Elm or Beech for kitchen worktops?

[18 stoner]

Ok, the short story is this;

 

New kitchen is needed at home, we're going more "cottage" appearance and would like to get on with it in the next few months or so

 

I have plenty of good sized Wych Elm boards that are seasoned and would do the job.

 

I've also just milled some 20" copper beech boards that I think would also look great. All are 2".

 

So, I fancy the beech really but not sure on waiting for it to season, would it be the harder wearing of the two, would elm be ok as work tops, is it "food safe" and is it even possible to use the beech part seasoned or is that pushing it?

 

Lots of questions but any of your thoughts would be taken in:thumbup1:

[Big J]

I have a couple of large Elm chopping boards at home and a beech worktop. The elm is durable and doesn't mark easily, the beech is starting to stain and scratches.

 

Elm all the way - it's a more aesthetically pleasing timber anyway!

[Ian Leach]

I would go for elm nicer and of course seasoned, I have found beech splits and twists abit if not dried properly.

[18 stoner]

Jonathan, cheers for that, I was initially thinking the beech would be more appealing, but if I were to use the elm we could do the kitchen possibly this backend.

 

 

Ian, you agreeing with J may mean there will be a smaller heap of elm to sell......

 

 

 

 

 

Edit; There will be some beech though! Lol!

 

 

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[Ian Leach]

Jonathan, cheers for that, I was initially thinking the beech would be more appealing, but if I were to use the elm we could do the kitchen possibly this backend.

 

 

Ian, you agreeing with J may mean there will be a smaller heap of elm to sell......

 

 

 

 

 

Edit; There will be some beech though! Lol!

 

 

.

 

Erm beech fantastic stuff, elm crap:lol:

[18 stoner]

[Big J]

I've 25 tonnes of lovely elm sat in the yard if you run out and need some more!

[windfall]

I have a beech work surface and although it's spalted and looks great it has stained.

 

Used the same beech outside as a bench and it's rotting already!

[Rob D]

I have a couple of large Elm chopping boards at home and a beech worktop. The elm is durable and doesn't mark easily, the beech is starting to stain and scratches.

 

Elm all the way - it's a more aesthetically pleasing timber anyway!

 

 

 

I was going to go the other way and suggest beech! I find it dries harder than elm but of course is harder to dry without warping.

 

 

Do you find it scratches easier?

[Big J]

I was going to go the other way and suggest beech! I find it dries harder than elm but of course is harder to dry without warping.

 

 

Do you find it scratches easier?

 

In my experience yes, but my chopping board is made of Wheatly Elm, which seems to be a very dense and heavy variant. That's the stuff with the distinct area of dark heartwood and light sapwood.