Natural Products: Wood

Wood worktops are a timeless classic, offering a complex yet familiar aesthetic perfect for a homely feel.

Wood is a great worktop choice. Warm to the touch with a soft-sanded finish, and a typically warm colouration.

Often chosen to complete a homely or rustic appeal, wood worktops have a familiar complexity about them, with each species having it’s own unique blend of natural colours and grain characteristics.

In the points below, we will cover some of the points which should be considered when buying wood worktops.

Properties of Wood Worktops

Graining

Graining in wood is essentially a cross-section of the tree’s growth rings. The frequency, thickness and colour of these will vary both between species and between staves from the same species.

Moisture Content

Even once delivered and installed, your wood worktop will have a natural moisture content of around 8-10%, depending on the species. Exposure to excessively dry or moist conditions, especially without treatment, may cause bowing or warping of the material.

Knotting

Knots are a natural feature of hardwood worktops, forming rounded or stretched inclusions with independent circular graining. Staves with knots which significantly weaken the integrity of the material are not permitted in the Apollo range.

Colour

Colours can vary between samples, and staves taken from the same species. Some styles have a more unpredictable colour palette than others, and this should be considered when planning the colour scheme of your kitchen.

Joints

Wood worktops have visible joints. For L-Joints for example, the graining will have a right-angled change in direction. Straight joints will also be apparent, as all staves from one section will terminate as the others begin.

Stave Size

Wood worktops are comprised of multiple staves. Each piece is 40mm wide, meaning a typical 600mm worktop will have around 15 visible divisions along its’ width. Each stave can vary in colour, graining & knotting from neighbouring staves.

Local Heat Sources

When planning your ktichen, it is important to consider localised heat sources. As well as hobs and ovens, wine coolers; dishwashers; fridges & radiators can cause localised fluctuations in temperature, which can warp the material over time. Heat resistant sheets are provided in installation packs to mitigate these risks.

Care & Maintenance

Wood worktops can be treated with Apollo Ultra Worksurface Sealant, which is a special blend of oils and waxes designed to protect the surface from environmental conditions. Ultra Fresh Mousse can also be used to clean and protect the surface on a more regular basis.

Finger Jointing

Where staves meet and are joined end to end, we use finger joints (pictured) for the strongest possible bond. These finger joints will be visible on the side edges of your worktop, and on upstands.

Mineral Streaks

Mineral streaks are areas of the wood with a different colour due to differing mineral content. These streaks or bands can be in black, grey, or olive, and can vary in frequency by the species of wood.