Don't install granite countertops//I SAVED $1,000 doing THIS

[@seejanedrill]

Enjoy DIY? I’ve got something you might like: www.seejanedrillcourse.com/register-home-masterclass

[@J0HN_3_16]

Jane, I am a new subscriber who appreciates your practical approach to remodeling. Do you have any experience with concrete or epoxy countertops?

[@Bradimus1]

You are the shop teacher every kid needs.

[@nm3547]

and every single adult who is just learning their way through and to home repairs. heehee. Thanks @seejanedrill

[@oneseeker2]

I would have taken shop if she had been the teacher

[@Mixdplate]

I'm certain if she had been a teacher when I was in school, I wouldn't be sitting here in my 50's figuring out what I want to be when I grow up! I feel Leah is my "spirit person". ❣🤗

[@payne7028]

And especially now a days- the kids today don’t seem to be interested in anything but the computers and interweb! Such a shortage of skilled laborers makes a great opportunity for the young people comin up today if they would get up and get off their devices!! Leah is a priceless treasure to all of society!

[@HOMEWORK4.0]

I second that!

[@victorhopper6774]

my plastic on particle board is doing fine and 28 years old and cost 75 bucks for 15 liner feet. i never figured it was my counter tops job was to impress anyone. and everything is paid for witch impresses me

[@catniplemon]

I have been watching you for quite a few years now, and you are still such a delight to watch. I learn so much from you, and how to fix things in my own home. Thank you, Leah, for hanging in there and keeping this channel going!

[@2Hearts3]

Ditto! Yes, thanks 👏

[@gabriellenojaim261]

I'm in love with how calm she is...soothing!

[@northernbohemianrealist]

My mother got a butcher block countertop in 1958 and it has held up wonderfully! I think bamboo should also be considered.

[@caralinehowden2951]

My daughter built her house about 3 years ago, and they have bamboo, its highly lacquered and look wonderful. We have a timber slab, but we dont know what it is, but it too looks wonderful. There is a warmth that stone or the fake stone doesn't have. Its called engineered stone, and very dangerous for those who work with it. its now banned in NZ. (warn tradies of risk from silicosis lung disease)So timber is a good choice. Timber doesn't date either.

[@DanDan-tt6gv]

For my island, I got 2 real oak butcher block slabs, measuring 24”x72” each, from IKEA for $200 per slab. Years later, I was so tired of oiling it, and being super careful with liquids, that I decided to replaced them with a laminated oak effect slab, same size, for $80 each. The name of the slab is Saljan. It looks exactly like wood, no maintenance needed, and it if needs replacement, or gets damaged, $80 won’t even bother me.

[@seejanedrill]

Nice

[@DanDan-tt6gv]

@@seejanedrill aww! Thank you for the heart, and for all the help you offer the viewers!

[@katherinelangford981]

We took ikea countertops and had them clad in stainless steel. 15 years later still look great. It was cheap at the time. I'd 100% go ikea counter tops again, but I have no need to change.

[@bradleydavidgood]

I have butcher block from IKEA at my old house now rental. I got tired of oiling too. Recently polyurethaned the block near the sink because couldn't count on renters to keep it dry and oiled. This oak effect Saljan is an interesting idea, but the problem I thought of right away is that you can't cut it to fit right? Can you? I remember having to do custom cuts, rounding, and sanding for my application.

[@jojo-tl5ei]

Thanks for the suggestion, concerned about maintenance of wood too but love the look! This is a good alternative. Wondering how it will hold up around sink though?

[@KingdomOfDaylightsDauphin]

Added incentive - employees who fabricate quartz and granite countertops have a high risk of pulmonary fibrosis due to the silica particles released into the air during grinding.

[@carolfuller4940]

Hello. I just found your channel and love it! 60+ year old woman with delusions of adequacy. Thank you for the encouragement and entertainment. Subscribed!🎉🎉

[@dudethatsmycat]

I work in granite and you are 100% right. I’ve only seen a few houses with the butcher block tops and always thought it looked really cool and thought it was more expensive than getting granite or quartz. Didn’t know it was cheaper!

[@EazzyBeezie]

Not installing countertops for a while but your videos are always insightful and relaxing to watch. ♥️

[@BrazenSpirituality]

I have been arguing exactly for butcher block in my kitchen versus my family’s preference for quartz for a few years. I LOVE butcher block and Acacia! Thanks for making my points for me Ma’am!

