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Butcher block counter tops: Ikea vs. Lumber Liquidators

14 years ago

I'm very intrigued by the two butcher block countertop options offered by Ikea and Lumber Liquidators. Not to mention that they are significantly less expensive than stone (for us the difference would be greater than $5,000!).

I've seen beautiful examples of each installed by GWers.

The Ikea countertop is made of solid beech. You can buy it 96 7/8" x 25 5/8" x 1 1/8" thick for $59.

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/80145749

The Lumber Liquidator countertop is made of cherry. You can buy it 96" x 25" x 1 1/2" thick for $250.

http://www.lumberliquidators.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=1468

Has anyone compared these products with one another? One thing in LL's favor is that we have a store close by. I think the closest Ikea to us is in Montreal (1-3/4 hours away).

Vermonter

Featured Answer

writersblock (9b/10a)

14 years ago

Yes, it was poorowner, who evidently got bowling alley flooring (hollow) instead of BB. IIRC, eventually LL made some kind of reparation, but not till GW posters took up the cause.

Poorowner, you still out there?

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Comments (9)

rhome410
14 years ago
Is the LL one solid cherry? Seems like someone here cut into their LL butcherblock to find it was oak with a veneer of the stated wood.
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vermonter_2009
Original Author
14 years ago
Yeah, that's an important consideration. We would only want solid cherry. We plan to router a nice edge on the countertop.
mfrog
14 years ago
If you go to the Ikea in Montreal the price is $110, not $59, this may be a consideration for you.
User
14 years ago
Wow, I had not heard that about Lumber Liquidators and have suggested their counters a couple of times. We got our flooring there without a problem, and figured the counter tops would be good quality as well. That's a bummer.
laxsupermom
14 years ago
We got the LL cherry several months before poorowner and ours was solid through - not veneer. We cut a sink hole as well as some off the end, so we know it to be cherry throughout. IIRC, LL blamed it on their supplier, but took a really long time to respond to poorowner. Pretty much what to expect from LL. Great prices, but horrible service if you run into a problem.
PoorOwner
14 years ago
Yes.. it is resolved, they gave me some money back.
They promised they will start supplying all solid wood all through since my incident. You should be able to buy with confidence now.

It's not veneer in the sense that it is 1/64" thin, the maple is 1/4" with 1" oak in betweem. It's still very durable. I havn't had a problem with it so far. Not that I need to talk about my fix anymore because no one else should encounter this now.

It is important you use the butcherblock right away because I waited a bit too long and the store manager was being difficult with me. It took combined effort of the GW "angry mob" until I got a call from their corporate guy :)

BTW love my wood counter top, the "sound" especially.

This one island counter I created from the LL BB, if I didn't tell, you wouldn't know there is oak inside.
Deanna Hunt
4 years ago
Hi we are considering BB from LL, in our cabin for a countertop in the kitchen. Are we crazy or go for it?
Deanna Hunt
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Cancel that, we did not go with Butcher Block.

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