Worktop Express Information Guides

Our full stave wenge worktops are perfect for those looking for wood worktops that are the epitome of style. This guide delves in to all you’ll need to know about this exotic timber, including its look, manufacture, origin and history.

AESTHETICS

This tropical timber is very dark in colour – so much so that it looks almost black in some lights, and is often used as a substitute for ebony. It has a distinctive figure with lighter flecks that are dispersed throughout the wood. Wenge is truly the top of the worktop tree and is highly desired in modern kitchens, and for a variety of other uses. Back in 2010 we provided over 30 metres of this opulent hardwood to ‘Bea’s of Bloomsbury’ – a high end London tea room.

If you’re looking for a luxurious surface to suit a black and white kitchen, or something to contrast light coloured units in a contemporary kitchen design, then wide planked wenge worktops are definitely worth considering. To see some more examples of this timber up close, pop along to our worktop gallery.

TYPE OF WOOD AND GRAIN STRUCTURE

Black wenge is amongst the heaviest and most solid hardwood worktops available, being 50% more dense than oak. Its black grain and dark brown wood is from the heartwood of the tree, whereas the sapwood contributes lighter flecks throughout the worktop; it has a straight grain and a very coarse texture.

Cells known as ‘vessel elements’ are one of the distinguishing features of hardwoods such as wenge. The cells are elongated in a linear fashion through the timber, and are considerably larger than surrounding cells, which is what can create a distinctive pattern. The grain has large pores with no specific arrangement and distinct growth rings. Because of the dark colouration of the wood, the grain appears to be a little more subtle than some other hardwoods – especially when oiled.

SOURCING AND MANUFACTURE

Hailing from mid to western Africa, wenge wood is mostly found in the rainforests of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon. In sourcing wood that is visually pleasing and resilient, we take great care to ensure that all the timber we purchase is legal, environmentally sound, and from the most sustainable supplies possible.

Due to its African origin, full stave wenge cannot be certified under either FSC or PEFC classifications. We’ve worked very closely with our suppliers to ensure that our African timbers have the required chain of custody and all evidence to support it.

image courtesy of prota

image courtesy of the timber network

We employ strict environmental policies and very stringent checks on our suppliers, to ensure that we are only dealing with dealers that promote environmentally aware policies and re-planting schemes. We only ever deal directly with suppliers, rather than using third-party agents; this has helped us build great relationships with the manufacturers and so we’re always fully aware of any supply shortages or problems that may occasionally arise. We also visit our suppliers every three months to ensure our high standards are adhered to.

At Worktop Express® we fabricate and deliver kitchen worktops to incredibly high standards, whilst offering very good value for money – just compare our prices to any high-street retailer. Since our inception we’ve delivered over 150,000 worktops covering over 55,000 individual orders, and are now considered solid wood experts.

To find out more about these processes, visit our ’Sourcing and Manufacture’ information guide.

CONSTRUCTION

Our standard worktops are constructed from staves averaging 40mm, although we also offer Deluxe and full stave worktops with a wider 90mm stave. In the case of our wenge plank worktops, the staves run the full length of the worktop for a truly unrivalled high-end worktop.

We work closely with our European manufacturers to ensure that the chosen staves are of the highest quality, and that they’re also aesthetically consistent to give the worktop an attractive, unblemished finish that is free from defects.

To find out more about how our worktops are constructed, visit our ’Construction Types Explained’ guide.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

• Tree Size: 18 – 30m tall, 1-1.25 m trunk diameter
• Average Density: 855 kg/m3
• Average Dried Weight: 870 kg/m3
• Janka Hardness: 8600 N
• Modulus of Rupture (bending strength): 151.7 MPa
• Elastic Modulus (‘stiffness’ of wood): 17.59 GPa

HISTORY

image courtesy of theatiyore

For centuries, the native craftsmen of the Congolese rainforest have used wenge to craft masks and statues representing spirits and gods. Prior to mechanical methods, local craftsmen would ‘cut’ sections of downed trees by building controlled fires beneath it and burning though the log until they had manageable sections to take back to their village. Fire was also used in the shaping of the lumber to create large statues, as it would make the wood soft and easier to carve.

