Construction Styles

The diverse nature of wood is never more evident than when it is cut at different angles to display the many different colors, grain patterns and structures all present in the same log or plank. Download a concise guide with visual aids here: Construction Styles (256)

The three main styles are listed below with the benefits and drawbacks noted:

Construction StyleBenefitsDrawbacks
Plank Style
  • More formal look
  • Greatest amount of grain detail
  • Fewer individual pieces of wood in a countertop
  • Most economical price
  • Least-forgiving of scratches, etc.
  • Greater potential for color & grain variability
Edge Grain
  • Edges are typically harder than Planks and therefore more forgiving of scratches, etc.
  • Economical price
  • Less grain detail
  • Less color detail
  • More individual pieces of wood can make countertop look more “busy”
 
End Grain
  • End grain has an open cell structure that makes for an excellent cutting board surface with “self-healing” wood blocks that open when a knife comes into contact and close when the knife exits.
  • Little grain detail
  • Can have greater or less color variability
  • More expensive
 

Plank Style

 

Plank

Most lumber is “face sawn,” meaning that it is sawn parallel to the growth rings. This method exposes the face of the wood and shows the most grain detail. We use “face sawn” lumber to produce Plank Style countertops. Plank Style is our most commonly-requested wood countertop style and many designers consider this style to create a more formal look when using wide pieces of lumber.  Since wood is the ultimate natural product with nature producing an “original” in each branch, plank widths vary from 3″ to 6″ wide.  Craft Art countertops are made with full-length boards and not inexpensive short boards that increase seams and dilute the natural beauty of fine wood.

End Grain Style

End Grain (checkerboard) construction with Black Walnut and Hard Maple
This style is commonly referred to as “butcher block.” The term “butcher block” originated from the massive, 15 to 24 inch thick end grain islands that were used in butcher shops across the country.  End-grain is available in two design styles:  ”multi-species”, in which individual squares (a fixed size of approximately 1-3/4″) of wood are set corner-t0-corner for gluing, and “single species”, in which individual squares are offset in a “running course” manner.  End-grain counter tops are typically used when a more informal style is wanted or when the user intends to showcase the top in a more gourmet kitchen.

Functionally, End-Grain tops provide a superior cutting surface because they do not show wear nearly as much as other construction styles. They are also preferred by professional and serious cooks due to the way a knife “bites” an end-grain top.

Edge Grain Style

Species: Maple
Many butcher blocks are a wonderful example of the edge-grain style, which features a tighter, more consistent grain running parallel along the length of each top and a slightly darker color normally found within the species.  In order to create edge-grain surfaces, full-length boards (approximately 1-3/4″ wide) are set on their sides and glued together on with our special adhesive on an exacting lamination rack.