How to condition butcher block counter

Installing and how to condition butcher block counter, how we did it, and what I used to condition it.

For as long as I can remember I have wanted to include a butcher block counter somewhere in my home. As you may recall, it was part of my design plan for my guest bath plan here but in the end, I decided to go with quartz. You can see the full reveal of the bathroom here. When I shared my design plan for the laundry room the butcher block counter was part of the plan, and guess what…I finally have a butcher block counter.

I got a 6-foot counter from Home Depot here. My counter measured  5 feet so we cut off the excess. Birchwood is extremely hard, so make sure you have a sharp blade to cut it with. Once the cut wood was in place my hubby secured it by using wood screws from the bottom. You could also use an adhesive to secure the cabinet base.

How to condition Butcher Block

Once we installed the butcher block I did some research on how to condition/protect it. Even though the intent of this counter is to fold laundry ( and at some point in the not to distance future be the junk collection spot….but at least it looks pretty)  I wanted to make sure that I protected the wood from whatever may happen that shouldn’t happen.

Instructions for conditioning

Here are the steps that I used. I used Tung Oil although there are several products on the market that will do the job.

1. Pour your oil on the wood
2. Spread the oil around using some type of applicator. I used a staining pad.
3. Let the oil sit on the wood for about 20 mins
4. After 20 mins wipe off with a lint-free cloth
5. Two light coats are recommended for the best appearance; gloss level will increase with additional coats without darkening over time

The most important advice that I can share is to condition your bare wood countertop 48 hours after you install your counter. This is so you don’t have a chance to get any dirt, grease, or dust on your clean wood prior to conditioning.

I’ve got a few more finishing touches on the other side of the room but will be back next week with a full reveal. To see last week’s update on the walls and floors click here.

Shop the products for the project

Thanks for following along with my laundry room updates and tips on how to condition the butcher block counter. Hope they come in handy if this is something you want to do in your own home one day.

grateful

for a pretty space