Easy Improvement For Your Kitchen! DIY Butcher Block Countertops | How To Build and Install

This Maker Gray tutorial shows how I made new butcher block countertops for my kitchen using a butcher block slab I bought from Ikea. This was a very easy remodel and a big upgrade from the old formica that came with the house. Totally something you can easily DIY. Thanks for watching!
Tools I Use:
Butcher Block Countertop - solid wood
Circular Saw: amzn.to/2WSrF7Q
Orbital Sander: amzn.to/2uWHM8A
Wood Conditioner: amzn.to/3Ca73w9
Wood Stain: amzn.to/3kw2h6h
Waterlox Original Finish: amzn.to/2ICtns0
Waterlox Satin Finish: amzn.to/38E2dfq
Find all my build plans here: bit.ly/3BQhp4X
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Music by Joakim Karud / joakimkarud
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Website www.makergray.com
Thanks for watching!
Erin Longfellow
Maker Gray
I'm Erin Longfellow and I'm a maker, DIYer, builder, designer and content creator. My goal is to help you learn that you too can build or DIY what I make, or anything you need, with easily accessible tools and materials. On this channel you're going to find different builds and designs with a modern emphasis that are DIY friendly, mostly through woodworking, metalworking, construction and home renovations. Be sure to subscribe and enable all notifications! And thanks for watching!
#makergray #butcherblock #DIY

[@BradThePitts]

Great job! And since butcher block countertops have been around for a hundred years, it's safe to say it will NEVER go out of style. Just last week I did a demo on a kitchen that had granite countertops and cost $10,000 only 10 years ago!

[@LynnLaceyLLWW]

Very nice - looks so much better. Thanks for the Ikea idea!

[@NickyNicest]

You gave me confidence to do this. I’m afraid to fuck it up but you make it look easy. Thanks for this!!!

[@MakerGray]

Heck yeah you can totally do it!

[@ifscottcanyoucan]

Turned out fantastic. I will add this to the list of ideas for the house we are building.

[@jaynesimmons2403]

Beautiful.

[@lauramorales1187]

Beautiful choice, and great instruction. Thank you for sharing!

[@MakerGray]

Great! Thanks so much for watching!

[@sideways8films488]

Thanks for posting!

[@MakerGray]

Thanks for watching :)

[@Mac_Raymond]

came out great

[@MakerGray]

Thanks!

[@gloriadelgado-sifuentes5596]

Great job...you made it look so easy.

[@D3icidalAsmodeus]

Great work and great format for making the video!

[@MakerGray]

Thomas Ng Thanks so much! I really appreciate it!

[@Onyesoh]

Lovely. Thank you!

[@MakerGray]

Thanks so much!

[@PamelaLUSAF]

Love!

[@sharonlatour6230]

Just gorgeous!! I love butcher block

[@MakerGray]

Thanks!

[@niqslife]

Thank you very much for this video!!!

[@MakerGray]

I'm so glad it is helpful to you!

[@felicia5620]

Looks amazing! I can't wait to put butcher counter in my new home. I'm really excited! Thank you for your video!

[@MakerGray]

I'm so glad you're going to do it. Thanks for watching!

[@coledave]

heading to Ikea and home depot, great video and project

[@MakerGray]

D.C. Cole Thanks so much! I’m so glad you’re going to make these yourself also.

[@Drizzt573]

Great details in your video. Thank you for showing the products that you're using and for explaining your taping methods. Nice work!

[@MakerGray]

I'm so glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching!

[@eXdXgXe4life]

Pretty much going to copy everything you did for this. Turned out amazing. I'd like to see an update video some day. Thanks!

[@MakerGray]

eXdXgXe4life Awesome! Many months in and they still look really good. Great idea on the update video. Let me know if you have any questions and thanks for watching!

[@calvinnathaniel2403]

You probably dont care but if you guys are stoned like me during the covid times then you can stream all the latest movies on Instaflixxer. Been binge watching with my gf for the last few weeks xD

[@aydenfisher3535]

@Calvin Nathaniel Yea, I have been watching on instaflixxer for since december myself =)

[@curtfatherree7474]

Counter tops turned out nice.

[@MakerGray]

Curt Fatherree Thanks so much!

[@curtfatherree7474]

@@MakerGray... any thoughts or plans for doing the same thing to the rest of your kitchen counters? Hardwood tops look good on bathroom vanities as well, and as long as they're properly sealed hold up quite well. Speaking of vanities, my dad and I built 3 of them a few years back... one has a cherry top finished with polyurethane, one has an oak top with walnut inlays, also finished with poly, and the third has a maple top finished with a product called 'Emmet's Good Stuff'. So far all 3 tops are holding up quite well. If you happen to have time, I posted some pictures on my IG feed (@teethareoptional) and also put an article on my website/blog (teethareoptional.com) showing some detail on how the vanities were built. Both places have other things you might find interesting as well.

[@MakerGray]

@@curtfatherree7474We thought about it for the rest of the kitchen but ended up going with Quartz. Just an aesthetic decision. But you are right. As long as they are sealed properly, the would look great in a lot of other areas!

[@curtfatherree7474]

@@MakerGray ....I hear quartz is pretty much impervious to things soaking into it, which sounds like an ideal material for counter tops. I've also heard counter tops made from quartz can be a bit on the heavy side, and I was wondering: did you have to add any reinforcement to your cabinets in order to mount them? Speaking of mounting, did you use any sort of fastener, or are they held in place with an adhesive?

[@michelekind1554]

Well done! I can appreciate how meticulous you were. Great job ladies

[@MakerGray]

Thank you!!

[@chloenatividad5253]

Wow you make it look so easy! I’m definitely learning a lot from you

[@MakerGray]

Thanks so much 😊 I'm so glad!

