FOUR THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO END BUYERS OF SOLID KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS
Did you know that more than 50% of buyers of solid countertops face major problems in the first year after the installation of a solid countertop, and that a large part of them replace the countertop in the second year?
How to avoid dissatisfied customers, who quickly become the worst advertisement for our products, as a good reputation goes a long way, and a bad one even further. No one wants an angry customer in their store who will tell others about their bad experience with you. What to tell them before they decide to purchase such a countertop?
Every customer is different and not all customers are suitable for a solid kitchen countertop, just like not every car is suitable for every person. Through the conversation, we must assess whether the customer wants natural materials and is ready to invest some effort in the maintenance of a solid countertop in the coming years or does not want to deal with that.
No one wants a dissatisfied customer, so the following topics in particular should be discussed:
- Properties of solid wood
The vast majority of customers have no prior knowledge of wood, so they need to be kindly introduced to the following:
– wood is a living organism even after it is installed in the kitchen
– it is an artificially dried material which will, due to being artificial dried, absorb moisture in moist rooms and expand as a result, whereas it will emit moisture and shrink in dry rooms. This can cause cracks on the surface or on the adhesive joints.
– that wood, as a natural material, is the target of various pests if it is not properly protected
– that each kitchen countertop is glued from several pieces of wood and that due to their different structure, each piece works somewhat differently
– that solid wood needs to be regularly maintained at least once a year, and if necessary several times
- Advantages and disadvantages of choosing a solid kitchen countertop
As already said, every seller should be aware that the customer in all probability does not know the properties of wood and that almost no one is aware that wood is a dynamic and vibrant material even years after the tree was cut down and the wood was installed in the kitchen countertop or any other product in our home.
You need to be honest with the customer and tell them that they need to live with this countertop and keep it in good shape. It should be explained to them that the advantages of wood are that it is a natural, warm material, and that if properly cut, it represents a natural coexistence of man with nature. Certainly one of the biggest advantages is that in the case of minor damage to the surface, we can repair it by simply sanding the affected spot with sandpaper.
The disadvantage of wood, however, is that it will breathe and live as long as it is in the house. It will need to be taken care of throughout all years of use, otherwise problems may occur. The customer should also be reminded that over time, due to the influence of light, each wood changes its colour slightly despite surface protection, and with regular contact with water it can also become darker in some parts.
- How to choose wood
For solid countertops, end customers are recommended to use hardwoods (we are talking mainly about non-coniferous wood). Soft coniferous woods are too sensitive for a work surface and are damaged too quickly in kitchen use. A considerable number of softwood countertops can still be seen in the Scandinavian countries, but their number has been declining sharply in recent years.
As the hardest woods, we can definitely recommend exotic woods, but I think that it is necessary to offer customers, for the sake of ecological principles alone, domestic autochthonous tree species that are suitable for this type of use. Teak should be used in Asia, where it is an autochthonous species, and beech for the same reasons in Europe.
Each wood has its own distinctive colour and structure – from a white and gentle ash tree to a golden brown and mighty oak or a dark and elegant walnut. Let the customer decide on the colour, but also get them to know the main characteristics of each tree species.
By using colour coatings, the base colour can also be changed by the customer, but wood is always the most beautiful in its natural colour.
- Kitchen countertop maintenance
Maintenance of the kitchen countertop is easy, but the customer quickly encounters problems with incorrect maintenance. The customer needs to be taught in particular the following:
– the best protection for the kitchen countertop is the regular application of a mixture of natural oils and waxes, which can be applied by the users themselves. They are available in most specialty stores (after all, this is also an opportunity for extra profit for the retailer who can sell its surface coating to a customer)
– if water is spilled on a solid countertop, it must be removed as soon as possible and the countertop wiped with a dry cloth
– the countertop must be additionally protected and properly installed near the sink and then the condition of the wood in this place must be inspected regularly
– PVC foil must be placed between the countertop and the dishwasher so that the steam coming from the dishwasher does not destroy the wood; once a year it is necessary to check if everything is fine with the foil
– in case of possible damage to the countertop with a knife or some other sharp object, it can be easily sanded and surface-protected again.
Wood is a beautiful natural material that leaves very few people indifferent. However, living with a solid kitchen countertop is not always easy, as it sometimes needs more attention than the people who live with you. Therefore, it is necessary to talk openly to potential users of such countertops, to warn them of the good and the less good sides of it, all with the aim of maximizing the satisfaction of the end consumer.
