When we started this project I had foolishly allowed just $1000 for our benchtops. I thought this was plenty as we had only spent about $800 on our macrocarpa benchtop in our last house. This time around I was getting quotes for around $2000. As we are at the pointy end of the project and budget we don't have any spare funds.
So I had to get my thinking cap on.
I went down to a local building demolition/recycling company to see what they had on hand. Amongst their treasures of yesteryear I came across some recycled rimu tongue and groove flooring. The normal tongue and groove is quiet thin, too thin for benchtops, but they did have 80 x 40 mm tongue and groove which would suit my needs. I think this thicker timber might have been used for walls or perhaps a 2 storey building where the floor is also the ceiling. Either way it was about to be a benchtop.
Benchtop Receipe:
> Strip off the old varnish.
> Sand back to wood.
> Glue & fasten togther.
> Cut benchtop to size.
> More sanding.
> More sanding with fine sandpaper.
> Stain with Danish oil & reapplying upto 5 coats.
> Fit benchtop to cabinets.
I'm not finished but the island is finished.
