How to Cut & Install Butcher Block Countertops From A to Z

The struggles you experience in your projects are so relatable. Thank you for keeping it real

I’m 59 single female. I’m remodeling my place. You have helped me do it myself. No more getting screwed by contractors 😊

Hey Jeff, to close up that mitre use the burnishing method! No putty needed. Just squeeze a tiny bead of glue down the gap and use the shaft of a screwdriver to fold the sharp edges down over each other. The wood fibers will interlock and look like one piece. It’s truly magic. All that’s left is some sanding

Hey Jeff, I use to work in a cabinet shop that also did supper high end furniture. Something we use to do to help sometimes with gaps in the counter tops like you had is after you put the glue down, sand the bottom of the counter top where no one can see it. Collect all the saw dust and keep it clean and rub it into the glue. It'll help hide that gap.

Great video! I do granite and quartz countertops and no one is really doing butcher block in the market and watching this gave me the confidence to put this in my service. You explained step by step perfectly. Thank you 🙏🏻💪🏻

I was just thinking about butcher block tops in my kitchen and low and behold, Jeff's got the perfect video. Great job as always!

Dang Jeff, a bucher block waterfall? You absolute madlad! Well done! I did that once. Never again. Same issue you had, except I notched the cabinet, sank threaded inserts into the back of the butcher block with epoxy, and used 1/4" angle iron and Grade 5 hardware to pull the miter together. Nevermind that I'm leaving out the other three days of failed experiments! LOL

Jeff I love that you show when things don't go perfectly to plan and how to deal with it. I struggle with weird little things like bowed wood or a completely skewed walls all the time and hardly anything goes to plan. When everything goes perfectly for other DIY channels Youtuber it makes feel like a dumbass that shouldn't be touching power tools. You always remind me that shit happens and you have to roll with the punches and just figure it.

“No square is perfectly corner.” I am still dying over that. Once again, this looks like an amazing project, now back to the video

I don’t know much about carpentry but you got some big BALLS cutting that butcher block with such confidence, absolutely a great job !

Thanks! Really excellent video. I love when you encounter challenges and show us how to overcome them. So many videos show everything perfect, square all the time, no flaws, etc. Except that doesn't help us much :)

Amazing video, love all the details and problem solving along the way. That stain on the screws wood filler worked like magic!

Hey there Jeff...I'm so glad to see this video...I was tossing around the idea of milling out my own butcher block, but to be honest, I didn't realize Lowes was carrying the pre-fab tops. I'll be using these most definitely. Okay...here's some suggestions. On your first joint, I would have rabbeted a little of the base cabinet rails instead of offsetting the metal plates, giving you a more uniform secure joint. Also, to minimize your surface joint, I would have made your cut at an 89°...offsetting the holes was a great idea as well. As far as your gaps in the seams, use the sawdust and little glue, the colors will match perfectly. For hiding the screw holes on the waterfall, use a plug cutter bit and cut the plugs from a matching offcut piece of countertop, they would be invisible. I also noticed the finger joints on the front of the waterfall top edge, looks like you may have flipped that piece?? Can't wait to see your sink mount...

The dad I always wanted - thanks Jeff for all the guidance! 🙏

I've always used oil based Wipe-On poly on butcher block countertops. Once cured, it's very durable. No need to recoat later like oils and hard waxes as they wear away. The oil based poly gives the wood more depth too. I also only cut waterfall tops on a cabinet table saw for the most accurate cuts and a track saw for rips and to shorted tops that are too long.

Loved this video. The bowing wood is just what I needed to see. I run into struggles like this all the time and it annoys me to no end watching revo vids where there is never a snafu in the plan. Keep up the great work. Very inspiring as I'm eyeing our chipping and peeling garbage thermofoil cabinets doors.

When I redid my kitchen with Ikea (thank you for the videos on that, Jeff!) I ultimately chose butcher block for the counters and island. It instantly elevated and warmed the space, and it was $4000 cheaper than getting stone. That's REAL money in the bank!

I don't consider myself a DIY kind of guy in the sense that I like to go out and do DIY projects. But I am the type of person who likes to be reliable and be able to get the job done and someone who takes pride in their work. So while I don't own my home yet when I do you're gonna make me a pro. I'd probably only use a contractor if we were friends and I wanted to hang out and help his business by giving him work.

Loved the video!! Only thing I would suggest is when installing the butcher block its best to seal the under side as well, you sealed the top side from moisture but the bottom side not being sealed can absorb moisture and you have the possibility up the bottom half of the block expanding and contracting at a different rate then the top half causing potential bowing issues.

I use mineral oil on my butchers block countertop. It's supposed to be done every month or two, but it leaves them nice and smooth once it's dry. And much less expensive! I absolutely love your waterfall! It's beautiful and I'm positive your wife will love it!