicks, Scratches, etc; Touch
ups can be done at any time. Lightly sand the area and applying more
Waterlox to the top. Sanding down to bare wood is typically not required.
Color Variations: Dark streaks can occur in
wood. These are caused by a natural discoloring of the wood due to
mineral deposits in the tree. Other color variations are natural
characteristics of the wood. This is not a flaw or problem. It
is normal and adds to the individuality of your top.
For additional information about the Waterlox Tung-Oil based finish, visit
the Waterlox website at www.waterlox.com
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