We are remodeling an old home and would like to use old hard-maple floor boards to create a unique, vintage-looking countertop for our kitchen. Our carpenter will be sanding the boards and jointing them together. My question is about what finish to use. Do I need to be concerned about using a poly-eurothane finish on a countertop? Could it be toxic or flammible near a stove? I want the polished look and the hard surfice to resist stains. Would do you recommend? Will these old maple floor boards look any different than maple butcher block?