butcher block

Please call us at 877-432-6428 or visit
one of our stores for more information and to place your order.

6 Species available: Douglas Fir, Red Alder, Western Maple, Oregon Myrtle, Pacific Madrone and Northwest Orchard Walnut.
Available in side grain or end grain style
Custom made, pre-finished or unfinished.
Finish at home with Polyx Oil, Bioshield Herbal Oil or Tried & True.
From Western Washington and Oregon.

Pricing:
Butcher Block Sample

Doug Fir 2"
Red Alder 2"
Western Maple 1.5"
Oregon Myrtle 1.5"
Pacific Madrone 2"
NW Orchard Walnut 1.5"

*Prices may vary, please call*

Side Grain
$38.98 / SF
N/A
$99.99 / SF
$134.99 / SF
$134.99 / SF
$104.99 / SF

$25.00 / EA
End Grain
$82.98 / SF
$81.98 / SF

N/A
N/A
$156.99 / SF

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overview

the story

Warm and natural, butcher block countertops are a wonderful way to bring the beauty of nature into your home. Wooden work surfaces combine strength and durability with softness under hand, and lustrous, timeless style. The Pacific Northwest is home to many beautiful wood species, some uncommon elsewhere, that are recognized for the richness and beauty of their grain. Ecohaus offers a range of species of wood butcher blocks that are high quality and sustainably sourced.

From the beginning of their manufacturing, through their use, all the way to the end of their service, our butcher blocks exemplify a green life-cycle. Rather than being made from raw or virgin materials, many of them are made from beautiful, used wood that would usually just be burned or thrown away. Others are made from trees that are culled from local forests during the processes of healthy forest management. Once installed, they will last a very, very long time because wood is not only very strong – it is also re-finishable. At 1.5 to 2 inches thick, you can refinish these butcher blocks countless times. Finally, when you (or your great grandchildren) decide to replace the butcher block (biodegradable, or easily repurposed,) it does not have to end up in the landfill.

The woods that make up our butcher blocks are harvested and reclaimed from a variety of sources. The Fir is reclaimed from various Northwest deconstruction projects. The Alder, Maple, and Myrtle are carefully selected from sustainably maintained Northwest forests. Our rare and beautiful Madrone comes from urban salvage and windfall. The Northwest Orchard Walnut comes from decommissioned walnut groves.
Next: Health
health

at home

Our butcher block countertops are put together with a low-VOC adhesive that contains no added formaldehyde, so they will not off-gas harmful vapors into your home. There are many high-performance, low-toxic finish options for these wooden surfaces – including natural oils and waxes – that will not compromise your indoor air quality. And finally, they are available pre-finished so that if someone in your home is particularly sensitive to finishes – even natural ones – you can lessen their exposure to a potential irritant.

For food preparation, wood is turning out to be a much safer choice than many people expect. Studies at the University of Wisconsin and UC Davis have shown that bacteria like Salmonella and E. Coli simply don’t persist on wooden surfaces – even just 3 minutes after being contaminated.

on the planet

When considering the environmental impact of a product it is important to look at its entire life-cycle. It’s not just about where a product comes from, it’s about how long it will last, and then how it can be disposed of at the end of its use. With this perspective in mind, our butcher block countertops are supremely “green.”

Our wood butcher blocks are certified by either the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) or Healthy Forests Healthy communities. The Fir is reclaimed from various Northwest deconstruction projects. The Alder, Maple, and Myrtle are carefully selected from sustainably maintained Northwest forests. Our rare and beautiful Madrone is urban salvage and windfall. The Northwest Orchard Walnut comes from decommissioned walnut groves.

Durable, and refinishable, your butcher block work surface will last a very long time, so you won’t have to think about chucking it out and getting another one. This means that not only are you going to get a lot of use out of your investment – it also means less overall demand for new countertop options, and less waste in the long run.

When the time comes for someone to finally replace the butcher block surface, there is the final bonus that it does not have to be thrown away. The wood could be used to make something else that is useful like cutting boards, or foot stools, or a bench – anything that’s made out of wood. It might also be chipped up and used in the garden, or even simply pitched into the compost pile where it can safely bio-degrade. Whatever you do with it, your butcher block, unlike so many countertops on the market today, does not have to end up in the landfill.
Next: Use
use

how do i install or apply it?

When installing a butcher block, allowances need to be made for the seasonal changes in humidity which will cause it to expand or contract in width (see install instructions from the manufacturer.)

Finish
With the exception of the Northwest Orchard Walnut, our butcher blocks have the option of coming pre-finished with OSMO Polyx Oil [link]. Our most popular product, OSMO Polyx Oil will not emit harmful odors or chemicals once dry, and is non-soluble. Therefore, while commonly used on floors, it can also be used on food preparation surfaces such as kitchen countertops, cutting boards or tables.

The Northwest Orchard Walnut butcher block is available unfinished, or pre-finished with your choice of the following:

Natural Oil Finish - a hand rubbed raw linseed and tung oil combination designed for food grade cutting board use, requires regular re-oiling as necessary to maintain full luster and water resistance.

Marine Grade Oil Hand rubbed high resin Tung oil finish where a low maintenance, water-resistant, non food grade finish is preferred.

If you would like to finish your butcher block on-site Ecohaus has many healthy, eco-friendly available. Some of the most popular finishes for butcher block countertops that we carry are:

OSMO Polyx Oil

OSMO Top Oil

BioShield Herbal Oil

Tried and True Danish Oil

Another option is just to leave your butcher block unfinished. If you choose this option, you will avoid the necessity of maintaining a finish, though your countertop will be more susceptible to damage and will develop character more quickly as shows the signs of its use.

how do i maintain it?

Some clients use their butcher blocks as a large cutting board, others who treat them like fine furniture. In either case, simply wipe clean with a moist sponge after use. Avoid harsh detergents and puddles of standing water.

Maintenance for your countertop depends largely on how you use it and what finish was specified.
Previous: Health