This is a remodeling project taken on by a DIY homeowner and shared with us from our Dayton Woodcraft store. Although this may not be their “forever” home, Jane & Eugene are sprucing up every room in the house for that future sale. Knowing that, this couple finds ways to keep within their budget while giving their home that special touch on a classy high-end level. We begin in the kitchen with a before shot revealing a much needed makeover. From what Jane calls her “disco bowling alley” kitchen with it’s old style counter tops, pictured next to the finished product complete with butcher block counter tops, we’ll show you how they did it, specifically the counter tops.
The first task at hand was to remove the old counter tops and cut the new butcher block into sizes required. You can view the how-to’s on Jane’s blog for those items by clicking on the underlined links stated. Once the butcher block was measured and cut, the detail cuts were made with the Festool TRION PSB 300 EQ Jigsaw T-Loc, Item #561455, with Festool Dust Extractor CT26 HEPA, Item #583492 to keep the sawdust down to a minimum during the installation process. For those areas where extra light is needed, try the Festool SysLite LED Worklamp, Item #498568,pictured below.
Jane sanded the butcher block using the different grits from Festool and Norton Sanding Pads between each Enduro-Var coats, of which there were 9 on both sides, ends and cut-out areas. Initially Jane decided she wanted to seal the butcher block with Waterlox Sealer and visited the Dayton Woodcraft store to purchase said item. Upon entering the store she spoke with owner, Allen Ryan who recommended the General Finishes Enduro-Var with a foam brush application as a better option. Why? Because it has less toxic fumes, is water-based, and dries in 2 hours as opposed to the 24 hour period for Waterlox. Jane was happy with a shorter timeline and safer conditions due to having young children in the home.
The under mount design installation definitely allows for the beauty of the wood to remain as a major kitchen attraction enhancing the value of the home. She preferred the gloss version of the Enduro-Var to bring the wood grain to life. Follow the installation procedure HERE.
To aid in the installation process, the Kreg Pocket Hole Jig was used to drill the holes on the bottom surface for hidden screw assembly, connecting the butcher blocks together.
Jane commented that she went against the grain with the way she wanted this project done, stating, “A lot of people tried to convince me not to do an under mount sink with butcher block, but there were some blogs who had done it before and they had no water issues. Woodcraft convinced me to purchase a different sealer than I originally planned (and what every other DIY blog recommended), and were very helpful and knowledgeable about General Finishes products. I love the choice. Both sides (top and bottom) of the butcher block were sealed with Enduro-Var and now dry, we then applied silicone adhesive for a water resistant assembly.”
When all was said and done, an old fashioned kitchen was transformed into a brighter, modern kitchen that Jane was proud of and excited about using for her family.
Be sure to check out Jane & Eugene’s DIY blog for all their home remodeling projects at http://janeandeugene.blogspot.com/. She’s got some great ideas using simple items to create a very detailed “homey” feel in each of the rooms.
Special thanks and credits to Jane for the photos and sharing her projects with Woodcraft.
Thanks to Allen at Woodcraft for his staff and assistance to Jane & Eugene.
It’s projects like these that make Woodcraft a valuable resource for all your woodworking projects. Be sure to talk with your local Woodcraft store, or call our customer service (1-800-535-4482) and technical support lines (1-800-535-4486) for all your DIY projects, hand and power tool information with Woodcraft products. We’re here, Helping YOU make wood work!
