please help me finish my alder countertop

14 years ago

A section of my kitchen countertop is alder. I won't be using it as a cutting board but it's next to the dishwasher and at the end of a long cabinet run so,for sure, will be setting dishes on it daily. I'll use it for display and buffet set up too. Kitchen opens into the great room so I can see it being used for a bar--- or everything else you can imagine.

I asked my cabinetmaker to consider using layers of satin waterlox thinking that would be the best protection and look but he used something he called "spar urethane" ( I think that's what he called it) and only 1 coat.

I've only had it for a few weeks and it is gorgeous but everything I put on it scratches or dings it unless I am super careful. The cabinetmaker suggested I try to find out if we can use waterlox now or if there is another product that would work over the urethane that's already on it. It is possible to take the wood off and take it back to cabinet shop to work on it. I definitely don't want shiny plastic look.

Any thoughts? Thank you......

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Comments (2)

User
14 years ago
The omly material of which I know that will do what you want is clear epoxy. And clear epoxy looks more like plastic than plastic.

You might get away with using a floor polyurethane or some other kind of floor finish, however. That might be available in a satin or semi gloss finish.

Try asking floor finishing companies.
bobismyuncle
14 years ago
your finish guy should be keel-hauled. Very bad choice. Spar urethane should never be used inside, and never be used outside, either.

Go to the link below, then go to "classroom," then "finishing and refinishing articles," then "marine varnish." Sorry, but the way the web site is set up, you can't do a direct link.

Since the 'spar urethane' is soft, you really don't want to put anything harder over the top of it. The thing working to your advantage is that it is only one coat (!). Urethane also has not the best adhesion properties. If there is no stain on the wood, you might be able to get by with sanding down as much as you can so that the urethane is only in the pores. But I think your cabinet guy is on the hook for making this right -- he disregarded your wishes and made a bad decision.

Here is a link that might be useful: article on spar varnish
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