[@SunfireWoods]

Four years ago, I built a kitchen countertop with knotty alder wood, but I sealed it with a product called Waterlox. It's a superior sealant that is safe with food. It isnt, and never was intended to be, a cutting surface. I ran the numbers and figured it'd cost me about the same to buy the materials AND tools to make my own than it would to replace with another formica counter. It was my very first carpentry project. Go big or go home, right! I made sure the new owners knew to use cutting boards on the counter. I was prepping my house for sale and needed to replace the warped formica KZbin University taught me everything I needed to know. I still have the tools, and the most mentioned thing about the home from buyers that toured it is that they loved the countertops. My next project will be to build a 40x50 two storey shop house/barndominium! Last comment, but so very key; I'm a woman in my late 50's. In my younger years I couldn't have imagined learning all these new skills. I now love woodworking, and the women on KZbin that are leading and teaching us are a source of inspiration that I, and so many other women like me, now turn to. Leah, thank you for removing the analysis paralysis and making me believe in myself. YOU can do this!

[@seejanedrill]

You can and you did, "You can do this"

[@spankymagee]

I recently did Epoxy and i gotta say, it's the funnest project ive ever done. An amazing result from my own artwork(and im no artist) and you cant mess it up if you watch the guys that sell it. They have hundreds of videos. It looks amazing. I have an early video on my channel about it before i finished it. Terrible video quality, i know. 😆 Mine was like $230 for everything, it all comes in the bundle so no need to buy anything else except drop cloth stuff. I did mine from StoneCoat. I love this though!! I always wanted butcher block.you could easily just do a final epoxy flood coat over that there and it will be heat and water resistant. You wouldnt want to put the oil down though or it wouldnt bond.

[@seejanedrill]

It's funny that you mention Stone Coat because I just did a bathroom sink in epoxy and I LOVE IT

[@bazoozoo0245]

I was wondering about the epoxy over it. It should protect it completely

[@Mixdplate]

Ohhhh! Now you really have me considering butcher block!! Not too concerned about heat but water damage from sink, spills, & pot lid condensation would be major concern for me.

[@number1pappy]

Perfect timing! We are renovating our 1995 kitchen! We decided months ago when planning to install butcher block counter tops. 😊

[@maarkaus48]

this is a very good idea. I used to work in a professional kitchen, and almost all the surfaces we prepped on were wood (or stainless steel). Cleaning was easy with bleach or vinegar. Every station we left we had to clean before the next person could use it, and it all held up to a professional work load well. Maintenance is needed of course. I also like the look. Much nicer than steel. More forgiving if you bump into it too.

[@glenmartin2437]

Thank you. You are the shop teacher I did not have.

[@jamesmoeller9366]

Bingo, SJD! 1,000 points! Repair by sanding and oiling is very affordable! The savings adds up for a bookcase, island, or even a kitchen table!

[@heathernicholson4160]

Stunning! Love the contrast with the cabinet color.

[@dogscratchedoor]

The whole concept of sustainable wood is a big plus with this project! 👍

[@Annie-49]

Nice! I like the look of wood, and your counters are such a good option! I wanted something tough, so we used large tiles. They look like stone and you can put things right out of the oven on them, they don't stain and are unaffected by water or other liquids. I love them.

[@missychan63]

I adore butcher block counters! So beautiful and super easy to take care of... Absolutely worst case scenario you sand out the burn or knife marks and re-oil it and you're good to go! My second choice would be concrete... They look great, again- easy maintenance- and definitely budget friendly.

[@andreaa8057]

I haven’t seen your videos in a long time. I saw you on a restoration show! Glad your still around!

[@seejanedrill]

Yep, I'm on the History Channel but still do weekly videos on youtube

[@poppacore6433]

I've been watching your videos since I was early on in my electrical apprenticeship, and trying to gain more general trade experience. No one gives such detailed, thoughtful, and thorough information/advice. You're a great craftsman, and an even better teacher Leah.

[@seejanedrill]

Thanks. Have you made journeyman yet?

[@poppacore6433]

@@seejanedrill I've been a Jman for about 4 years. I've been contracting for the last three, almost four years. I feel like i've been watching your videos for like 7-8 years+. You're awesome, Leah. Thanks for all the pointers i've learned in the past, and things i'll undoubtedly learn from you in the future. Have a great weekend :)

[@joebrown1382]

Looks beautiful Leah & I love the Teal green cabinets.

