How to Build a DIY Butcher Block Countertop in 6 Steps

A butcher block countertop is a wood surface made out of planks of edge grain wood that are fused together. Butcher blocks are commonly used as chopping surfaces by butchers but have become popular for use in home kitchens as wood countertops, kitchen islands, and cutting boards. Butcher blocks are typically made from assorted pieces of hard maple, teak, birch, or walnut wood, giving the block a striped appearance.

Butcher block is a popular kitchen countertop material for a number of reasons.

1. 1. It is affordable. When compared with other popular countertop materials like marble, steel, or concrete, butcher block is far more affordable per square foot.
2. 2. It is safe for food and cleaning products. Butcher blocks are easy to clean with any household cleaning product, unlike other materials including laminate. You can even use your butcher block as an occasional cutting board, though it will likely damage your wood.
3. 3. It gives a room rustic charm. You can work with many different types of wood at the same time when making a butcher block countertop. The rustic finished product lends itself to farmhouse-style decor.
4. 4. It can last for a long time. If you care for your butcher block properly, it may last up to 20 years.

A butcher block countertop may not suit your particular kitchen needs. Here are a few of the possible disadvantages of using a butcher block countertop.

1. 1. It will show marks. A butcher block countertop is more likely to show small dings and cutting marks than a marble or stone countertop. To avoid this, make sure to always use a cutting board when you are using a knife. You should sand down any dings you may notice.
2. 2. It expands in the heat. Butcher blocks can expand and contract as the temperature changes. In the hot summer, it will expand, and in the winter it will contract. If you don’t leave some extra space around the sides of your countertop, it can become warped or cracked.
3. 3. It stains easily. Unless your butcher block is treated, it will be susceptible to liquid spills and stains. You should regularly treat your butcher block countertop to insulate it from stains.

Take a trip to your local hardware store to pick up the materials you need to make your butcher block countertop. Here is what you need.

1. 1. Lumber: You’ll need a series of wooden boards to glue together to create your butcher block.
2. 2. Woodworking materials: You’ll need a table saw, circular saw, or miter saw to cut your wood, wood glue to glue the pieces of wood together, and bar clamps to keep your wooden slabs together as you work. You’ll also need a belt sander and grit sandpaper to sand your countertop into a wood surface. Have a tape measure handy as well.
3. 3. Finishing materials: You’ll need wood filler, a putty knife, and sealer or an epoxy resin to finish off your countertop.

Building your own DIY wood countertop is an affordable woodworking home improvement project for DIYers in the middle of a kitchen remodel. Follow this step-by-step tutorial to building your own butcher block countertop.

1. 1. Measure your counter area. Use your tape measure to measure out how large you want your countertop to be. Allow for an eighth-inch of space between your countertop and any walls or backsplashes to give it some room to expand in the heat.
2. 2. Cut your wooden boards for your block. Using your table saw or circular saw, cut your wood boards along the edge grain to the thickness you want your countertop to be. If you want your countertop to be 2 inches thick, cut your boards into 2-inch sections. You can leave an extra quarter-inch to account for sanding.
3. 3. Glue and clamp your wooden boards together. Once you have cut all of your pieces of wood, lay them out side-by-side with the edge grain facing up. Begin gluing the pieces together using your wood glue, clamping your glued boards together as you go. Continue this process until you have a slab the size of your desired countertop surface area. It doesn't matter if the ends of your slab are uneven, because you can cut and sand them down later. Leave the clamps on your butcher block until the wood glue has dried, which should take a day or two.
4. 4. Cut your countertop. Using your tape measure, mark the final size of your countertop on your constructed butcher's block. Using your saw, cut the uneven ends of your butcher block to the size of your countertop surface area.
5. 5. Sand and fill your countertop. Run a belt sander over the surface and ends of your butcher block to create a smooth surface. Cover the gaps in your countertop with wood and scrape away any excess with a putty knife.
6. 6. Seal your butcher block. Paint your butcher block with sealer, wood stain, or epoxy resin to seal the countertop, following the directions on your sealer closely. Your butcher block is now ready to be installed as a kitchen countertop.

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