FAQ

Are your boards made from one piece of wood or glued pieces?

Our wooden boards and butcher blocks are made from solid-wood pieces joined with wood glue. Each piece is wood throughout its thickness. “Solid wood” describes the material; it does not mean the board is cut from a single slab.

Joining smaller pieces makes it possible to build a wider working surface and arrange the grain for the board’s construction. A well-made assembly can form a stable surface, but gluing does not stop natural wood movement. Changes in moisture can still cause expansion, contraction or warping, so cleaning, drying and care remain important.

What is the difference between face grain, edge grain and end grain?

These names describe which part of each wood piece forms the working surface:

Face grain: the broad faces of the pieces face upward.
Edge grain: the long, narrower edges form the surface, creating a striped, lengthwise pattern.
End grain: the ends of the fibres face upward, creating a pattern of smaller blocks.

Grain direction changes the construction and appearance. It does not tell you a finished board’s weight, lifespan or resistance to damage on its own. Compare the actual model’s size, thickness and weight too. Our end-grain and edge-grain guide shows the differences.

Should I choose a cutting board or a butcher block?

Start with how you will use and move it. A thinner cutting board is easier to put away between meals. A butcher block gives you a thicker, heavier surface that suits a dedicated preparation area, provided you can still lift it to clean and dry underneath.

For comparison, our 16 × 12 × ¾-inch maple cutting board weighs about 1.6 kg. Our butcher blocks are 1½ to 1¾ inches thick and weigh about 5.4 to 5.8 kg, depending on the model. Check that the added height feels comfortable and that you can safely lift, turn and dry the board you choose.

How do I choose between cherry, maple, and maple and birch?

In our product photos, cherry shows warm reddish-brown tones, maple edge grain is paler, and maple-and-birch end grain has more contrasting blocks. Natural colour and grain vary from board to board.

Compare the construction, format and weight too:

Cherry end grain: one wood species, an 18 × 16 × 1¾-inch format and a weight of about 5.4 kg.
Maple and birch end grain: two wood species in the same 18 × 16 × 1¾-inch format, weighing about 5.8 kg.
Maple edge grain: a wider, lower 20 × 16 × 1½-inch format, also weighing about 5.8 kg.

Choose the pattern you enjoy and the size and weight you can handle comfortably. Wood species alone is not a promise of greater durability; construction, use and care matter too.

How do I check the size before ordering?

Measure the space where you prepare food, but also where you will clean, dry and store the board. A paper template cut to the listed length and width is a simple way to see how much room remains for your hands, ingredients and a bowl.

Check thickness and weight separately: a board can fit on the counter and still be awkward to lift or too tall for comfortable chopping. For a model with a handle or adjustable supports, check what the listed dimensions include and ask us if a precise fit matters.

Will my board look exactly like the photographs?

Wood colour and grain vary naturally, so the arrangement of light and dark areas will differ from one board to another. Product photographs show the model and its construction, rather than an identical grain pattern for every piece.

A colour difference alone does not tell you whether wood is dry or damaged. If you notice an opening, loose material or a change that concerns you, send us clear photographs so we can look at that specific area.

Does a set include two full-size boards, and can I use both faces?

Yes. Our 16 × 12-inch cutting-board set includes two boards, each 16 × 12 × ¾ inches. The round steak-board set includes two boards in the 11-inch round format, each ¾ inch thick. Dimensions and juice-groove capacities apply to each board.

Both faces are usable. Choose the grooved face for cooked meat or juicy ingredients and the reverse for other preparation or serving. Turning a board over does not replace using a separate board for raw meat, poultry, fish and seafood.

What is the difference between care oil and care cream? Do I need both?

Care oil contains food-grade white mineral oil for conditioning wood. Care cream combines mineral oil with beeswax for an optional wax finish.

Cream is optional and does not replace the oiling required before a butcher block’s first use. If you use both, finish the oil’s overnight absorption and wipe away excess before adding a thin layer of cream. Let the cream absorb, then buff away excess before food contact. Follow the illustrated oil and cream guide.

What does the silicone mat do, and will it fit my butcher block?

The mat’s ridges lift the wood slightly from the counter to leave space for airflow, and its silicone surface helps reduce sliding. It measures 16 × 12 inches, so it is smaller than the full footprint of our larger butcher blocks. Check that your block rests securely without rocking before cutting. A mat will not flatten or repair warped wood.