Because of its density and strength, wenge has been used for a very wide range of uses over time beyond its current-day uses for furniture, veneers and of course worktops. Previous uses for the timber included railway sleepers, crates and boxes, mine props and even archery longbows. Like many other attractive hardwoods, wenge has been used for high-quality musical instruments such as guitars and drums.

Wenge was traditionally used in medicines, with varying applications of the bark being used to treat liver complaints, diabetes, hernias, skin diseases, constipation, fevers and rheumatism. Powdered bark has also been used to treat epilepsy, smallpox and sores. We’ll stick with worktops though, we think!

PRICE

At Worktop Express® we keep over 7,500 worktops in stock at any one time, which enables us to deliver directly to both the public and trade swiftly and efficiently with our 2man delivery service. We’ve gone through great lengths to ensure that all of our worktops can be offered at the best possible price, with excellent customer service to match.

Our specially integrated online stock-ordering systems allow us reduce costs by minimising the quantity of dead stock and by keeping wastage low. What’s more, with our ‘direct-to-public’ e-commerce business model, we’ve been able to offer our solid wood worktops at a much lower price than any high-street retailer.

We make it a priority to visit our European suppliers at least once every three months ourselves – we don’t use any agents or third parties to make the trip for us.

Because of this we’re able to see the product and manufacturing process first hand and ensure that the suppliers are adhering to our high standards. Worktop Express® are currently the largest importers of solid wood worktops to the UK, and also branched out into the German market in 2014 with the aim of becoming Europe’s leading online solid wood worktop specialist.

Our full stave wenge worktops are available from £450 for a 2m x 620mm worktop, with matching 3M upstands for only £130 and plinths for £135.

PERFECT FOR…

With unmistakable black and dark brown hues and a stunning grain pattern showcased by the construction, a wide stave wenge worktop is the ideal centrepiece for ultra-modern kitchens. Consider mixing wenge worktops with bright whites, yellows and oranges for a unique contemporary look; or for up-to-the-minute style, accent wenge with industrial touches, concept lighting and stainless steel appliances.

Wenge is also ideal for high-end dining tables, shelving or office workspaces – there is simply no other worktop like it.

Visit our full stave wenge worktops page to find out more information on the sizes available, which can be ordered quickly and easily through our website.

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Our full stave zebrano worktops are a firm favourite due to their distinctive grain and exotic yet luxurious feel. In this guide we’ve covered everything you’ll need to know about zebrano, including the history, origin, science and manufacture of this eye-catching timber.

AESTHETICS

The surface of full stave zebrano alternates between pale toffee and deep brown figuring, creating a striking colour variation; as such, zebrano (or ‘zebra wood’ as it is sometimes named) clearly stands out from the crowd. We’re big fans of this unusual wood here at Worktop Express®, as it’s incredibly hardwearing and looks fantastic as the centrepiece of a modern kitchen interior.

Each single stave zebrano worktop is unique, with a distinctive grain pattern setting it apart from anything else and bestowing your kitchen with an air of exclusive desirability. To see some beautiful examples of full stave zebrano, head over to our worktop gallery.

TYPE OF WOOD AND GRAIN STRUCTURE

Similar to our other timbers (apart from Bamboo which is classed as a perennial plant), zebrano is a sturdy hardwood with a very unique grain pattern which is either wavy or more straight and interlocked – depending on how it is sawn. It has a relatively coarse texture and open pores that make for a stunning stripy worktop when quartersawn like our kitchen worktops.

Hardwoods have a type of cell known as ‘vessel elements’ which aren’t present in softwoods. These cells run longitudinally through the wood and are larger than other surrounding cells, leaving distinct caveats in the wood known as pores. The dispersion of these pores dictates the distinctive look of zebrano’s grain, which includes medium to large sized pores with no specific arrangement.

SOURCING AND MANUFACTURE

image courtesy of guitarbench

Zebrano (or Microberlinia brazzavillensis) is found in West Africa, typically in the lowland forests of Cameroon and Gabon.

