How can I upgrade butcherblock countertops?

Here's a link on cleaning and maintaining a butcher block. If your counters are beyond this, you may need to sand and refinish.

https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-butcher-block/

Here's how to care for them, if yours are too worn and dirty after scrubbing with warm soapy water with blue dawn dish soap, then sanding is in order:

https://www.butcherblock.com/information-resources/how-tos/care-maintenance/

Sand and oil them with cuttingboard oil.

You may have to sand down to clean wood. Do not varnish or polyurethane. You need a food safe sealer. Butcher block sealer

It looks like there are specific cleaners for butcherblock but over time wood absorbs a lot - your certain bet to making them like new again would be sand them down and reseal them.

You can try a light sanding or using steel wool. Then seal them with a food safe sealer rather than varnish.

What is the area/sq ft of countertops that are worn or damaged?

For the amount of work involved, 'down time' for the project, plus the price of materials, it may be faster and more cost effective to get the countertops replaced with new.

You can give them a sanding then seal them up with a food-grade sealer such as beeswax, beeswax with mineral oil, mineral oil, or tung oil. You can see what I did here: https://www.flippingtheflip.com/2020/05/one-fine-saturday-variety-pack.html

Hi! Hope this helps!

https://youtu.be/_O3_us1xkTA

Take a look at this product. https://incrediblesolutionsonline.com/ I am using it right now on new wood countertops. You will have to do some sanding and apply, but you will get a incredible finish

Here's a post that might help - https://www.remodelista.com/posts/remodeling-101-butcher-block-kitchen-countertops/

Hello,

If they were my Butchers Blocks, I would use a sanding machine and then oil them, not varnish them .........

Hi Barbara, yes there is an affordable way! You can paint them! Here is how I painted mine, and it lasted for 10 years with normal use, just make sure you don't set hot pots, etc. on it

Lightly sand to rough the countertop up

Go to your paint store, tell them what you are painting, they will pick the proper paint and primer for you, you can even get the primer tinted for a better coverage

Once you have sanded, clean with TSP, then rinse and dry thoroughly,

Apply your primer coat, let it dry according to the instructions

Once the primer coat is dry, apply your paint coat, I would apply 2 or 3 as it will be stronger and thicker

Once your coats dry, you can apply a matte clear coat, either by spray or roll on, keep a small container of it under your sink for touch ups,( I never touched up) I had my counters like this for 12 years, until I could afford new ones.

I used a few uncolored glass cutting boards for protection. It held up very well. And only costs you the prices of the materials.

Good luck!

Maybe you'd want to try this instead? https://www.hometalk.com/diy/kitchen-dining/kitchen-dining-furniture/away-with-the-old-butcherblock-countertop-26122561

I would sand them and add a cutting board oil