The mat does not replace lifting the block to check for trapped moisture and letting both faces dry after damp cleaning. You can wipe the mat clean or put it in the dishwasher. Wooden boards must stay out of the dishwasher.

Are knife marks or a rough surface a reason to replace my board?

Fine knife lines can develop with use and do not automatically mean a board needs replacing. Small surface fibres can also rise after contact with water. Inspect the wood when it is clean and completely dry; oil may change its colour without smoothing a rough patch.

Send us photographs before sanding or attempting a repair. An open joint, loose splinter or deep groove that is difficult to clean needs a different assessment from light surface wear. See our dry-or-damaged guide and restore-or-replace guide, and the cracked-or-warped guidance below.

Before first use

Do not wash a butcher block immediately after unwrapping. Inspect it, dry-wipe loose packaging dust, then oil both clean, completely dry faces and edges with food-grade mineral oil. Let it absorb overnight and wipe off excess before food preparation.

How should I clean it?

On an otherwise clean, uncontaminated board, remove loose dry crumbs with a dry brush or cloth. When a light wipe is sufficient, use a clean, barely damp cloth and dry immediately. Avoid routine washing under running water; remove spills and check underneath for moisture.

For a localized surface stain or lingering food odour on a sound, unvarnished butcher block, gently rub with half a lemon and coarse salt. Promptly remove the salt and juice with a clean, barely damp cloth, dry immediately and allow air around both faces. This is cosmetic surface care; it does not disinfect or treat mould or cracks.

Food residue, grease, raw flour or dough, and contamination require effective, appropriate cleaning. If washing is necessary, use mild dish soap and lukewarm water. Briefly expose both faces and all edges to water during washing and rinsing, without soaking or saturating the wood. Remove soap and residue, then towel-dry every side immediately. Never put wood in a dishwasher.

After damp cleaning, support the board securely so air reaches both faces. Store or cover it only when completely dry. Keep it away from direct heat and damp storage.

Use a separate board for raw meat, poultry, fish and seafood. If this board becomes contaminated, clean and sanitize it before further food preparation using a product suitable for wooden food-contact surfaces and following its directions.

When should I oil it?

Reapply food-grade mineral oil when clean, completely dry wood looks dull and appears to need conditioning. Coat both faces and all edges, allow overnight absorption and wipe away excess. Oil and cream do not sanitize or waterproof wood.

Wax cream is an optional later finish; it does not replace the required oil application before a butcher block’s first use.

My board has cracked or warped

Stop using a board with an open crack, loose joint or unstable surface. Contact us with your order number, a description and photographs before attempting sanding or repairs. We assess problems individually. See warranty and returns.

Wood is a natural material that can expand, contract and change shape as moisture and humidity vary. This response is part of the material’s natural behaviour, but an open crack, separating joint or other damage still needs individual assessment.

For care-related assessments and available remedies, see our Warranty & Returns policy.

One-time goodwill replacements

When damage falls outside warranty coverage, we may offer a one-time goodwill replacement following an individual assessment. This does not create entitlement to further goodwill replacements or limit applicable warranty rights.

A goodwill replacement is discretionary and is offered only where no remedy is required by applicable law or warranty. This does not exclude manufacturing defects or limit consumer rights that cannot legally be excluded or restricted.

Warranty replacement shipping

Approved warranty replacements are subject to outbound shipping fees as set out in our Replacement Policy, which forms part of these warranty terms, except when applicable law requires us to bear those costs. Terms applicable to earlier purchases remain unchanged.

Shipping and voluntary returns

Free standard shipping is available for eligible Canadian addresses; delivery conditions are described in our shipping policy. Request a voluntary change-of-mind return within 30 days of delivery. Items must be unused and unopened in their original protective film, and prior authorization is required. You pay return postage. One voluntary-return processing and original-delivery deduction of CAD $25 plus applicable taxes when every returned product weighs less than 4 kg, or CAD $35 plus applicable taxes when any returned product weighs 4 kg or more, applies per authorization from one original order and is capped at the eligible refund; it can reduce that refund to zero without creating an additional balance. Statutory remedies are assessed separately. See the full returns policy before sending anything back.

Order help and product fit

Contact us for order questions or help choosing a board. For the over-the-sink board, 13 × 12 inches is the cutting surface, not the support span. Send your sink opening measurements and photos of the supporting surfaces before ordering.