My 4 month old new 40mm solid beech worktops have started to split in a
couple of locations all in the same general area.

It is close to a 90 degree joint in the woktop (they only ovelap 100mm), and
what appears to have happened is the 90 degree section has shrunk along its
length (above dishwasher, so gets warm), and dragged the other worktop
withit, until it wouldn't move anyfurther, and then started to split.

The splits are along the joints of the staves, the worst is 5" long approx
1mm wide at worst. The other 2 are quite fine but noticeable.

I have a choice, remove the dishwasher and slacken off the worktop bolt
which joints the 2 worktops at 90 degrees, and see if they go back
naturally. The problem here is the joint is also glued so releasing the bolt
may have no affect.

The other choice is to monitor the splits to make sure they dont get any
worse (I am assuming most of the shrinkage has now been taken up) and then
fill them, resand and then oil.

I was thinking about mixing pva with sanding dust from an off cut, filling
the splits, sanding then re oiling, or mixing the dust with the worktop oil
(good cour match?) allowing to set slightly then filling etc. Last choice
would be propiertary filling kit but I'm dubious about getting a good colour
match.

Any ideas/experiences?

thanks

Justin


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"Justin" jsheldon@ remove me lineone.net wrote in message
...
My 4 month old new 40mm solid beech worktops have started to split in a
couple of locations all in the same general area.

It is close to a 90 degree joint in the woktop (they only ovelap 100mm),
and
what appears to have happened is the 90 degree section has shrunk along
its
length (above dishwasher, so gets warm), and dragged the other worktop
withit, until it wouldn't move anyfurther, and then started to split.

The splits are along the joints of the staves, the worst is 5" long approx
1mm wide at worst. The other 2 are quite fine but noticeable.

I have a choice, remove the dishwasher and slacken off the worktop bolt
which joints the 2 worktops at 90 degrees, and see if they go back
naturally. The problem here is the joint is also glued so releasing the
bolt
may have no affect.

The other choice is to monitor the splits to make sure they dont get any
worse (I am assuming most of the shrinkage has now been taken up) and then
fill them, resand and then oil.

I was thinking about mixing pva with sanding dust from an off cut, filling
the splits, sanding then re oiling, or mixing the dust with the worktop
oil
(good cour match?) allowing to set slightly then filling etc. Last choice
would be propiertary filling kit but I'm dubious about getting a good
colour
match.

Any ideas/experiences?

thanks

Justin

Hi Justin,

Sounds like you've got a bit of a nasty mess there. First 2 ports of call
would be the place the worktop came from and the person who fitted it.
It definitely sounds like the heat from the dishwasher has caused it and it
may be that there isn't enough air circulation to let the heat out so the
wood is absorbing the heat and it's drying the wood out, or that the
underside of the worktop hasn't been protected from the dishwasher. I am
not sure what you can do to make it better, but consulting the fitter and
the manufacturer to see what come back you have would be a good idea, if
that doesn't get you anywhere then find a local steel supplier and get a
piece of thin stainless sheet cut to size and fix it to the underside of the
worktop above to protect it from the heat, this would at least stop it
getting much worse. From then you could try forcing moisture back in to the
wood and then sealing it in with a few good coats of oil or wax. If you want
to fill it then steer clear of mixing wood with PVA, wood mixed with a
cellulose base or a bleached shellac, or some 2 part polyester makes a
better filler.

Justin wrote in message ...
My 4 month old new 40mm solid beech worktops have started to split in a
couple of locations all in the same general area.

It is close to a 90 degree joint in the woktop (they only ovelap 100mm),
and
what appears to have happened is the 90 degree section has shrunk along its
length (above dishwasher, so gets warm), and dragged the other worktop
withit, until it wouldn't move anyfurther, and then started to split.

The splits are along the joints of the staves, the worst is 5" long approx
1mm wide at worst. The other 2 are quite fine but noticeable.

I have a choice, remove the dishwasher and slacken off the worktop bolt
which joints the 2 worktops at 90 degrees, and see if they go back
naturally. The problem here is the joint is also glued so releasing the
bolt
may have no affect.

The other choice is to monitor the splits to make sure they dont get any
worse (I am assuming most of the shrinkage has now been taken up) and then
fill them, resand and then oil.

I was thinking about mixing pva with sanding dust from an off cut, filling
the splits, sanding then re oiling, or mixing the dust with the worktop oil
(good cour match?) allowing to set slightly then filling etc. Last choice
would be propiertary filling kit but I'm dubious about getting a good
colour
match.

Any ideas/experiences?

thanks

Justin
Wood generally shrinks across the width, with the length staying the same.
Also, it's unlikely to have been affected by a local hot spot. It tends to
acclimatise to the average conditions in the room assuming a normal
circulation of air.
Sounds like the wood wasn't sufficiently dry, which is always a risk. Large
batches are dried to an average moisture content, and nobody can predict
which bits will play up.
All you can say is that it has probably settled down now and if you fill the
cracks it won't move any further. That said, winter is coming and those
cold, crisp days create the driest indoor conditions of the year.
I find plastic wood the easiest to colour match.