Timber continues to be on-trend as a much-favoured building material, especially in interior projects. A quality timber benchtop or tabletop can, for instance, be the perfect feature piece for any room.

Natural products are increasing in popularity in the building and construction sector and many are looking to timber as a way of bringing a slice of the Australian outdoors into the interior space.

In this blog, Market Timbers shares a few helpful tips for using a timber benchtop or tabletop in your next project.

Choosing the timber species

Your choice of wood will depend on the design you have decided for the room. When it comes down to it, there are three key differences between the various timber benchtop products: Colour tone, Grain pattern, and Durability.

These differences also dramatically expand the options you will have when matching your timber benchtop to the style of the room.

You’ll also have the option of many Australian native species and some non-native species depending on your supplier.

Australian native timber species

Australia is home to a wide variety of beautiful solid timber species. Below is a guide for some of our native species:

Light Brown

  • Victorian Ash
  • Blackbutt
  • Tasmanian Oak
  • Tallowwood
  • White Mahogany
  • Wormy Chestnut
  • Jarrah
  • Red Mahogany
  • Turpentine
  • Blue Gum
  • Brushbox

Brown – Dark Brown

  • Spotted Gum
  • Ironbark

Non-native timber species

International timber species that are fit for benchtops and available in Australia include:

  • European Oak
  • American Oak
  • European Beech Joinery (BauBuche)

Application of timber benchtops

There are many different ways that timber benchtop products can be used in a home. These include:

  • Tabletop
  • Kitchen Island
  • Benchtop
  • Desk

Pros and cons of timber benchtops

Cost

Timber benchtops will be a lot cheaper than quartz and engineered stone alternatives. However, if timber doesn’t fit your budget, you could consider a laminate benchtop.

Maintenance

Long-term care for timber benchtops begins at the time of installation when you need to ensure it has been coated. Once it has been installed, coat your benchtop to increase durability as well as heat and stain resistance. Be mindful of this coating and make sure to recoat once it has worn down.

Marks

Being a softer benchtop material, solid timber is more vulnerable to scratches, chipping and staining. You can prevent damage to your timber benchtop surface by using chopping boards and heat mats when operating on the surface.