Butcher Block Countertops in North Charleston, SC
A warm wood work surface for your kitchen or island, measured and fitted by our team in North Charleston.
- Quotes in writing
- 8 areas covered
Want a counter that feels warm to the touch and that you can work on? We supply and fit solid wood butcher block tops for kitchens and islands in North Charleston, and we size each one to your cabinets before it is cut.
Is a wood counter right for the way you cook?
The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service says people may pick a wood board or one with a nonporous surface, meaning liquid can't soak in, such as plastic, marble or glass. It adds that those nonporous surfaces are easier to clean than wood.
The same agency's advice for boards is to wash them in hot, soapy water after every use, rinse with clear water, then air dry or pat dry with clean paper towels. We'd look after a wood counter the same way, and we'd wipe up any water left standing by the sink.
Humid air and a wood top
The USDA Forest Service's wood handbook explains that dried wood keeps trading moisture with the air until the two even out. Small swings from one day to the next usually don't matter, it says, but slow changes from one season to the next are the ones to watch.
The handbook also says wood put in at a moisture level that matches the average air around it, in general, won't change size much. That is why we bring the top into your home and let it settle before we fasten it, and why we leave a little space for it to grow and shrink.
How we fit a butcher block top
- We measure your cabinets and walls and mark where the sink and cooktop go.
- We have the top cut to that layout, with the holes for the sink and cooktop drawn in.
- We let the wood rest in your kitchen before it goes down.
- We fasten it so it can still move, then seal it with the finish you picked.
If you want wood on part of the room only, we can pair it with granite, quartz or soapstone on the rest.
Permits when a sink or pipe moves
Putting a new top where the old one sat is simple. Moving the sink is plumbing, and the City of North Charleston says no plumbing work can start until a permit is issued. The application asks for a contract with a detailed scope of work, including what the materials and labor cost.
The city also wants the permit card kept in a permit box on site. Its page says an inspector won't do the inspection if the job is missing the permit drawings and that box. Sewer work needs a second permit from the sewer district. We'll tell you at the measure if your plans touch any of this.
What goes into your price
We quote after we measure, and the quote is in writing. It turns on the kind of wood, how thick it is, how many feet of counter we cover, the finish, and how many cutouts we make. Ask us to list old top removal and sink hookup as their own lines so you can compare quotes fairly.
Questions about butcher block countertops in North Charleston
What humidity should I keep my kitchen at?
The EPA says to keep indoor humidity below 60 percent if you can, and ideally between 30 and 50 percent. We'd aim for that range in any room with a wood counter.
Will sealing the wood stop it from swelling?
No, it only slows it. The Forest Service handbook says protective coatings can slow changes in the size of wood, but they don't prevent them.
Can I chop raw chicken on the counter?
We'd keep raw meat on a separate board. The Food Safety and Inspection Service suggests one board for fresh produce and bread and another for raw meat, poultry and seafood.
What should I use to sanitize a wood surface?
The Food Safety and Inspection Service says wood boards can be sanitized with 1 tablespoon of unscented liquid chlorine bleach in a gallon of water. Flood the surface, let it stand for several minutes, then rinse with clear water and dry it.
How long is a North Charleston plumbing permit good for?
The city says plumbing permits are good for 6 months. If no inspection happens in that time, the permit runs out and the holder has to start over.
When does the city send an inspector?
The City of North Charleston says inspections are done from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday, on days the city is open. The permit holder has to call in their own inspections unless the Building Department got a letter beforehand saying someone else may.
Is quartz just another name for stone?
NIOSH, part of the CDC, says engineered stone is also known as artificial stone, manufactured stone or quartz. If you want stone instead of wood, see our quartz countertops page.
Can you put wood on the island and stone on the rest?
Yes, we can do a wood island with stone along the walls. Our kitchen countertops page covers the full room.
My wood top has a burn mark. Can it be saved?
Send us a photo or ask us to come by. We'll tell you if a countertop repair will hold or if that piece should be replaced.
Get a butcher block quote in North Charleston
Call us or fill in the quote form with your ZIP code and the room you have in mind. We'll come out, measure, talk through woods and finishes, and send you a written quote. See everything else we fit on the North Charleston Countertops home page.
Ready to talk about your countertop job?
Call us or send the quote form with your ZIP code and what you need. We will get back to you with a written quote.