"Kate" writes:

Hey Joe,

It's understandable that what you're trying to create is a nice looking
vanity with an all over coordinated look.
After reading the other replies, I felt that I should reply simply because
it makes me nuts when people tell me I CAN'T or SHOULDN'T do something
because it isn't the accepted method or the "norm". I'm old, stubborn,
female and Irish. I'd do it out of spite just to prove I could. Not that
this particular way of thinking has not come back to bite me on the butt
many times :¬D

First I have to admit that I don't have nearly as much knowledge about woods
as many of the old timers in here do. That being said I have seen some
striking wooden countertops.
An example would be bar tops.
It seems that they are generally a thick plank with a poured finish that
wears incredibly well. Something like the epoxy finish that you are
considering. I think if you have the wood well sealed and the rim of the
sink well sealed without water puddling on it, you should be just fine.
People told me not to put hardwood in my last kitchen. i did, and it was
wonderful! We used several coats of poly to seal it and never had any issues
even when we had spills.

Have you considered an accent wood rather than trying to match the vanity
entirely?
Perhaps you could find something with some true personality that will
compliment the existing cabinet.

Google "wood bar top"
You may find some good ideas and suggestions for finishes and materials
there.

Best of luck to you, hope you get the results you're looking for.

Other options for materials to consider a
Granite tile. Beautiful end result, easy to do and inexpensive.
Almost any natural stone tile like slate (great color selection) or
travertine. Again, easy, inexpensive (in tile) and very durable.
Because a vanity top is so small, you wouldn't need a lot of materials and
putting a base for a tile top on a vanity is remarkably simple.

For one of our bathrooms we found some reclaimed black slate. It was in
assorted sizes and thicknesses and we got a LOT more than we needed for a
very cheap price.
All we had to do was clean it up a bit and it made an amazing floor and
vanity top.

Would love to see you post up some pics of your project no matter how you
decide to go with it.

K.

Thanks for the words of encouragement.
My wife wants it to look like the old one did. Since the vanity is solid
and only the top is pitted and beaten-up, my plan was to just glue up a
couple of 5/4 boards of solid hardwood for the top.

The old top lasted a good 20-30 years despite the fact that it was a
thin veneer on some type of chipboard and despite having just a lacquer
finish.

The epoxy clearcoat from West that I plan on using has been used for
decades in boats so I assume that this upgrade to solid wood and a
multi-coat epoxy surface plus a little more TLC of the top should get me
at least another 20-30 years which is plenty for me...