Butcher Block Comparison - IKEA vs. Hardwood Reflections 

“Same price” but i see the karlby at 135$ and yours at 267$…

Lol this dude. Love the "non-biased" comparison.

So glad I saw this. Saved me the time of discovering the big problem with Ikea counters.

Thank you for this! After seeing all the IKEA PC desks, I wanted my own. I had reservations about the Karlby, I knew it was pressboard. I didn't want to plane down a bunch of 2x4s to DIY a top either. Now I'm buying your countertop for sure. Aloha.

This guy reminds me of Roy from the office lmao

great video!! just thinking of buying this ikea Block for desk, now I can forget about Ikea, thanks a lot!!

Definitely buying ikea after seeing this... offensively disingenuous video. "These cost the same". No, they don't. Not even close. $160-$220 cdn for a karlby 8 foot. $370-750 for hardwood reflections. You are basically saying "buy our more expensive thing". Yes, we all know the ikea is a surface only, it says it on the box, it does not say butcher block. That's why its cheap! It fills the gap between plastic laminate, and solid countertops. ikea used to sell real butcher block, for about half the price of yours, but it's no longer available, at least in part because it is not really a stable product in a kitchen. Laminated edge grain work surfaces (butcher block is end grain), what you'll find in a restaurant are usually much ticker, and continually maintained and redressed to keep it flat and stable and bluntly, they really dont care what it looks like. It's there because it wont damage knives. Thin mislabeled "butcher block" like yours is trendy garbage and will be tossed out in the next kitchen remodel which will come sooner than later. The ikea karlby will probably last longer provided it is used as intended.

IKEAs butcher block is finished as well for a lower price. Most butcher blocks you need to purchase, you need to finish yourself

This was great. Actually got here from Home Depot looking for a counter. You guys do an especially good job with these vids.

IDK from where you got that they cost the same. I got the karlby 74" (oak/veneer) for $109.00 US Dollars. If you go to homedepot online right now you will find Hardwood Reflections for $109.00 but is the 48" (4ft). If you want to use it for a desk (gaming pc, etc), go for Ikea.

I just bought the ikea, I’ll get back after a few months. I chose IKEA because I want to use any cleaner that’s antibacterial on it.

Thank you so much!! I dodged the bullet thanks to this video. I hate those particle-filling countertops. Much appreciated!

Shouldnt you use the getron instead of the karlby. We all know karlby is only veneer

might be a dumb question but, which of the 2 is more solid and less prone of bending. the ikea one once cut seems "cheap" because it's not solid wood.

good to know. Thank you!!

Think I'll go with this for a desk rather solid wood just need to find a already finished one at 74in length

What kind of solid wood is this? Name wood ?

I’ve been planning on getting 2 karlby countertop 74” from ikea to assemble them to an L shape desk, the only problem is I don’t have enough room and was planning on cutting one down to maybe 54”, would that be a problem or no? Would really love someone’s input

Thank you sir, i almost made a mistake

Your prices are way better given that its wood most ikea countertops bend as with time the particle boards in the core cant keep up with SOLID WOOD . I am surprised you even have to compete with IKEA as there is no comparision ! one is fake wood topped with veneer and another is SOLID hardwood with alternating wood grain pattern to prevent bending. THERE NEEDS TO BE MORE videos like these out there as you will find lots of people not knowing the quality of an ikea and believing they have hard wood in their kitchen . I AM ROOTING for you ! grt products ....we need you to get the word out more !

thanks i wish the hardware reflections had walnut like the ikea

Most disingenuous comparison I've ever seen. Not a good look for your company.

We got the IKEA for our Rv because it’s a bit lighter weight. We are going to need to use the edge sticker thing though because we need to cut an angle for the front. I just hope it sticks OK.

In Canada the 98 inch Hardwood Reflections countertop is $545 whereas the Ikea countertop is $280, same length. Anywhere else to buy your products other than Home Depot?

I would love to get a Hardwood Reflections butcher block, but I have no place to finish it due to a small apartment and gassing. I wish they had options for pre-sealed and more options for sizes.

Is it a big deal to use it unfinished for a pc desk? What is the easiest fasting way to finish it? Where I dont have to sand maybe?

Here I thought the Ikea one was real wood... I'm wanting the walnut for a computer desk, after seeing that it's particle board or whatever it is I'm not a bit apprehensive about it. It probably would be fine I'm not going to have a huge gap between my 2 end compartments, but the thought of having real wood just appeals more to me. The Ikea ones always out of stock, but I'd probably end up trying to get it anyways

Would have been a better comaprison if you'd have compared your product against the Ikea GERTON solid beech block counter top, would have made a fairer comparison and also would have exactly the same benefits over a veneer'd product. I guess in that case with both products being basically identical Ikea would win as there offering is only 1/5 of the price or less!

Question......I saw you cut a 45 and a straight through the depth. I bought these countertops, but one is a few inches too deep. Is it ok to cut in that direction?

😕somebody is self-promoting his company here... 🧐 price is NOT the same $378 for your wood sandwich-style butcher block versus $249 for the IKEA thick veneer top// your tops are sold in Home Depot as only 25 inches deep, versus much more standard of 25.5 inches of IKEA tops !!! 1/2 inch does make a difference when it comes to overhang or solving issues of uneven back walls !!!!!// your tops are sold only in ALDER wood around here, quite softer than OAK or WALNUT thick veneers used on IKEA tops ??!!! IKEA-provided edges are BAD, but since you are cutting the tops, you can always cut a 1/8" or even 1/4 " strip of OAK or Walnut wood and glue it to the cut edge with exterior wood glue!!!!! not a big issue there... BOTH of these tops are prone to water damage and water stains IF NOT TREATED PROPERLY!!! /// YOUR full solid wood strips tops will be heavier and harder to cut/// Your solid wood tops will be more prone to cracking and splitting due to many glued join lines/// IKEA tops will be more susceptible to swelling due to water penetration, especially in cut areas//// ETC.. ETC... STOP self-promoting here for self-profiting from videos like this one..... NOT APPLE TO APPLE comparison... definitely not the same apples we are looking at here??!!!

