RECLAIMED WOOD BUTCHER BLOCK

Kitchen Remodel

We decided to remodel our kitchen, which included repositioning the stove, leaving our kitchen island with a gaping hole. White stone wraps around the entire kitchen island in one block, so we couldn’t just patch stone in the hole that the stove left. It would look like a scar on the island.

Reusing Material

I decided to make a butcher’s block for the area that the stove was being removed from using old wood we had in storage. After we cut the wood to size, we pieced it all together using Stikwel wood adhesive and some nails. The wood needed to be shaved down as it was stained in brown red paint that might have been harmful to food. We then sanded it down using a sander. We used some wood guides underneath to keep it in place, allowing the block to be removable when we need to clean it.

To make the butcher block food grade, take a look at this article:

Clean Wooden Cutting Board

I was told by a chef that butcher blocks can become breeding ground for bacteria- no matter how well you clean it. She further explained that tropical weather humidity in the Philippines is year round, making butcher blocks generally unsuitable for our weather as a kitchen countertop option. We use this wood board as a kind of  trivet to put hot pots and pans on.

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Disclaimer: Always speak to an engineer to ensure you are meeting health and safety standards.