If you are going to use end grain butcher block I suggest you have it made by a company that knows how to do this and uses the right glue, etc., such as Boos Block. Also, there is no need to try to match the thickness of the granite. First, you want the butcher block to extend higher than the granite for a number of reasons (or possibly lower if that works for you).

A thick piece of block looks nice and you can make the cabinet under the block lower to accommodate the thick block. See the photo below of a cherry Boos Block integrated with a soapstone countertop (the soapstone was wet when I took this photo).

Billy

By the way, the countertop is from Bucks County Soapstone and they had no problem making this work. Their templating equipment uses lasers and computers and is state of the art. You really don't want to try to to make the different wood and stone surfaces flush with each other. The wood moves with humidity and the stone doesn't. Viva la difference!

The far length of the counter has an overhang for seating so I didn't extend the butcher block the full width of the countertop, but I could have done so. And yes, we cut on it and use it for prep.

Billy

These people did my ex-neighbor's walnut island. Gorgeous. They do a lot of commercial bars too. Check them out.

The Grothouse Lumber Company

6104 Buckery Road

Germansville, PA 18053

877.268.5412 - toll free

610.767.6515 - phone

610.767.0982 - fax

glumber@glumber.com

Biily G - that looks gorgeous!!!

How much higher than the soap stone does the butcher block come? It looks flush to me from the pic.
Do you have problem with crumbs and gunk getting between the stone and block? How do you clean the seam?

I really appreciate your thoughts and experiences, it doesnt seem like too many people do this so I'm having a tough time finding information on how to make this work.

Thank so much!

Bee - I actually have a quote from them! I'm currently asking if they would be willing to install on site. Thanks for the tip!

Hobokenkitchen,

Bucks County Soapstone (BCS) said they had never done an install like this, so I don't think too many people mix and match. I love the way it looks, though!

I'll measure and take more photos tonight.

I think the block sits 1" above the countertop and extends 1/4" past the side edges of the stone. The seam is tight between the stone and the block and BCS put clear silicone on the side of the stone before we slid the butcher block in place, and we wiped off the excess squeeze-out. I was really worried about a potential gap and was going to cut a rabbet (groove) on the side of the block so it fit over the stone but it was totally unnecessary. There is no gap for food to get trapped so no problem!

Billy

Is this kind of the look you are going for?

Craft Art wood countertop end grain and marble island {{!gwi}}

They are national, but the experience felt personal for me at least. I know because I am no located near them and was concerned about not seeing it before purchasing - when I called and expressed that they told me even if I was down the street there isn't a way to see it beforehand because it is all custom made to your specifications and that means it doesn't exist until you order it. Made sense, but I hadn't thought of it.

Based on my experience, the most important thing is to feel comfortable - and to have a warranty/service people. End grain wood counter tops can have a lot of natural movement through the first year season cycle so if there is some major problem you want to know you have someone who will work with you if the worst happens. I didn't have a problem with my order, but I have in the past (I do a lot of wood work now, but can't do the actual glue part very well. it's a skill i've never worked on)

There are also places online you can get a not-custom size of end grain, but they made me nervous because they seemed like middlemen and didn't have knowledge.

I'm personally not a custom Boos fan, but it's just my taste. I know a lot about wood finishes and if you just get a mineral oil finish it's fine from there, but their "Durata" finish might as well be laquer because that's what it looks like to me. Personal preference of course on that one, though. They do make a good cutting board with mineral oil, I'll say.

Either way, hope the image helps!

While Boos is "the name" in butcher block, that is largely from all their retail stuff. if memory serves they are in Illinois. We just had them make a counter for our pool kitchen, which we treated with dark tung oil only. It's nice but I like the other suppliers better.

We have used Grothouse in our old house, and Brookscustom here, for wood countertops. They both are considered high end "NYC area" suppliers. Neither are exactly local to New Hope, but Grothouse is maybe 2 hrs and Brooks is 3. Check out their websites.

Actually Boos was known in the restaurant and food service business long before they went into the residential market. I've owned blocks from Michigan Maple Block and others, and I happen to like Boos because I haven't experienced problems with cracks or warping. But if there is a local supplier with a good product and they stand behind it, I'm sure it's fine.

One time I made an end grain block using waterproof resorcinol glue and it took a long time to build and had some problems, so there is a trick to getting it right. Edge grain block is much easier to build than end grain block. Use end grain block if you are going to cut on it.

For blocks that you cut on I've played around with all sorts of mineral oil and oil/wax mixtures but I am most happy with using a salad bowl finish that penetrates deep into the wood and seals it, and then using an oil/wax finish on top of that. This a cherry block so it really needs the sealer because the wood is not as dense as maple.

Here are a couple of photos showing more details of the block and countertop. This block is 4" thick and the top is 1" above the soapstone. In addition it sticks out 1/4" beyond the soapstone edge.

Billy

BeastBaby, yes that is exactly the look we are going for - I love it, so pretty!

billy, thanks for the close ups - very helpful. I think we need to let go of the wanting it to be perfectly flush and perhaps go for the different look.

I am still concerned about installation though. Boy I wish there were a person down the street who made butcher block and could come and install it for us here!

Hobokenkitchen,

Maybe you could work with your granite guy to tell you the dimensions and then you can order the correct size block. Our countertop guys installed the block -- it took all of 5 minutes. Are you working with a kitchen designer or cabinet company? If so, they could help.

Good luck!

Billy

I used Grothouse for my kitchen island years ago and it is the centerpiece of my kitchen. They do have a lot of photos of butcherblocks on their website to give you ideas. Here is a link to a video of a kitchen with a great idea that incorporates a waste hole in the butcherblock and the vegtable scraps fall into a composting bin.

Here is a link that might be useful: Butcherblock Video

I forgot to post a link of butcherblock photos to give you ideas. Good luck with your project!

Here is a link that might be useful: Butcher Block Photographs