What is the best sealant for wood countertops? What is a sealant for wood countertops? Why use a sealant for wood countertops? What should I look for when selecting the best sealant for wood countertops? What are the types of sealants for wood countertops?
Our best picks
WHAT IS A SEALANT FOR WOOD COUNTERTOPS?
A sealant for wood countertops is a substance applied on wood countertops to prevent fluids (gases and liquids) from passing through the wood countertop surface, joints between wood planes, or any opening on the wood countertops either by design or natural defects.
OUR BEST PICKS FOR THE BEST VSEALANT FOR WOOD COUNTERTOPS
1• Rust-Oleum 316 Bulls Eye Clear Shellac 1/2-Pint – BEST SHELLAC SEALANT FOR WOOD COUNTERTOPS
Key Pros
✔Natural Ingredients
✔Eco-Friendly
✔Rapid-drying
✔Easy to use
✔DOES NOT darken or yellow with age
Seal your wood countertop with a natural sealant when using Rust-Oleum 316 and enjoy a safe, non-toxic experience. We would not consider Rust-Oleum 316 as food safe considering the lack of a clear declaration of the FDA approval status. The natural ingredients are helpful in creating an eco-friendly experience during and after application making Rust-Oleum 316 an excellent choice for use for all family members.
Time is Money and Rust-Oleum 316 dries rapidly allowing users to apply consecutive coats in just 45 minutes saving you project time especially when sealing wood countertops in bulk or sealing frequently used wood countertops.
Rust-Oleum 316 significantly improves the aesthetics of your wood countertop by producing a lustrous glow from the surface giving your wood countertop that premium feel. Enjoy long life non-withering beauty with a wood countertop surface that neither yellows nor darkens with age.
Rust-Oleum 316 is easy to use and can be cleaned with ammonia or water. Rust-Oleum 316 is 1000% waterproof to offer outstanding sealing capability from water and common fluids.
2• Rubio Monocoat Zero VOC 2 Component Oil Finish Pure (350 mL)
Key Pros
✔Easy to use
✔Fast Drying
✔100% waterproof
✔Applied in one layer
✔Almost clear sealant
✔Resistant to oxidation
✔Resistant to UV distortion
Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C is a two-component sealant oil [Oil + Accelerator] for wood countertops intended for indoor use offering a 100% waterproof feature. Depending on the ratio between the oil and the accelerator, Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C offers rapid drying to make sure your wood countertop is available for use after sealing.
Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C is easy to use since it is applied in just a single layer without having to wait for a layer to cure to apply consecutive layers. This feature is important if you want a thick sealant at once.
Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C is resistant to oxidation and distortion by UV rays making it ideal for use in the massive and industrial sealing of countertops or when these stimuli are present in the home or where the countertop will be used.
Rubio Monocoat Oil Plus 2C is an almost clear sealant with a slight amber tint to the wood revealing fine details of color, and texture of the underlying wood countertop surface.
3• Rust-Oleum Varathane 6041H 1-Quart Interior Oil Polyurethane, Semi-Gloss Finish – BEST POLYURETHANE SEALANT FOR WOODEN COUNTERTOPS
Key Pros
✔Military Grade Durability
✔Rapid drying
✔Top-Notch Aesthetics
✔Assorted Tints
✔ Extensively Versatile
✔Self-leveling
✔100% Waterproof
Rust-Oleum Varathane 6041H is an excellent topical sealant for wood countertops given its oil-based formulation which makes the wood countertop surface durable and evenly finished. Rust-Oleum Varathane 6041H is rapid drying and dries within 2 hours to the touch and if your project requires recoating, the wood countertop surface is ready for one in just 4 hours.
Rust-Oleum Varathane 6041H excellently protects your wood countertop surface from stimuli such as stains, scratches, and abrasions to ensure lifelong preservation of the quality and appearance of your wood countertop surface.
Enjoy top-notch aesthetics with Rust-Oleum Varathane 6041H which gives a smooth and premium feel to your wood countertop. Rust-Oleum Varathane 6041H comes in several final appearance colors including Gloss Finish, Satin Finish, and Semi-Gloss Finish.
Rust-Oleum Varathane 6041H is an extensively versatile ideal for multi-purpose wood surface projects apart from wood countertops including doors, cabinets, and interior furniture.
Rust-Oleum Varathane 6041H is a self-leveling sealant for wood countertops making it easy to work with for beginners as well as pros alike due to the potential to wonderfully mask out brush marks and the accurate evenness of the sealant on the wooden countertop surface.
