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Keen to find out how to treat your wooden kitchen countertops or design an open-plan living area to best effect? You ask – we’ll find the answers.

Treat it right

Maryna Olivier of Joubertina writes My husband and I want to build our kitchen cupboard countertops from genuine blackwood; how must we treat the wood to ensure that it is heat- and water-resistant?

Frikkie Greeff, managing director of Woodoc, replies We suggest you use clear Woodoc Water-Borne Floor sealer. It is available in a matte and gloss finish. Because it’s a floor sealer, Woodoc WaterBorne Floor is highly scratchresistant so your countertops will be able to withstand moderate heat (as long as it’s not so hot that it will scorch the wood), water and alcohol, among others.

It’s vital that you prepare the wood properly for the best results. Make sure the wood is completely dry, with no dust or oil on the surface, then sand well; the smoother the wood is, the better the finish will be. Wipe off with a cloth moistened with methylated spirits. Allow the surface to dry completely – all the methylated spirits must evaporate.

Wipe again with a clean, dry cloth. Stir the sealant well (do not shake), then dip about two-thirds of the bristles of a clean, dry brush in the tin. Don’t wipe the brush against the side of the tin – this pushes the bristles away from each other which lets in air, resulting in bubbles on the surface when you apply the product.

Allow excess sealant to drip off and apply it in long, even strokes in the same direction as the grain of the wood. Dip the brush regularly and stir the sealant frequently. Once the entire surface is smooth and shiny, leave it to dry then sand lightly with fine sandpaper. Wipe again with spirits then with a dry cloth. Repeat the process twice more.

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