Experiences with solid wood kitchen countertops

Can you say something about prices of Iroko? I'm still undecided about my new countertop ...

From about €100 per meter. I would, for example, buy from worktop-express

I have tested all kinds of countertops in recent years, and wood is my favorite alongside ceramic. However, only oiled countertops become very stained quickly. I like to use hard wax oil for solid wood – it is also food-safe and makes the countertops almost indestructible, even at the edges.

Does hard wax oil also help around the stove when grease splashes frequently? We have had an oak countertop for 10 years, and I would definitely choose real wood again. The patina and even the occasional ring from a hot pot or unnoticed spilled vinegar don’t bother me at all. If necessary, you could also sand it down. But around the stove, the wood becomes gray and dry quickly due to dish soap. Theoretically, I could re-oil every few weeks there. For the rest of the countertop, every few months is enough.

Interesting that the focus here is almost exclusively on aesthetics.

My concerns would rather come from the area of wood warping and cracks.
And that is hardly predictable because it depends heavily on how the current board was cut from the trunk and how close it was to a knot.

I have two cases here where solid wood parts warped so much over the years that the original function is practically no longer given.

For me, only plywood or box structure (if it's thicker) in the future, possibly with a solid wood edge strip on the front side to preserve the look.

One does not cut from a board either. Worktops are always made of glued wood. And with good quality, the gluing does not come apart, unless liters of water are involved.

We have had an oak tabletop measuring 3.7x1.2 meters on the kitchen island for about 3 years. The carpenter made it in several layers to prevent it from warping. I refresh the surface once a year with an emulsion. Next to the sink and the cooktop, the surface looks like new. Only in between, where all the preparation takes place, are there a few signs of wear. But I quite like it, and if it gets too rough, I simply sand off the top layer.

Had ash countertops installed in our small Berlin apartment in 1995. They have been moved three times and are still "loved dearly," now in our entry laundry room. Of course, there are some nicks. Moisture has not been a problem so far.