4• Thirteen Chefs Food Grade Mineral Oil for Cutting Boards, Countertops and Butcher Blocks – Food Safe and Made in The US 64oz, Half Gallon
Key Pros
✔Food Safe
✔Premium Quality
✔Eco-Friendly
✔100% Waterproof
✔Extensively Versatile
✔Easy to use
✔Outstanding Durability
Thirteen Chefs Food Grade Mineral Oil is a food-safe sealant for wood countertops on which food will be directly prepared or chopped. Thirteen Chefs Food Grade Mineral Oil is excellent for regular wood countertops and also bamboo wood countertops. Kill several birds with a single stone with a sealant that seals all of your food wood countertops.
Thirteen Chefs Food Grade Mineral Oil ensures food safety of your final wood countertop surface giving a glimpse into the process of extracting the food-safe sealant where the refined elements are the ones used to make the final product.
Thirteen Chefs Food Grade Mineral Oil is free from tastes, odors, and colors making it compliant with the key criteria of the FDA and a firm declaration by the manufacturer about the production in the USA.
Thirteen Chefs Food Grade Mineral Oil excellently seals your wood countertop surface from water and other common solvents producing outstanding durability owing to its tough tamper-proof seal that distinguishes from lower quality seals.
Thirteen Chefs Food Grade Mineral Oil is extensively versatile not only being compatible with wood and bamboo wood countertops but also soapstone, granite, and more countertop materials. Thirteen Chefs Food Grade Mineral Oil is, therefore, the best choice if you have a countertop with several materials.
5• HOPE’S 100% Pure Tung Oil, Wood Finish for Furniture & Floors, All Natural Moisture Resistant Sealer
Key Pros
✔100% Waterproof
✔100% Natural formulations
✔Eco-Friendly sealant
✔Food Safe sealant for wood countertops
✔Military-grade durability
✔Extensively Versatile
✔Easy to use
HOPE’S 100% Pure Tung Oil is a premium natural sealant for wood countertops well known for giving wood countertop surfaces a premium feel just by hand-rubbing. HOPE’S 100% Pure Tung Oil is easy to use since you only wipe the sealant on the wooden countertop surface and allow it to cure at room temperature.
HOPE’S 100% Pure Tung Oil penetrates effectively into the wood grain hence eliminating the unsightly film which forms on wood countertops when low-quality finishes are applied. HOPE’S 100% Pure Tung Oil permeates the wooden surface, to cure so well into the wood fibers to create a resulting flexible and non-oily firm surface.
HOPE’S 100% Pure Tung Oil offers lifelong protection which is significantly longer than ordinary mineral oils and wax-based products.
HOPE’S 100% Pure Tung Oil is extensively versatile and is compatible with various other materials apart from wood including concrete, brick, stone, and cast iron.
HOPE’S 100% Pure Tung Oil is eco-friendly and food safe making it ideal for food contact countertops such as butcher countertops, salad preparation countertops, and foodservice countertops.
6• FGCI Superclear Premium Amazing Clear Cast Epoxy Pourable Resin, Food Safe Epoxy for Wood Tables, Concrete Countertop Sealers, Orgone Supplies, Epoxy Resin Molds 2 Part Epoxy Resin Kit
Key Pros
✔FDA approved
✔Color Compatible
✔100% Waterproof
✔Self-leveling
✔Durable
✔Scratch-resistant
✔High UV resistance
✔Ultra-clear, super-glossy finish
Seal your wood countertops using any range of stains while using FGCI Superclear Premium. FGCI Superclear Premium is compatible with mica and pigment powder colorings, alcohol-based inks, and common dyes.
With wood countertops you want this flexibility in customization to achieve a wood countertop that not only holds your food or objects but that also aligns with your looks and preferences.
If you are making wood countertops on a larger scale then you have a range of colors to produce from that would fit different customer preferences.
FGCI Superclear Premium possesses the self-leveling capability allowing you to smear epoxy resin on your wood countertop, have it evenly distributed along the wood countertop surface, and mask out any spatula or brush marks.
FGCI Superclear Premium ensures your wood countertop lasts long without cracks or breaks due to the excellent build quality of the surface upon curing.
FGCI Superclear Premium is scratch resistant meaning it can withstand the normal scrubbing marks incurred when washing wood countertops.
FGCI Superclear Premium has a high UV resistance which is a handy feature if you are planning to use your wood countertop outdoors or in rooms exposed to UV light. You can thus be assured of slowed yellowing which leaves your epoxy wood countertop aesthetically appealing for a long time.
NOTE: All epoxy surfaces will yellow with time and what UV inhibitors do is slow the degree of yellowing so that you can enjoy the sleekness of your epoxy surface for the longest time possible.
FGCI Superclear Premium features a picturesque super gloss that is beautiful. Even if you don’t want to tint your wood countertop, you can significantly improve the appearance of your wood countertop by giving it a crystal clear and shiny coating.
