The first question about wood counters is always maintenance, and the honest answer is: less than the internet says, more than stone. The difference is that wood fails gracefully — everything that happens to it can be undone in place.
The daily routine
Wipe it. A hardwax-oiled counter cleans with a damp cloth and mild soap; it wants neither bleach nor abrasive pads. The one real habit to build is water discipline — standing water wiped rather than left overnight, especially around the sink. That single habit is most of the maintenance story.
When something happens
This is where wood wins: a hardwax oil finish repairs in place. Scars buff out, dull zones re-oil, and a counter that has worked hard for years refreshes over a weekend without a contractor. A film finish — or stone — would have you living with the damage or replacing the top.
Finished or bare
Formhaus counters ship in our UV-cured protective coating — zero-VOC, cured solid before crating, no re-oiling schedule. Prefer your own regimen — a food-prep oil schedule, a specific brand you trust? Order the counter unfinished: sanded, bare wood, priced a little less — the coating step stays in the shop — ready for whatever you run.