This Hardwood Reflections stuff is no more a true butcher block than the IKEA. Real butcherblock is built end up so a knife separates fibers on the surface rather than cutting the fibers. If you are just making a table top or a basic, non-custom countertop, the IKEA is actually better. First, they DON'T cost the same. Compare equivalent sizes and you'll see the solid wood is more expensive. Second, if Hardwood Reflections was culling out all pieces with knots, they might have a stronger product, but then it would cost much more so they don't. Third, the solid wood is going to warp and twist eventually, even with good maintenance, which few people are going to do anyway. Fourth, the IKEA product is better for the environment, since all but the top 1/4" layer can be made with new-growth wood or by-products from other wood-processing industries. I wouldn't use the IKEA for a kitchen countertop in a kitchen that doesn't get careful daily cleaning and there's really no good way to install an undermount sink in it, but for all other purposes, the IKEA product is a winner.

Are you TRYING to look ignorant or something? You say stupid crap like "some sort of paper" and "put a bunch of kind of wood here and compressed it". First, it's hardboard, because it's more water resistant, and the core is particle board, both of which you already know (I hope). You're also not comparing butcher blocks, you are comparing countertops. The Karlby is not a butcher block, it's veneer, and Ikea isn't the only ones that do veneer... Ikea USED to sell a butcher block, that would have been a relevant comparison. The Karlby is also much cheaper than yours if you choose the same type of wood. The veneer is also not like that of plywood, it's actually very thick veneer, and it's real wood not "fake looking wood stickers". Do real comparisons instead of just trying to attack brands which makes your brand look bad. To anyone who has done any sort of woodworking, you look really unintelligent with this video.

Hello I would like to begin making some custom furniture such as homemade desk and counters. These are great. Better to DIY with full hardwood rather than mess with particle board. What do you a guest I get if I wanted to get unfinished acacia and stain and seal for a desk. I have no wood working supplies but have a desk base I can use.

Pretty sad workmanship. No guide for the saw and routing in the wrong direction???

... also, "eff" hardwood. Have you ever seen the land that it was ripped out of?? Are you ok with that??

I can't trust anything this salesman says if he thinks that is mdf

I Bought yours, i knew that Ikea Crap was just a laminate with particle board. Thanks for the Great product and Great Price! Im staining mine right now with General Finishes WATER BASED DYE STAIN Ebony and gonna put there High Performance Gloss on top, and Mount to a Vivo Electric Desk. Thank You

Man your the exact video I was looking for cause I have to cut wood to fit my space and the way the ikea stuff look it’s bad and not worth purchasing it hardwood reflections has my buy frfr

Now that you're done trying to sell product to people instead of being honest about your comparable can you also let people watching this know that regular full wood that is 1 and a half inches thick is GOING TO WARP SUPER FAST compared to the Ikea creation that they actually put time and testing into so that they're 100% sure that the product they sell is stronger and lasts longer than the knot filled, quicker to warp, 100% just checked today MORE expensive, 100% grade A butcher block you are selling? The ikea karlby is being used by tons and tons of computer gamers for desks because the regular wood (yours) doesnt hold the same weight without bowing, warping, and in some cases eventually snapping at a knot which your company isnt going to send out a new countertop for every one that cracks at a knot.... "Wood strength in knots can be assessed in two ways: tensile strength and compressive strength. These measurements allow us to predict how much load (weight) wood can safely bear before collapsing. Tensile stress elongates or expands an object. Compressive stress shortens or compresses the material. Since knots are defects that weaken lumber, this weakening effect is more serious when the lumber is subjected to forces perpendicular to the grain and/or tension than when under load along the grain and/or compression. Please note that the extent to which wood knots affect the strength of wood depends on their position, size, number, and condition." Ikea has a stronger than wood counter top that has zero knots = zero chance of snapping at a knot... And it costs less at $249 for the walnut vs your $329 REAL WOOD that has lots of weak points. If you're going to compare products COMPARE with facts so you don't look like you're trying to take people for a ride to make millions partnered up with Home Depot. Ikea made a great demonstration on their Karlby that you should watch. What Ikea didn't do was compare their product to yours and tell people that your product was 24% more expensive than theirs. Thanks

this video is misleading and unfair. Lots of viewers probably won't bother, now, to find out that some Ikea butcher block is SOLID WOOD. You cleverly were careful to name the exact board you picked but did not make clear that this isn't Ikea's only option. I have the Ikea solid wood butcher b in my kitchen, so I know. You compared apples to oranges.

This is not a fair comparison. They need to compare IKEA butchers block that is solid one, not the chipboard one. Comparison has to be apple to apple comparison type product.

which one can last in a full bathroom on a vanity?

This isn't basis at all... unless you are going to router Ikea is the clear choice as the price is not even close

Totally wish I found this video 2 years ago before i purchased an IKEA butcher's block..

that wood is nice and all, but my like is for those boots you're wearing! lol

I'd buy ur butcher block but I'm in the UK 🥺

Give me a top thats 74x25x1.5 for the same price as a karlby and ill go with you but your prices are not the same 😂

Next time compare the solid walnut KARLBY, not the chipboard KARLBY. This is just a desperate advert. 🙄