Installing butcher block is a DIY project that anyone can do if you’ve got the right tools. This project took my husband and I one day to complete and this was the first time we’ve done anything like this before. We used two 8 foot pieces of butcher block from Ikea. They are the cheapest around and this stuff is quality. It’s SO heavy!
Removing our old counters was a snap. They were just screwed in, so once we removed the screws on the underside, they lifted right off. My husband was a little scared about removing the sink, but it went very well. You don’t need to take the disposal apart. There were only 3 places he had to unhook and we lifted the sink right out.
Then we measured and measured again (always measure at least twice!) and made our cuts with a circular saw. You can easily rent a table saw to do this as well, or just ask around and see if you can borrow one from a neighbor. The butcher block is already standard counter depth, so you only need to cut the length.
After cutting, we gave the edges a quick sanding and then put them on. This stuff sands really well and it’s not hard to get a smooth finish.
Here is where the two pieces come together. We used the manufactured edge here and put the cut edge up against the stove where it’s not as easily seen.
Then it was time to cut out the spot for the sink. We used the old counter top as a template. We placed it right on top and traced around the opening.
Sorry I don’t have a picture of the next step. We used a jigsaw (borrowed from a nice neighbor) to cut out the sink hole. We sanded lightly around the edges, dropped the sink back in, and hooked everything up again.
The counters are also easy to secure. They come with these brackets that screw into your cabinets so you don’t need to mess with any kind of glue.
The final step is to sand and oil. We gave the whole thing a light sanding with a fine sanding block. Then we oiled it with the stuff they sell at Ikea. The maintenance is a little high at first because you are supposed to oil it every other day for first 2 weeks. But after that you just need to oil it 3-5 times a year.
So far, we LOVE them! I’m just so happy that the old ones are gone. I’ll show you more pics when the kitchen is done.
