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07/05/2008, 9:56 J.R's gone native Joined on 16/07/2006 Picardie, Sussex Posts 1,695 Re: Oiling beech worktops  Christine Animal wrote: Is there a reason for having beech worktops rather than granite, marble, tiles, etc. ?  A lot of you seem to be doing it, is it a fashion or you just like the idea of wood?   Are you serious Christine? - Some of us live on a real world budget I paid 85 euros for a 3 metre lenghth that I could cut and work by hand or power tools, mitre, make an opening for a sink and rout in drainage grooves, clamping bolt recesses etc How many zeros would I have to add to "fait faire" that lot in granite or marble I ask myself? Dont answer the reply will only make me ill, I have a cutting from connections where a disgruntled British customer is complainin after having paid €40,000 for a kitchen that still has some unresolved problems, that is the same price as I paid for my property in France and the hotel part came with a commercial kitchen;he was not complaining abuut the price mind just missing bits, drawers that dont shut etc, the units in the photo looked like brico-depot ones. Some of my UK friends recently paid even more for their oak fitted kitchen with the obligatory granite worktops, I have to smile because on having seen my work his wife wants me to replace all the worktops with beech. For me it was price, workability and most importantly the anti-bacterial qualities of the wood (except if sealed with danish oil or whatever)which is why it has been in use for many centuries. I seriously hope that it isnt now a fashion thing Christine as I would then have to reluctantly remove my beech and fit whatever is not in favor (but never granite),    Report

07/05/2008, 10:34 Christine Animal Joined on 14/05/2005 Deux-Sèvres Posts 4,112 Re: Oiling beech worktops Sorry, it was just that I had never seen a beech kitchen work top before.  I hadn't thought of the price, formica is also cheap.  I didn't know beech was cheap.  Maybe they have been the thing in Britain as I did a search and saw plenty.  I haven't seen them in France, but that's maybe because I haven't looked!   animalaidsaintaubin.monsite.orange.fr/ Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful    Report

07/05/2008, 13:31 thunderhorse Joined on 16/11/2005 Deux-Sèvres Posts 179 Re: Oiling beech worktops  Christine Animal wrote: Is there a reason for having beech worktops rather than granite, marble, tiles, etc. ?  A lot of you seem to be doing it, is it a fashion or you just like the idea of wood? Where we were before we had a wooden surround for a washbasin, but just because I fancied it like that.  It was varnished and was waterproof, but is it really practical for a worktop? I think it's the appeal of a natural material. Yes, the upkeep is more, but they do look rather nice. My sister-in-law has got over the fussiness with hers over three years and bashes away on them to her heart's content - and they still look good - that lovely hint of distressing! Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads.    Report

07/05/2008, 14:13 powerdesal Joined on 07/01/2006 Sharjah U.A.E Posts 2,023 Re: Oiling beech worktops  thunderhorse wrote:  Christine Animal wrote: Is there a reason for having beech worktops rather than granite, marble, tiles, etc. ?  A lot of you seem to be doing it, is it a fashion or you just like the idea of wood? Where we were before we had a wooden surround for a washbasin, but just because I fancied it like that.  It was varnished and was waterproof, but is it really practical for a worktop? I think it's the appeal of a natural material. Yes, the upkeep is more, but they do look rather nice. My sister-in-law has got over the fussiness with hers over three years and bashes away on them to her heart's content - and they still look good - that lovely hint of distressing! Surely granite and marble class as natural materials. We have green marble worktops here in the UAE and black granite in France. I imported the granite from the UAE in a container load of furniture having had it cut to size here, including the sink hole. About 6m running length that probably cost in total about E240 equivalent, that was cut, bevelled and palletised for shipping, including upstands. We will be taking our green marble tops with us to France when we leave here (hopefully next year) with a view to recycling them to the bathroom - if it ever gets finished. Maybe I should take orders and supply some granite / marble. Steve Sharjah + 50 (in France) ........................................................................... Roll on death.....Demob is too far away.    Report

