I am planning to seal my heaves timber bench tops as soon as they come and then sealing cut surfaces as they are done. This is to avoid accidental staining or mould damage. Is this a good idea?
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @margoburl. It's amazing to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about sealing a Hevea benchtop.It's best to follow the manufacturer's directions for acclimatising and sealing your benchtop. If you were to purchase the Kaboodle 2400 x 600 x 36mm Hevea Timber Benchtop you'd follow Kaboodle's guidelines: "Before starting ensure all surfaces are sanded and sealed immediately after opening the packaging. Reseal any area cut with at least 2 coats of sealer paying special attention to the end grains in cutouts.". So, your intentions mirror Kaboodle's instructions.
Some manufacturers might have an acclimatisation period during which the panel is laid flat and allowed to adjust to the new environment. I trust the product you've purchased will come with detailed directions for you to follow.Please let me know if you have any questions.Mitchell