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Using Walnut for a Butcher Block Countertop

Regina Yunghans
Regina Yunghans
Regina is an architect who lives with her husband and children in Lawrence, KS. As a LEED Accredited Professional and longtime contributor to Apartment Therapy and The Kitchn, her focus is on healthy, sustainable living through design.
published Aug 31, 2010
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When we started looking into a butcher block countertop for our kitchen, we knew maple was the typical species for this purpose. But we’ve always loved the strong appearance of walnut and wondered if it would work in this application:

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Maple is the predominant species used for butcher blocks because it is the proper hardness: it is more durable than softer woods yet isn’t as hard as some woods that would blunt the edges of knives. On the Janka Hardness Scale (a scale that measures the hardness of wood), walnut is rated at 1010 and maple at 1450. These ratings are relatively close considering the lowest (balsa) comes in at 100 and the hardest (lignum vitae) at 4500.

With proper care, we feel confident that the walnut species we love will be a fine choice for a butcher block countertop.

Do you have experience with species other than maple on cutting boards or countertops? Please share in the comments below!

(Image: Mahogany Builders)

 

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