In researching options for an economical butcher block style counter top I found methods all over the spectrum in terms of expense and degree of difficulty. While I am fairly adventurous when it comes to tackling the DIY unknown, I am well aware of my limits in patience and skills set. Two methods caught my eye that seemed doable and when I stumbled across some bundles of scrap oak flooring at Habitat For Humanity ReStore it was decided which method I would tackle.
I have taken to swinging by my local HFH ReStore now whenever I am in the vicinity because good stuff doesn't last long and you never know what items might have been marked down up to 75% off the already low prices. It was one of these visits that I stumbled upon plastic wrapped bundles of unfinished brand new tongue and groove oak flooring scraps marked down to just $3.50 per bundle. There were about 10 scrap planks per bundle varying in size from 12-18 inches in length. I grabbed the four bundles that they had figuring that it would be more than enough for my counter top project. This small counter top used 2 full bundles ( 20 scrap planks), that is $7.00 in wood materials. Add in 2 tubes of liquid nails ($6 rounded up), a small tin of stain/poly ($6 rounded up), and you have a counter top for roughly $19.00 and I'm pretty sure that you can't beat that with other low cost solutions such as laminate or tile. Although I must admit that I also used a thin plywood base for this project which I had in my scrap pile, so I guess the project could have cost a bit more if I had needed to purchase some plywood.
I should also mention that the base cabinets that this counter top is for were also salvage cabinets from Habitat For Humanity for the bargain of $30, the book case attached on the far right was constructed out of wood I salvaged from some cabinets that we removed above our peninsula.
Here is how we tackled the counter top:
I started by cutting a plywood base to the dimensions of the cabinets and anchored the plywood to the cabinet.
Using liquid nails I began installing the wood flooring on top of the plywood. I chose to lay it starting in the far right corner with the groove sides to the back and right edges. This leaves the tongue sides facing outward. Use a hammer as needed to set the planks tight.
You will end up with some uneven edges on the left end, I trimmed those with a saw after they were set.
You might have some high low spots at the plank joints, so sand those smooth. I sanded with a rough grit to level out the high low spots then finished off with a fine grit to give a very smooth finish. I shaped the sharp corner with the sander to create a smooth rounded corner for safety and aesthetics. I had originally planned to trim off the tongue for a straight edge and then add a trim piece. My husband said he liked the shape of the tongue edge and that gave me a convenient out as my confidence was wavering as I faced the task of achieving a straight edge. By leaving the tongue edge it gives the appearance of a decorative router edge.
After the boards were sanded smooth and wiped down with a damp cloth, it was time to stain. I opted to go with an all-in-one stain and poly in Pecan with a satin finish.
The Pecan stain gave the oak a little more warmth and depth without being too dark. Just the right amount of contrast to the white cabinets.
I will be adding a thin strip of white trim where the cabinet base and plywood meet for a more finished look. I am happy with the look of the white and butcher block.
Well I hope this simple and budget friendly project will inspire you to re-think how you see materials. Flooring isn't just for floors. Thank you for stopping by!
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