We make it a top priority to source wood that is not only hard wearing and eye-catching but also environmentally sound. We’ve conducted extensive research and gone through great lengths to make sure that our African timbers are sourced from legal, sustainable supplies. We will only ever deal with suppliers that promote proper environmental policies and re-planting schemes. To find out more about our environmental credentials, have a read of our ’Environmental Policy’ page. Worktop Express® fabricates and delivers solid wood worktops of the highest quality at exceptional prices. We have delivered over 150,000 worktops on more than 55,000 individual orders, and after years of hard work, are now considered experts in the field of solid wood. We deal directly with suppliers rather than using any third-party agents, allowing us to maintain close relationships with them and anticipate any issues that may arise; indeed, we visit our suppliers at least every three months to ensure that our high standards and expectations are being fulfilled. To find out more about this process, visit our ’Sourcing and Manufacture’ guide.

CONSTRUCTION

Whilst our standard worktops are manufactured from 40mm staves, our wide planked zebrano worktops are made from much fuller 90mm staves that run the entire length of the worktop to show off the wood in an unrivalled way. The result is a flawless worktop with a dramatic and stunning appearance.

Utilising our own rigorous specification for guidance, our European manufacturers work closely with us to ensure that the highest quality staves are chosen for our worktops, prioritising consistent and attractive staves free of manufacturing defects.

For further information on how our worktops are manufactured, visit our ‘Construction Types Explained’ information guide.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

• Tree Size: 40-50m tall, up to 1-1.5 m trunk diameter
• Density: 780 kg/m3
• Average Dried Weight: 805 kg/m3
• Janka Hardness: 8610 N
• Modulus of Rupture (bending strength): 122.8 MPa
• Elastic Modulus (‘stiffness’ of wood): 16.37 GPa

HISTORY

image courtesy of fauna-flora

Zebrano’s history is less familiar than many other hardwoods; however, because of the combination of its stunning grain pattern and innate durability, it has been used for a variety of furniture, instruments, ship building many other uses. Thin veneer slices of zebrano have also proved popular in recent years, having been used in high-end car interiors and flooring.

In traditional medicine in the Congo, zebrano leaves were pounded to a mush and rubbed on the body, as they were believed to have medicinal effects – particularly for treating rheumatism, arthritis and oedema of the legs. There is evidence of this wood being used to craft tools by the local ‘Baka’ people who constructed spears from the wood; they chose the zebrano because of its stiffness and apparent natural resilience to rotting.

In modern times, because of zebrano’s more limited availability, it is prized for fine furniture as well as our high-quality solid wood worktops.

PRICE

At Worktop Express® we go through great lengths to ensure that we can offer full stave zebrano and other A-grade hardwood worktops at the most competitive price possible. We have over 7,500 worktops held in stock at any one time, which means we’re able to deliver directly to the public and trade swiftly and efficiently using our own in-house delivery service.

We have integrated specialist online stock ordering systems that assist us in reducing the quantity of dead stock and wastage (which also reduces overheads). Using our ‘direct-to-public’ e-commerce business model, we’ve been able to drastically reduce costs compared to some of our competitors.

Our team work ceaselessly to bring a number of industry firsts to the market whilst ensuring that we continue to deliver the first-rate customer service for which we’ve become known. To ensure quality, we make trips to our European suppliers at least once every three months (in person – third parties or agents are never used). Worktop Express® are currently the largest importers of solid wood worktops to the UK, and also branched out into the German market in 2014 with the aim of becoming Europe’s leading online solid wood worktop specialist.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to see our worktops in person, then why not visit our showroom? We’re open 7 days a week and have a variety of our worktops and other solid wood products on show. Alternatively why not order a sample (or two)? Our samples are manufactured from actual worktop stock and unwanted offcuts that are sanded and oiled to give you a good indication of the finished product. Head over to our sample ordering page to pick up some for yourself.

Our full stave zebrano worktops are available from £365 for a 2m x 620mm worktop, with matching 3M upstands for only £130, and plinths for £135.

PERFECT FOR…

Full stave zebrano worktops are the perfect centrepiece for a modern kitchen, office or wherever else you might consider a sumptuous splash of wood. They are well suited to modern kitchen settings, and look especially effective when combined with dark contrasting coloured cabinets and stainless steel upstands and splashbacks. The extra-wide staves of plank style zebrano worktops also make this construction perfect for a contemporary dining table or office desk.

Visit our full stave zebrano worktops page to view more information on the available sizes; our exceptional work surfaces can be purchased online through a quick and easy order process.

Buy Full Stave Zebrano Worktops

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