A timber benchtop, made the way you want
Finding a benchtop that doesn't look like every other kitchen can be difficult, and many people worry that timber will scratch, stain, warp or crack over time.
At MacBlack Timber, we craft custom timber benchtops from locally grown, farm-sourced New Zealand timber, milled and dried in-house. Our careful drying process makes warping extremely rare, giving you a beautiful, long-lasting centrepiece that's made for your home.
Sink and hob cut-outs can be machined to suit your project, food-safe oil finishes are available on request, and every benchtop is backed by our commitment to quality. To discuss timber species, dimensions and finishes, get in touch through the contact form.
At MacBlack Timber, we craft custom timber benchtops from locally grown, farm-sourced New Zealand timber, milled and dried in-house. Our careful drying process makes warping extremely rare, giving you a beautiful, long-lasting centrepiece that's made for your home.
Sink and hob cut-outs can be machined to suit your project, food-safe oil finishes are available on request, and every benchtop is backed by our commitment to quality. To discuss timber species, dimensions and finishes, get in touch through the contact form.
Timber Benchtops - Overview:
MacBlack Timber mills, dries and crafts custom wooden benchtops, hardwood kitchen benchtops and table tops from New Zealand-grown timber in Whanganui.
- Logs milled, air-dried and kiln-finished on site in Whanganui
- Around 20 New Zealand-grown species including eucalypt, macrocarpa and Tasmanian blackwood
- Sink, hob and power outlet cut-outs machined during production
- Supplied oil-finished ready to use, or raw for on-site dressing
- Straight glue-ups or live-edge slabs for a custom wood table top
Custom timber benchtops made under one roof
Every benchtop is milled, dried, machined and finished in the MacBlack workshop in Whanganui. From the moment a log arrives on site to the day the finished top leaves the yard, the timber stays in our hands, giving greater control over quality, grain selection and overall finish, and allowing the natural character of each board to be fully preserved.
Boards are drawn from our wider rough sawn timber supplies, and only sound, character-rich pieces make the cut. Because the timber is handled directly at every stage, we can match grain across joins so a wide top reads as a single piece. Wooden slabs are also available for those who want to create their own project - visit our yard to see what we have available.
Boards are drawn from our wider rough sawn timber supplies, and only sound, character-rich pieces make the cut. Because the timber is handled directly at every stage, we can match grain across joins so a wide top reads as a single piece. Wooden slabs are also available for those who want to create their own project - visit our yard to see what we have available.
Timber species to suit every room and style
With around 20 species passing through the yard at any time, we can match hardwood kitchen benchtops, wooden benchtops, and tabletops to your home and lifestyle.
Durable eucalypts and Tasmanian blackwood stand up to a busy family kitchen, while macrocarpa brings warmth and softer grain to a statement tabletop or vanity.
If unsure which species suits your project, we will talk you through the options and the trade-offs, drawing on our wider timber supplies.
Custom sizes, cut-outs and finishes to spec
Every benchtop is built to your dimensions, layout and finish, to a standard thickness of 33mm, or thicker on request. Sink and hob cut-outs can be machined during manufacturing, though customers usually supply the sink or a template.
Edge profiles, stains and matched profiled timber for splashbacks are available. Matching timber doors or flooring can be discussed as part of a wider joinery project.
It is a game of millimetres, and most kitchen joiners prefer making the final cut on site. Either way, the work is coordinated with you and your installer. Kitchen timber benchtops can be supplied:
- Finished with a food-safe oil, ready to use
- Raw, for your joiner to dress and finish on site
- With power outlet cut-outs machined during production
Long-lasting wooden benchtops backed by our guarantee
Done properly and looked after, a timber benchtop lasts as long as stone or stainless steel, often at lower cost and with far more say in how it looks. Unlike laminate or stone, wooden benchtops can be sanded back and refreshed decade after decade. Scratches and marks are not the end of a benchtop; they are part of its life.
Every board is air-dried, then finished in the on-site dehumidifying kiln before machining, so most benchtops take around two to three weeks, depending on timber and workload.
To start a benchtop conversation, get in touch.
Every board is air-dried, then finished in the on-site dehumidifying kiln before machining, so most benchtops take around two to three weeks, depending on timber and workload.
To start a benchtop conversation, get in touch.
Most hardwood kitchen benchtops sit between 33mm and 40mm thick, which gives the strength and presence a solid timber surface deserves. Thicker slabs around 60mm suit island benches or statement pieces.
Benchtops are machined to your preferred thickness, and thicker cuts tend to handle heat and moisture movement better over time.
Dense, naturally durable hardwoods such as eucalypts and Tasmanian blackwood handle bathroom conditions well. These species resist moisture movement when properly sealed and finished.
A hardwearing oil or hardwax finish is recommended, and the benchtop can be profiled with a slight fall around basin cut-outs to shed water away from joins.
Wipe up spills promptly, avoid leaving standing water, and re-oil the surface every six to 12 months depending on use. A chopping board is kinder to the timber than cutting directly on the surface.
Minor scratches or dents in wooden benchtops can be sanded back and re-oiled, which is a real advantage over stone or laminate.
Yes. Table tops are built to your length, width, thickness and edge profile. Options include a straight-edged glue-up or a live-edge slab, with species chosen from around 20 on the racks.
Milling, drying and machining all happen in the MacBlack workshop.
Most benchtops take around two to three weeks from order confirmation, depending on timber dryness, workshop bookings and complexity. When suitable timber is already dried and on the racks, work can move faster.
Complex live-edge slabs, matched grain runs or unusual dimensions may take longer, so raise your timeline early in the conversation.