What an installation includes
A full installation means Timber Couture sources the butcher block, cuts and fits it to your space, joins the corners, cuts in your sink, seals every face, delivers and mounts it. Sink, disposer and plumbing hook-up can be part of the job, and so can removing your old countertops and hauling them away — each is its own line on the quote, so you take only what you need.
Every piece is cut, fitted and finished for your kitchen — no prefab shortcuts. Where a sink sits in a run, Tim prefers one continuous slab over gluing pieces together; it’s stronger and looks better.
Corners, edges and sinks
Joining an L
Corners are joined with either a butt joint or a 45° miter — it’s one of the first questions in the quote. Waterfall edges, where the wood continues vertically to the floor, are a different process that uses more material but needs no extra support (see islands & bar tops). A countertop can also be scribed to follow an uneven wall.
Sink cutouts
Drop-in, undermount and farmhouse sinks are all cut in. Drop-in is the simplest; undermount takes the most time and care because the cut edge shows and gets sealed; farmhouse sits between. A matching 4″ backsplash is available too.
Mounting and support
Countertops are secured to the cabinets, with metal brackets into studs where a wall run needs them. An overhang past about 8″ gets supported — that’s a rule, not a preference.
Finishes and stains
There are two finish grades: the standard triple-thick, water-based polyurethane, and an extra-durable polyurethane with a hardener — the “RAW” finish that leaves the wood looking and feeling matte and raw (Bona Traffic HD RAW). Matte is the most requested sheen; satin and semi-gloss are available. Both finishes are food-safe once cured and need no ongoing maintenance — though the standard one shows wear sooner.
Staining adds real time to a job: the underside is sealed first, then the stain needs 48 hours to dry before sealing, then the finish cures and gets a light sand and a second coat. Espresso is the most popular color by a wide margin. If you’re staining, Tim stains a sample on your actual wood first so you approve the real color.
Scheduling, and what a quote looks like
Installation is typically booked one-and-a-half to three weeks out, depending on the season. A simple island-slab swap can take as little as an hour on site when the slab is pre-sealed; a stained full kitchen takes longer because of the drying windows.
Every quote is a short, itemized list — material, cutting and installation, sink cutout, finish, delivery — written personally by Tim. What isn’t included is listed just as plainly. There’s no instant pricing; send your layout through the order form and the quote comes back in writing. More questions? The Installation FAQ answers 28 of them.