Kitchen Worktop Finishes
I thought I would do a little blog touching on this topic, we get asked almost daily about how to treat the boards for use as a kitchen worktop. I myself have never had to do this before as I have never installed a kitchen worktop using this product. This is usually something a kitchen fitter would do on site. However we have supplied many people with the boards to do so.
As this seems to be a common question we are being asked, I have delved into the world of wood finishes and also asked a few friends about this to try and solve this great mystery. We at The Scaff Shop always use a Danish oil to finish our products, as this always brings out the great imperfections that a scaffold board seems to have, while penetrating every nook and cranny which you just can't do with wax and other compounds.
A scaffold board in general has had a hard life which leaves a lot of character in the board, oils are by far the best way to treat this - the oil will seal the board making it waterproof and also most Danish oils are food safe too making it perfect for the kitchen. However, every wormhole I went down to try and find out about the best worktop finish I always came across Osmo Top Oil. Osmo in general are a great company with so much experience in this area.
I have always been happy with any of their products which I have used. This top oil is designed mainly for counter/worktops. I have copied this video from their website so feel free to have a browse.
Key points to note before applying this product are: Wood surface must be clean, dry and frost-free (moisture content max. 18%). Our boards are between 8-15% So no problem there. Old paints and lacquers must be completely removed. Wear a dust mask during sanding works. Before oiling the surface, remove sanding dust with a soft brush or vacuum cleaner.
For application - Apply the first coat thinly along the wood grain with a Microfiber Roller, Flat Brush or Oil Finish Applicator. We prefer a brush for scaffolding boards as this will get in all the little areas needed.
Allow to dry for approx. 8-10 hours. Ventilate well while drying.
Apply the second coat with an Oil Finish Applicator or a lint-free cloth. Avoid covering during drying and curing. After 2-3 weeks, the surface is fully cured.
For renovations, one coat applied to the clean and dry surface with an Oil Finish Applicator Fleece or lint-free cloth is usually sufficient.
I hope this will help you with making your decision for your rustic reclaimed themed kitchen worktop. Please do get in touch with us if you feel that you need any more information regarding our products and we will try our best to get the answer.