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When buying worktops what does, block, stave, and full stave etc. mean?

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When looking for wooden worktops it is easy to be confused by the different terms applied to the style of worktop. Some manufacturers and outlets will use “wide stave” or “full stave” without specifying more details. Here at Bordercraft we like to try and keep things simple so you know what you’re getting! Here’s a short guide on the different types of worktop and what they look like:
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Butchers Block, Blocked, Staved :

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450px-Butcher_block_counter_top
 Butcher block worktops are made from many smaller “blocks” of wood which are glued together. Where the end grain is upper most the top becomes very hardy and is much kinder to your knives. It is not uncommon for manufacturers to use offcuts from other better quality worktops to assemble this type of worktop and so they are often less expensive than other types of wooden worktops.  Typically you’ll find them ranging from blocks of wood about 40mm wide of random lengths and are mostly found in the DIY outlets. Sorry, these items are not manufactured by Bordercraft.
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Narrow full Stave :

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Narrow full staveAs above but with single long thin strips of wood. Because the wood must be cut to length these type of top are marginally more expensive than butchers block tops. Due to the many contrasting grain, mis matched grain patterns this may not represent the premium hardwood look you are aiming for. If that is the case, you may want to consider wide planked full stave worktops.  Sorry, these items are not manufactured by Bordercraft.
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Wide Planked, full stave, Worktops :

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Full Stave worktop

These are made from planks of between 100 and 200mm in width that run the entire length of the worktop. They show off the beautiful grain pattern of the timber, unlike styles of worktops which use many smaller planks. Boards are hand selected and colour matched to give an even appearance. This is the only type of worktop Bordercraft make because we feel it is the best method to showcase this beautiful natural material. You can find more information about our range of worktops here.

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End Grain Chopping Boards :

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KItchen with endgrain chopping block

Made in the style of traditional butcher’s chopping block these are made from 40mm square blocks with the end grain facing upwards. This gives an incredibly strong and durable cutting surface that is kind to knives. While we don’t make worktops in this style, Bordercraft can make you a chopping block using this method in any shape with a thickness of between 40 and 150mm. If you’d like to see how end grain chopping boards can be integrated into your kitchen, head over to our page on chopping boards.

Posted byJon Buck
June 1, 2015
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