[@stephanier2860]

Looks beautiful! I wish I could do things like this---I will have to have someone make the cuts and do the install, but I'm inspired to do the demo, staining and sealing. Thank you!

[@MakerGray]

Thank you! I'm so glad I could help! You can absolutely do it.

[@enigmapunch9863]

Looks great. Shame the cabinets weren't already level. Cant help but wonder why they were so off. As an installer that's one of things that chafes me a bit. I think i would have taken the opportunity of having the counter tops off to level them properly. It should be just a question of of taking the mounting screws out of the wall, pulling the stove and shimming it up. Also i could be wrong but i think someone installed your refrigerator panel upside down. There shouldn't be a lip facing your counter top. Sorry if i'm nit picking. You did a good job.

[@MakerGray]

Thanks for the insight! The builders of this house cut corners in many areas, so I'm not surprised that things aren't correct. I appreciate your comments. And thanks for watching!

[@pgc476]

Nice

[@mikehoward417]

What platform you sat your board to cut it? Also what grid sanding you used?

[@alexandermoreno9087]

My wife just showed me your video for the pools, they are extremely easy to follow. Any suggestions for updating a old beat up gray fence?

[@MakerGray]

Eventually I’ll have a video for that as I need to update an old fence myself. Thanks so much!

[@alexandermoreno9087]

@@MakerGray just watching your patio furniture video haha it’s a bit intimidating I have zero exp but I am being motivated by my family to do it. Thank you again

[@fredfaylonavideos]

Is that a Samsung Electric Range? I'm planning my kitchen renovation and will also use Ikea butcher block countertops since I'm a big fan! Thanks for the tips!

[@MakerGray]

Yep! Samsung Electric. New countertops and new range. Really made the space nicer. I'm so glad you got some tips. Thanks for watching!

[@joshuaking9755]

Great video, quick question what kind of upkeep do you do if any?

[@MakerGray]

Joshua King Thanks! I actually haven’t needed to do anything other than clean them like any other countertops. They still look great. There are very minor scratches after a year+ of use. But I only notice them if I look very closely.

[@tooljunkie555]

So u didn't do the sink side?

[@orlandomunguia2388]

Great job! How has it stood up to daily life/use?

[@MakerGray]

Thanks! it has stood up remarkably well. I'm constantly impressed at how well it has done. One year in so far.

[@CarmencitaTiradoJayandme21]

Hi, loved this video... What did you use to edit it ... How did you get your background music. I subscribed!!

[@MakerGray]

Thanks for watching and thanks for the sub! I use Adobe Premiere Pro for my editing and I get my music from artists on SoundCloud that authorize the KZbin use.

[@mrfewtheaquariumdude12]

Great video. Just curious why didn’t you use 100% satin finish on the last coat?

[@MakerGray]

Thanks! It was just an aesthetic preference. But if I remember correctly, you can go with 100% satin on the top coat.

[@cosaosa2855]

How has the countertop held up to heat and grease spatter from the stove?

[@MakerGray]

Çŏsa ŊosŧЯǺ Holding up great!

[@thefilthelement]

That's the same stain I plan on using, I was looking at IKEA but they said their wood want solid just a veneer finish

[@MakerGray]

That's interesting. Mine is definitely solid wood.

[@chellestan]

For anyone watching this now, Ikea did discontinue their solid wood countertops in the last year or so. I was hoping to use them as well.

[@dang3402]

I have made my choice. Butcher block it is. Just one question what size if subway tile did u use?

[@MakerGray]

Great! We used the small white subway tile found at Home Depot. It was about 1foot square on a mesh backing. Easy to install!

[@tooljunkie555]

Looks nice! ...so u didn't do the sink side?

[@MakerGray]

Thanks! No, we ended up doing quartz on the sink side. But after seeing the result of these counters, I'd feel more comfortable having them near a sink. They hold up well to moisture.

[@sheldonkirschbaum6213]

What will it look like if I have to join two pieces together?

[@MakerGray]

If you're good with your cuts, I'm sure it would look great!

[@GibClark]

👍👍

[@richardray8280]

I looked on IKEA's website, but could not find any "slab Butcher block" did you have to call to order?

[@MakerGray]

I just bought the butcher block in the store. If you go on Ikea's website, look under kitchen countertops and you'll find them there. I used this link: www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/ikea_kitchens/24264/

[@fredfaylonavideos]

They have several models! Check the 'Environment' tab - it tells you whether it's solid wood (walnut, oak, etc) or wood top and fiberboard base - go for the former.

[@falonfelscher1261]

Was this a solid wood counter top, I noticed on Ikea's website that their current butcher block counter tops are not solid wood.

[@MakerGray]

It is solid wood. Interesting that you aren't seeing any. I know that other places sell the solid block as well.

[@markshively1365]

IKEA has solid wood and particle board with a (thinner) wood top. The popularity / low cost of their solid wood can create out-of-stock occurrences frequently.

[@vpfyi3351]

🥰

[@billwhite_Dial8]

Are your sealers food grade?

[@MakerGray]

I'm honestly not sure. However, we dont use the counters as a cutting surface so I'm personally not worried about it.

[@JFlytheBeast]

Is this a birch or walnut wood block?

[@MakerGray]

I'm not positive on what wood it is. But I stained it walnut.

[@ManuelVCano]

Which butcher block counter did you buy from Ikea?

[@MakerGray]

I can't remember which one it was exactly. Not sure if Ikea still sells solid wood butcher block. But if not, Home Depot does, as well as some other companies.

[@ecaryn.]

Ikea has changed all of their butcher block countertops to a veneer/particle board combo with the exception of only one real solid wood option left: Hammarp.

[@MakerGray]

Interesting. Well, I do know that there are other places to purchase them. I wonder how the prices compare...