[@seejanedrill]

Thank you...I like the green too

[@eukaryon]

Beautiful work! Your videos have taught me a lot. Our house does not have strong enough floors to support granite counters. People often don't know about permissible flexure of the structure.

[@vaderladyl]

I never gave any thought to the weight of them on a house with wooden floor foundation. I always only minded the weight on top of cabinets, maybe because all of my houses have been concrete foundation. That is food for thought for me.

[@justinmiller3396]

Say Leah, have you thought about doing a collaboration with Mercury Stardust? It’d be great to see the two best Handy Ma’ams together. ❤

[@jimjones9264]

Great idea!

[@seejanedrill]

Great idea!!

[@mmcfreds]

Always so nice to watch your videos, Leah, great job!

[@seejanedrill]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@vegascece]

I grew up with butcher block countertops so it's nice to see they're still in use. My home has granite tops and my son--in-law dropped a heavy cast iron skillet on it...the crack remains some 10 year's later. Not a fan of them.

[@getyourfeelgoodbackbjones1576]

Honeeeeeeee…. about four years ago, I installed a butcher block countertop after tearing out the old 1962 Formica. It is beautiful. I get many compliments. I use the whole butcher block. It works.

[@hankfrankly7240]

Great video. Watched second one. I like this idea. Thought I've never owned a saw that cutes straight 😃 I think I can do this. Going to save this one. Thank you.

[@Foche_T._Schitt]

Install tile for even less. Even large granite tiles can also be used. Use two sheets of plywood screwed together equaling about 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 inch thick. Coat with Uncoupling Membrane like RedGard. Then lay it out.

[@BradThePitts]

Did mine 5 years ago. Mineral oil once a day for a week and then once a week for a month. Now just every month. No problems with rotting around the undermount sink.

[@aprildegele1510]

I absolutely LOVE your videos. Butcher block is relatively cheap ty buy, and (in some cases depending on where you are and what's available cheap), you can make your own. Acacia wood is one of the best as far as I'm concerned. Yes, i'ts more than most want to pay when they can get pre-cuts slabs at a pretty nominal cost. But the rot/insect/mold issue makes Acacia a great, cost effective choice. In this day and age, hardwoods good for countertops are at a premium and I'm not exactly sure why. You don't need premium hardwood figuring to make a beautiful countertop. It's cut so narrow that you're not going to see the figure anyway. Buy for the properties of the wood, not necessarily the look or the grain. Don't like the color? Stain it before finishing.

[@cwu34]

I bought one solid wood piece from ikea for $70. It s really good idea using it and it s beautiful and easy diy. 😊

[@TheWtfnonamez]

Very wise advice REGARDLESS of budget. As a tinkerer myself, I would never spend lots of money on a pristine countertop. I consider ALL work surfaces as "consumables", just like I assume that my workbench top will need replacing periodically. Kitchen counters take less physical abuse, but they are used far more often. I would be loathed to spend thousands on a perfect stone counter top only to chip it or damage it.

[@dwp1970]

Looks great with the cabinets you installed. It's been 10 years since we did our kitchen and we picked soapstone as our counter tops. Very low maintenance and great heat resistance but the stone is very soft and it is easy to ding them but they do sand out easily, I don't remember the price but they did need to be installed by pros.

[@Paula-po9kx]

Thank you Leah. How do you always know what project needs to be done at my house 😊😊😊

[@riverbender9898]

Your channel is really GREAT! (Especially for those of us who were not born with a hammer in our hands.) Thank you Leah.

[@seejanedrill]

You're so welcome!

[@Pippi-Longstocking]

Omg. We are doing butcher block for price and warmth and function. I’m so freakin’ excited about this video

[@ChubbyUnicorn]

Having granite in my rental & breaking so many dishes helped me choose butcherblock in my house.

[@RyDeezy]

That looks reallllllly nice Leah. Great work on it.

[@rickscarpellotherapy]

Not only do I learn an incredible amount from you… you’re just so NICE 😊😊😊

[@xxnonstopdancingxx]

“I installed it in about a day and a half..” And that’s why we love this channel. Absolute truth, rather than someone making it look like a half day install

[@AncoraImparoPiper]

Yes! Thanks for your common sense. Wood! Easy to work with and DIY friendly. I"ve made timber top island 9 years ago and it's still going strong. I take care of it using food grade sealer. I re-seal once a year or so. My kitchen renewal is falling due next year. I'll get that timber counter top installed.

