Solid oak work top crack

Joined
29 Dec 2011
Messages
43
Reaction score
1
Country
United Kingdom
Quick question about one of my oak work tops in the kitchen. I lifted the toaster off the surface today to give it a coat of Osmo oil and noticed that there a split/crack in the wood emanating from the edge of the worktop towards the centre of the surface. The split is only a few inches long and at its widest point (at the edge) a few mm's wide but it is a bit disappointing. Is it likely the heat from the toaster that has caused this? Should I do anything about this to stop it getting bigger?? Should it even have happened and I would I have any recourse - it has only been installed for 12 months. Cheers in advance.
 
Sponsored Links
looks to me like its a shake in the wood could possibly be a natural occurrence?,dont know if you would have any recourse with the supplier?did they fit it aswell?
 
Sponsored Links
Local joiner did it all. Good guys so don't really want create a fuss about something that is unlikely to be their issue. It looks like the crack is along a natural grain. Although the toaster sits there it is the least used "side" of a rarely used toaster but I am sure the heat from this hasn't necessarily helped.

Beautiful piece of wood actually and just wondered if I should fill it or something to prevent it splitting further.
 
Can you see where the pith is in relation to the split, look at the other end of the table, splits do tend to happen if the pith is included.

250px-Taxus_wood.jpg


Pith is the dot in the middle.

Also check how the counter has been fitted, do the fixings have slots that allow the top to freely shrink or expand, if it has been fitted without movement allowance, it will pull itself apart as it shrinks and cracks like this will develop.
 
Beautiful piece of wood actually and just wondered if I should fill it or something to prevent it splitting further.
Unfortunately I doubt that filling it won't stop the crack from developing, although moving the toaster elsewhere would help! From the photograph the split looks like it could be natural, so I really don't know where you'd stand with the supplier (after all wood is a natural material, etc....). One approach to dealing with defects such as this is to insert a butterfly like this example across the crack which is sometimes used to stabilise unstable timber furniture pieces such as those made by George Nakashima. The same technique appears as a decorative feature in some Arts & Crafts period furniture
 
The toaster is the villain of the piece. The timber is trying to shrink in an isolated area and the rest of the work top is at a different moisture content staying at the normal dimension. As Aron said it is probably held in position by fixings underneath which are also holding it apart. You could try removing the fixings and replacing them with fixing plates with expansion slots. Moisten the area and it should close up. Its just nature at work.
 
after all wood is a natural material, etc....

Far to many people use that as an excuse for bad workmanship.

I am not making a judgement that this is the case, but just don't like it when it is used as a get out.

It's a kitchen worktop, it's supposed to have hot things on it or be next to hot items (ovens), it should be dried down to a decent 8-10% moisture content, if it has pith it may be better to have excluded it, or be careful about it's position, splits like this are largely avoidable.

I've seen far to many instances of such worktops fitted tight with no allowance for movement, if it dries by only 2%, a worktop of that size will shrink by approx 3-4mm.

[/quote]
 

DIYnot Local

Staff member

If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.


Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local

 
Sponsored Links
Back
Top