07/05/2008, 22:26 J.R's gone native Joined on 16/07/2006 Picardie, Sussex Posts 1,695 Re: Oiling beech worktops Wow that is seriously good (relative) value, you havn't missed out a zero just to tease me have you? I actually quite like marble but grew sick of it as almost every one of my ex-customers (I did automatic gate systems) seemed to have them in their new, obscenely large "trophy kitchens" together with an obligatory cast or wrought iron cookbook stand with a Jamie Oliver book discreetly (not!) opened on a page of artistic food porn, actually autistic might have been a better term for the works of J.O. Funny thing was despite having kitchens bigger than most houses i have lived in and fully equipped with unpronounceable designer electromanegerie none of them actually seemed to be capable of cooking a meal judging by the empty Waitrose and Safeway ready meal boxes or the champagne bottles and delivery boxes from the outside caterers. Maybe if word gets out just how cheap they are in the UAE they might start throwing them out and then I might indulge myself!    Report

08/05/2008, 15:14 powerdesal Joined on 07/01/2006 Sharjah U.A.E Posts 2,023 Re: Oiling beech worktops I havn't missed a zero out, I dont have the actual invoice to hand (the house is full of packing boxes) but yes, it was good value, which is why we did it. Our kitchen here was refitted by the landlord and he agreed to our request for green marble, if it wasn't cheap enough he would have refused (landlords dont like spending money, at least ours doesn't). There is a lot of marble and granite used here, its from India in large sheets and is cut to whatever shape you wish and polished / finished etc. The working practices at the marble companies would make you seriously cringe but thats the reality of life. We had designed our French kitchen during one holiday and got the granite all cut to size to meet that design. Not a trophy kitchen as its based on B & Q carcasses, our worktops and my homemade doors / drawer fronts - one day it may even be finished!!!!! We do have a wrought iron cook book stand though. (Jamie Oliver is a plank!!!!!!) Shipping marble / granite is really only an option if you are already sending a container, the weight is then not a consideration. Handling the palletised marble at the receipt end is not the easiest thing in the world. Its very unforgiving stuff if it lands on your feet. (wife, hospital, serious crush injuries etc etc - been there, done that). My next container run will be July / Aug 2009 and then the green marble will be recycled into a bathroom worktop. I have a dedicated marble cutting circular saw unit with water feed and can cut the pieces to fit. Its a tempting proposition to bring extra marble / granite but (probably) totally illegal as it would have to be imported as "personal effects" I have some photos which, one day, I may upload to the net and post. Steve Sharjah + 50 (in France) ........................................................................... Roll on death.....Demob is too far away.    Report

10/05/2008, 18:59 Rob Roy Joined on 11/03/2006 19 - Correze Posts 663 Re: Oiling beech worktops I think one of the things I was most reluctant to leave in England was my wooden kitchen work tops! One of our sons was a tree surgeon and I was lucky enough to have sycamore work tops, with the outside edge naturally wavy where the tree had been sliced lengthways. We used Danish (teak) oil to seal them, having been told that not only does linseed oil remain tacky, but will affect the taste of food should it come in contact with it. Danish oil gave the most fantastic finish - I could put anything on it without worrying - even hot roasting dishes or casseroles straight from the oven. A quick wipe over with a damp cloth was usually all that was needed to clean them. We are due to move shortly and having had tiled work tops in our first French home I am going back to natural wood for my new kitchen.    Report

10/05/2008, 19:41 Scooby Joined on 25/09/2007 Peak District Posts 244 Re: Oiling beech worktops We have black granite worktops in our kitchen in the UK (along with slabbed floors, oak units, range cooker etc - and yes I  definitely can cook ) I also waited 15 years for my kitchen in the UK!  We (or should I say I!) will eventually hope to have a similar kitchen in my / our french home - when I can afford.  In the meantime the beech work tops are a (relatively) inexpensive make do. We had our UK granite work tops made be a monumental mason (the ones that make tombstones!) - waay cheaper than ordering from a kitchen fitter    Report

11/05/2008, 0:34 thunderhorse Joined on 16/11/2005 Deux-Sèvres Posts 179 Re: Oiling beech worktops  Rob Roy wrote: ... We used Danish (teak) oil... I still don't know what the 3V3 oil is that we purchased from Castorama (huile Plan de Travail), but the sheen is coming up after two more coats, and it certainly isn't tacky. @ Rob - is Danish oil actually teak oil? Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads.    Report

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