[@misterdubity3073]

John Boos makes wood countertops, and they recommend when installing the screws that go up through the top of the cabinet into the underside of the countertop, predrill the countertop to the diameter of the core of the screw; overdrill the top of the cabinet to slightly larger than the outer thread diameter of the screw then use a washer and a pan head screw: not too tight. That way with changes of humidity the expansion/contraction won't put as much stress on the countertop.

[@triciac1019]

I have a kitchen table out of Acacia wood. It is just so beautiful! This type of wood is great as outdoor furniture.

[@auntmaryspals7978]

I've been having so much fun making cutting boards that I should join a bunch together and have a countertop. 😄

[@00700556]

Yep I installed one in my house to and coated it with a high gloss waterlox sealer so I don’t have to do any maintenance. It’s so durable and 5 years later still looks new. Once the sealer wears down, just sand and then reapply. Too easy

[@TPoPArt]

I don’t even like granite. I will be doing this when I remodel. Your kitchen looks beautiful.

[@conniepleasantnails]

I used a product called Waterlox (matte finish) when we installed our wood countertops. We purchased them from Ikea and the new owner of our old home kept them. They still look great. 😊 I ordered the Waterlox online

[@deezynar]

I like what you did there, Leah. You always do good work, and this is no exception. But I want to mention that I got granite countertop material in exchange for a case of beer. Granite places always have granite that keeps getting passed over by customers and they eventually want to get it out of the shop. The stuff I got is a splotchy brown and tan that looks like an old garage floor that has had a lot of oil changes done on it. If you want a top-notch material and don't mind that it doesn't meet popular aesthetic standards, you can get it for nearly nothing if you ask.

[@JRB33169]

Always a pleasure to see your videos. Thank you.

[@seejanedrill]

My pleasure!

[@bettyplant4793]

I was considering butcher block countertop. I love the look; I have a butcher block, and it still looks good. Thank you Leah, as always you're a great teacher.

[@billconnelly4840]

VERY Nice , Good Job. THANKS FOR SHARING. Excellent !

[@mruziicak]

I like this idea! There's a few finishes that are food safe and mineral oil may not be the best finish because it stays wet and would need regular application. Been looking at 100% tung oil, but there's a few options, as I understand it.

[@IDrawToothpicks]

Our new construction is going to have granite crema atlantico in the kitchen. (i would've preferred a darker color as i don't like patterns /spots much) but it doesn't look too bad from what I've seen. Neither does yours! If I could go back to change it id get this done! Looks beautiful!

[@John-kc7ko]

I Love your videos. thanks for making them!

[@lechatbotte.]

I love actual butcher block. I bought a huge piece before the price went up. However real stuff requires constant oiling. I resined a high traffic area to protect it. The other part is where my stove is but it’s dried out. So I will resin it. I will have to look into acacia wood. Oh the eight foot piece I bout was less that 100 bucks at the time.

[@joels7605]

That looks really good. Quartz is porous and will stain. I think granite is porous but a bit better than quartz. With your countertop if anything goes wrong you can sand and fix it. Also I really like the big screen on the wall in the kitchen. That's great.

[@tabcreedence6553]

My parents installed a butcher block countertop over 40 years ago and it is still in use today

[@saliston]

Used butcher block for my bar tops looks wonderful

[@judischarns4509]

I hated my granite countertops. They needed constant attention and resealing. They were dark so I couldn’t easily see spills. I love the butcher block look.

[@contessachristabella259]

I agree with you 💯 percent. Keith and Evan from Bargin Block on HGTV always use butcher block countertops and their kitchens are absolutely gorgeous even with kitchen tiles. I figured it was cheaper when I saw them installing them on all their rehabbed houses, but I would do the same cuz I don't really care for marble and it's way to expensive.

[@AK-ky3ou]

I’ve been contemplating this. I’m thinking a granite or manufactured stone slab for the sink top and the rest 75% in butcher block. Looks great.

[@quartqwertbudisgood]

Love it, probably going to do the same thing next time a rental needs a new countertop

[@Patrick-pt5bm]

This was a great instructional video. My only criticism would be the use of mineral oil; whilst it's good for chopping boards I wouldn't use it on the entire surface of a countertop, because you will have to use mineral oil every couple of months to stop the counter from drying out; plus it's not good at resisting stains. Instead, I would use Osmo Wood Protector Oil (1x coat on each side and edges) followed by Osmo Top Oil (untinted; 1x coat to the underside of the counter and 3x coats on the top). Both oils are water resistant and food safe. You will only need to very lightly sand the countertop and go over with the top oil once a year or 18 months. Small blemishes can be retouched without doing the whole counter.

