INSTALLATION & MAINTENANCE

 

1. In order to build up sufficient protection and resistance to heat & moisture, your worktop will need oiling during the first month.

2. Oil for this first month on a weekly basis and then a decreasing amount. The worktop will need occasional further oiling when the top loses resistance over time. Your aim is to be able to form defined water droplets at all times.

HOW TO INSTALL YOUR WORKTOP

You’ll probably need to customise your Worktop to fit a desired space. You may also wish to install it professionally, and care for the top in order to ensure suitable resistance and longevity. Wood is a natural product and can be affected by heat and humidity. It can gain and lose moisture before during and after installation. For example, wood expands when it is warm and the humidity level is high and contracts during colder periods when humidity levels drop. Due to this factor it is possible for bowing to occur - to avoid this it is suggested that you take the following care for storage and transportation.

STORAGE &  TRANSPORTATION

1. If not stored & transported correctly your natural Wood product can be affected by distortion, heat and humidity.

2. When storing or transporting, the worktop must be kept flat, with regular supports along the length, while avoiding any direct heat sources.

3. To avoid distortion. vertical storage is not advised.

4. Installation should be carried out as soon as possible after delivery. However, if storage is necessary it is recommended that all surfaces are given the first coat of oil immediately after safe delivery.

PREPARATION &  SITE CLEARANCE

1. Adjacent areas to the site of the worktop should be fully dry as any influence caused by wet plaster, concrete and plumbing could cause distortion.

2. After unpacking the worktop with care, it can be cut to size, edge profiled to your choice and then oiled. Oiling should not be undertaken until the final cut to size worktop is ready for fitting, ensuring all edges are oiled.

3. Before installing the worktop, it must be fully oiled all over the sides, edges, top & bottom. Excess oil drips should be cleaned after partial drying (about 45 mins., dependent upon conditions). After a minimum of 6 hours, the worktop should be re-coated. Whilst it is recommended that all edges & ends have three coats, it will assist full penetration should the whole top have this complete treatment. If your aim is longevity for your worktop please keep to these guidelines.

FITTING NOTES

1. A 3mm gap should be allowed between the wall and the back edge of the worktop in order to allow for natural expansion and contraction which will result from vagaries of humidity in a kitchen.

2. A cut out, to accommodate a hob for example, should be no closer to the edge of the worktop than 100 mm to avoid losing the overall integrity of the worktop.

3. The joining of two worktops together should be achieved by the use of a biscuit joint together with standard worktop bolts.

4. A worktop should not be fitted closer than 40mm to a heat source. Should the end grain of the Worktop be closest to the heat source, a partition such as a solid piece of wood should be inserted between, to avoid risk of end splitting of the worktop.

5. Installation above Kitchen appliances should be no closer than 25mm and should contain heat resistant reflective foil on the underside of the worktop.