Wood countertops in your bathroom are not only attractive, they are versatile, fairly easy to install and are available in a wide range of colors and finishes. Today’s solid wood countertops are scratch-resistant, heat-resistant and water-proofed for use in a bathroom environment. This brand new type of wooden countertop can be made to fit any specification, with each counter top artistically handcrafted according to your explicit needs. Wooden countertops offer you a beautiful warm and inviting alternative to the sometimes clinical feel of a traditional bathroom. The wood not only looks appealing, it feels warm and tempting to the touch. However, to maintain your woods natural beauty, wood countertops must be properly sealed and maintained. Whatever type of wood you choose for your bathroom countertop, it must be sealed with a marine quality polyurethane varnish or paint. One of the most important things to remember is to seal around the edges of your plumbing fixtures so that any pooled water will not seep into the surrounding areas and cause your wood to warp or even worse, create wood rot.

"Summary: Bathroom wooden countertops have a natural elegance. Wooden counter tops in the bathroom are often not given the consideration they deserve for bathroom use because of the fear that wooden vanity countertops may be easily damaged by excessive moisture. These are unfounded claims as modern solid wooden countertops are scratch-resistant, heat-resistant and water-proofed for use in a bathroom environment."

If you’re looking for an eco friendly sustainable countertop, reclaimed wood is a great viable option (as long as it complies with LEED standards) and it also offers unique shading and characteristics that are inherent to the material. One of the interesting characteristics of wood countertops is just like concrete countertops; it oxidizes over time which causes some wood countertops to change their colour by darkening. Also if you are concerned about chipping or scratching then consider using such hardwoods as mesquite, tigerwood, or even mahogany which has a Janka hardness scale of 2,000 or above. Avoid some woods such as pine which dents easily. And even if the wooden countertop is somehow scratched, it can be easily fixed by striping away the varnish, sanding with a 220 fine-grit sandpaper and then reapplying the protective coat of sealant. Another quality of wood is that it naturally has anti-bacterial properties, which makes it very sanitary if finished properly.

As a final thought, although wood countertops are attractive and versatile, they can still be vulnerable to water damage, especially in the bathroom. Therefore, if you really want a wooden countertop in your bathroom you have to make sure it’s well sealed with polyurethane or marine varnish. And extra care should be taken to seal around any edges where the wood may come in contact with water. The manufactured or engineered woods are even more water resilient than their natural counterparts, though you do have to be careful which brand you buy because the less expensive brands can delaminate when exposed to water. The cost of these products range from between $40 and $75, per linear foot installed. Another enemy of wood is vinegar, which can dissolve the glue holding the pieces of wood together if not properly sealed. Clean this up right away.

Wooden counter tops in the bathroom are often not given the consideration they deserve for bathroom use because of the fear that wooden vanity countertops may be easily damaged by moisture. These are unfounded claims as modern wooden countertops aren’t any more difficult to maintain than a standard stone countertop, just be relatively quick about wiping up any unnecessary spills and they should last a very long time. Because of the versatility of the material, you have an opportunity to be really bold and creative when following this new trend in bathroom countertop design. These wooden countertops in your bathroom now act as a beautiful counterpoint to modern contemporary fixtures to highlight and offset the vanity area without disturbing the rooms flow.

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