[@cdipierro]

Good option to consider. What I don't like about stone countertops is the breakage of plates and glasses. There's no forgiveness if something slips out of your hand.

[@silencesays228]

That's a beautiful counter.

[@christopheranderson8275]

Butcher block is ok for countertops but I’d be sure to get a very hard wood like hard maple or white oak. It’s not that much cheaper than sectioning out stone to install yourself. A grinder with the right disc will cut the stone. Then grind and polish a simple round over for finished edges. Amazon sells kits for this purpose. Costs for stone compared to a good hardwood butcher block top is about 2.5x more but worth it IMO unless you’re the type that updates your kitchen frequently then butcher block would be fine. Just definitely don’t use a softwood like soft maple or similar softer wood that’s only going to look good for a few years once water gets to it. Wood sure looks beautiful though and thanks for the tip on acacia wood I didn’t know it had those qualities and looks like a cross between walnut and cedar. I love it!❤

[@routtookc8064]

Went through this same situation with budget and lack of ability to DIY a stone counter. Also, knicks and scratches in butcherblock add to the charm, not detract like a stone top would.

[@savanah1407]

It looks beautiful in your kitchen!

[@notreallysmitty]

That's what I was going to guess! Love the idea of a full butcher block counter ❤️

[@j1j11j]

My house came with butcher block. I also used mineral oil for finish. Took the advise of a friend to seal them with a urathane and the yearly chore is no more. Another house another project made counters with fancy birch plywood sealed with a urathane. Cut 3/16 strips of wood for the edges. The area over the dishwasher was a challenge from heat. Needs extra care. One may thin some finishes so they go deaper into the wood and seal both sides of the counter in that area. I've seen these plywood counters that look good. I didn't care for mine.

[@Alexander2020]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ That is absolutely beautiful. I'd never seen a wood countertop before

[@jenette16]

Ha, i was gonna roll past this article, then i saw it was Jane. Love her

[@squalazzo]

love the kindness you always put while explaining in your videos :) and i remember your old videos intro, the welcome part :)

[@juanitasullivan3372]

Drooling here! I love wood big time. I love things rustic and quiet. I live in an A Frame cottage and am surrounded by wood. I don't like loud noises and I find wood countertops are quiet. With granite there is a loud pingy sound if you drop something on the countertop. Makes my skin crawl.

[@transmundanium]

Wood is the best choice. Stone is brittle and once you break it you're sunk. Nice job!

[@charlier7711]

Love you Jane!! You rock! The counter tops look amazing - and this could be my new counter top material - this is my project for the end of the year. Thanks for another great video.

[@AspiringGardeners]

Your don'ts are the very reason I installed granite. I'm always setting hot pots on it.

[@snart]

Love your videos - please keep them coming!

[@Robotooo]

I've installed butcher block counters in two places and in both cases after about 5 years the boards surrounding the sink are separating and discolored, despite being very careful with my caulking of the sink (one inset, one under-counter) and staying up on the mineral oil. Even if you are careful, you just can't keep the water out 100%. Feels like should have like a small slab of stone for the sink area...which might be pretty cool looking, if can figure out how to butt them to each other nicely.

[@elonever.2.071]

After you layout the template for the sink cut out, cut it out but leave about 4 inches near each side of the corners to keep it sturdy. Then make a bigger template for how big you want the stone insert and rout that out half the thickness of the butcherblock. Then finish cutting out the four corners for the sink insert and have a stone piece fabricated to fit into the routed section and not covering the sink hole cutout. It will have to be a top mount sink. I have one that is perfectly flat that drops in and is a dream to keep clean. Got it at Home Depot four years ago and dropped it into a red oak countertop that I fabricated and painted a deep blue oil base.

[@tjfSIM]

Great video as always! I'm looking to replace a run of worktop in my kitchen in the not too distant future and this has given me food for thought :)

[@Jamie-mt2vb]

You make great videos and you're a superb teacher. Thank you

[@tweakerkid]

Also, it's possible to rout out the shape of a slate tile that can be used to take hot pans, looks nice too.

[@seejanedrill]

I like that idea

[@bluesky7838]

Savings or no savings, it's beautiful!

[@MurseSamson]

For me those downsides are too much to sway me on the wood, but I'm impressed that you did that. - Would it be possible to resin seal the countertop to accommodate for the drawbacks?

