How to Make a Countertop Using Wood Flooring

Lay out the wood floor boards to ensure they are level and straight. They should also be 1/2 to 1 inch longer than the measure for the countertop. It is a good idea to lay them out in the way you want them to make up your countertop.

Run a bead of food-safe epoxy or wood glue along the long narrow side of a floor board where it will be attached to the next board. Spread the glue to cover the narrow side, using a narrow brush and covering the surface entirely with glue. If the floor boards are tongue-and-groove, apply glue to the tongue of one board and mate to the groove of the next board.

Pick up the next board and press the board against the glue to bond them together.

Repeat Steps 2 and 3 until all the boards are glued together.

Stabilize the boards by clamping them together until the glue dries. Insert a piece of scrap wood between the clamp and the floor boards to keep the clamp from denting the wood. Follow the drying time according to manufacturer’s directions.

Equip a hand-held sander with 120-grit sandpaper. Lightly sand the top and sides of the countertop to ensure the surface is smooth and even. You can also sand by hand by folding the sandpaper into fourths.

Vacuum the floor board countertop to remove all the sawdust.

Repeat Steps 6 and 7 using 180-grit sandpapder and then with 220-grit sandpaper. Remember to vacuum after each sanding.

Wipe the wood down with a tack cloth to remove all the dust.

Pour tung oil or linseed oil onto a clean lint-free cloth. Rub the oil onto the top and sides of the wood floor countertop. Let the oil to penetrate into the wood and work in another coat of oil. Repeat this step five to 10 times or until the wood won’t absorb any more oil. Wipe away any excess oil that is not absorbed.