WHY USE A SEALANT FOR WOOD COUNTERTOPS?
1• SEALANTS TO WATERPROOF WOOD COUNTERTOPS
Sealants for wood countertops are essential in blocking water, moisture, steam, or ice from passing through wood countertops.
If water, in whichever form, finds its way into the wood spores in the countertop, the wood is bound to deteriorate in a few ways.
One, moisture in the wood spaces is an ideal environment for the multiplication of microorganisms and thus your wood countertop is bound to rot rapidly.
Two, due to the imbalance in the shrinkage and expansion of wood planes along and across the grain, moisture absorption by the wood surface causes irregular wood expansion which finally causes wood countertop cracking.
2• ALL-WEATHER SEALANTS FOR WOOD COUNTERTOPS
Sealing your wood countertops means that it will remain to be of great service regardless of the environment in which you want to use your wood countertop. Whether you plan to have outdoor showcasing or indoor wet food preparation, you are covered when using a sealant for wood countertops.
3• SEALANTS TO BEAUTIFY WOOD COUNTERTOPS
Sealants for wood countertops do not only offer functional properties of protecting the surface from the passage of fluids. Some sealants come with special ingredients that stain wood countertop surfaces revealing top-notch natural wood details and blend excellently with the theme of the surrounding space.
4• SEALANTS FOR STRENGTH, LONGEVITY, AND DURABILITY
All in all, it’s about raising the value of the wood countertop you currently have and improving its lifetime. You will achieve a tougher surface that is significantly resistant to stimuli such as pressure, scratches, abrasions, and impacts. In the end, your countertop will offer you amazing service way beyond its potential when lacking a sealant.
MAIN TYPES OF SEALANTS FOR WOOD COUNTERTOPS
1• FOOD SAFE SEALANTS FOR COUNTERTOPS
These sealants are for wood countertops on which food is prepared, chopped, or even served. The idea is to create a surface that complies with all the rules of the FDA where the wood countertop surface does not compromise the health and safety of the consumers of the food. Food safe sealants for wood countertops include mineral oil, natural waxes, and FDA approved coatings.
2• PENETRATING SEALANTS FOR COUNTERTOPS
These sealants soak into the wood spaces to fill and bond to the wood countertop surface such that a super-strong layer is created. Penetrating sealants are therefore useful for countertops on which heavy-duty use with high exposure to scratch, impact, and abrasion is the norm. Penetrating sealants include tung oil, epoxy resins, and more…
3• TOPICAL SEALANTS FOR COUNTERTOPS
These sealants are surface coatings that bond to only the upper surface of the coating and are therefore an ideal choice when applying on wood countertops that won’t be exposed to heavy-duty use. Topical sealants include polyurethanes, lacquer, and more…
SELECTING THE BEST SEALANT FOR WOOD COUNTERTOPS –
There are a few criteria that we here at SmartKitchenLine carefully watch out for when choosing the best sealant for wood countertops.
1• USE OF THE WOOD COUNTERTOP
The function of the wood countertop has a key role in the identification of the wood sealer that you will use.
If you are using your wood countertop to chop your meat or vegetables directly then it is absolutely crucial for you to use a 100% food-safe sealant for wood countertops. Some of the options here include natural and mineral oils which are pure extracts from living substrates and are pure bio-contents. Also, natural countertop waxes and wood specific oils for example walnut oils are an excellent example.
In addition, it is essential to go the extra mile to check the FDA approval status. We recently did 2 articles on SmartKitchenLine on “Best Pro Marine Epoxy for Tumblers” and “FDA Approved Epoxy for Tumblers” which are excellent buyers guides and reviews to learn about FDA approved sealants and coatings.
If you do not intend to use your wood countertop for chopping food, then you can use topical sealers or penetrative sealers. However, depending on the intensity of the use you will want to go with penetrative sealers if you are exposing your wood countertop surface to high-intensity, heavy-duty use. On the other hand, topical sealers will be ideal on wood countertops that you do not intend to work on intensely.
2• SEALANT COMPATIBILITY WITH THE FINISH
Mostly when sealing natural finishes, lacquer, and shellac we use white shellac. Shellac is a great sealant category when doing the majority of your refinishing jobs for wood countertops. However, shellac is incompatible with PUR polyurethane and water-based stains. In absence of shellac, one can seal natural finishes with thinned solutions of the same finish using mineral spirits or turpentine.
CONCLUSION
Depending on the use of your wood countertop and especially being clear if you are going to chop foodstuffs directly off your wood countertop, then the above is a great choice for you to select from. The end result is a protective layer of sealant over your wood countertop preventing rot, scratch, solvents, and microbes from interfering with the appearance and function of the wood countertop surface.
All the best in using the best sealant for wood countertops!