[@jimweisgram9185]

Varnish uses resin, so, yes. I'm not sure about acacia, if it is oily. You may want a product like shellac as a first coat. It doesn't protect well against water or alcohol, so use something else on top of it. Be sure to apply to the underside as well as the top. Wood sealed on one side only may warp. Butcher block would resist that better than a board will, but still. I'm going to look into pure tung oil. You need a number of coats, each coat takes extra time to cure.

[@MurseSamson]

@@jimweisgram9185 Great to know, thank you so much!

[@Sylvan_dB]

With your mineral oil, add some beeswax. Heat it just enough to mix the two. Keep it thin so it soaks in or add more beeswax to make a paste much like furniture polish that will seal the surface better.

[@ohfknowned239]

I like wood but the new cement tops is very nice as well as epoxy is easy to customize.

[@rawbacon]

I grew up with laminate so I would never think about putting a hot pan on a countertop anyways.....And I don't slop water all over the place so that's not a problem either......BTW Mineral Oil is used for everything, Lemon Oil furniture polish just mineral oil with color and scent added....Gun oil, honing oil, sewing machine oil all just mineral oil....You'd be amazed how many things are mineral oil or mineral oil with a little something added......Counters look great! I love wood.

[@Omagog]

Wow. You are always amazing ans so helpful. I installed the same wood counter last year and looks lovely. Thank you for confirming my project and will stay tuned for more retirement DIY education 😂

[@rebecrra]

Very professional and knowledgeable, thank you

[@ChubbyUnicorn]

Definitely research butcher block treatments & care to make sure you get one that fits your lifestyle. Also can't set hot pan on stone counter tops, they crack.

[@seattlebeard]

Wood looks so much better. I got mine through Ikea. I'm a fan of Waterlox instead of mineral oil. It's still easy to maintain and offers more moisture protection. Love your videos. Cheers. :o)

[@seejanedrill]

Great tip!

[@jessieobscura]

That's what we used for our wood countertops, too. 8 years later, haven't needed to refinish.

[@MemoGrafix]

Thanks for Your comment about *_"WaterLox,"_* I have a Solid wood table I need to work on.

[@surgeinc1]

Good to know more about Acasia wood!

[@LIMABN]

Gorgeous with the jade cupboards!

[@rrbb36]

I have a beautiful butcher-block top on my rolling center island… but ALL the countertops? Nah… instead I went with a gorgeous warm granite-LOOK… and I do mean GORGEOUS. It’s actually Formica which you wouldn’t be able to tell even up close-until you actually TOUCH it. I’m so glad I was “talked into” the right Formica.

[@alexandrugajin763]

You can also use clear epoxy for finish, the thin version not the thick one. Just buy the one that has the longest curing time you can find. Brush the first layer with a brush, unless your allergic to epoxy to have it on your skin you can use your hands or some piece of rubber while the first layer of epoxy is still fresh and wet rub the entire surface very well this will force the epoxy to go deeper into the fibers, you can also add more if some areas soak the epoxy too quick. You should do this process at about 20 degrees temperature. this is not too hot to cure the epoxy too fast nor too cold to make it thick. You should cover the entire board with this, the bottom side as well. If you don't and only protect one side of the panel the other one will absorb humidity faster and with time the wood will deform. After the expoy is cured, at about 25 degrees it takes about 24 hours to cure, not completely, just enough for you to sand it then use a scotchbrite pad allover it and you give it another coat with brush or a roler. This will completely protect the wood from water and humidity and will form a hard shell layer. It's a bit more expencive and more toxic while you do it. Also make sure you have good ventilation while working big amounts of epoxy. But once is completely cured is probably the best finish for wood to make it immune to water. If you're not using an entire slab and you use these kind of boards made from many pieces i suggest using epoxy. Because the pieces from wich that board is made are not all same wood density, not all of them act as an entire piece of wood, some absorb humidity faster, some slower, some expand more, some less, and this will lead to make that board crack and bend overtime. If you use an entire slab to do it you can use oil. 100-150$ worth of a good quality epoxy is not a fortune to make that board completely waterproof and make it last for much longer. Keep in mind, there is a huge difference between an slab made from 2 cuts from the tree trunk and boards wich are made from remains glued together with glue wich isn't even waterproof and even if the glue is waterproof, the wood isn't and you still have that problem with difference of density in the wood. The only way to resolve this problem is to completely seal the wood while is dried.

[@joycependleton4117]

Great video! And the color of your cabinets is great!

[@vayabroder729]

Love the color combo you have going there.