A well constructed tabletop will have "Breadboard" ends which incorporate a "floating" mortise and tenon joint, just as they did centuries ago. This technique ensures that the top will remain flat indefinitely. Tabletops without this difficult and time-consuming feature are far more likely to cup (warp) and check (crack) through the years.

My tabletops are held down to the table with hand cut wood "buttons", a traditional method which allows the top to expands and contract with seasonal moisture changes. The modern method of just screwing it down does not allow for these movements which will cause the table to literally pull itself apart. A quick look under the table will reveal how the top is mounted.

Breadboard Tabletops
Handcut Maple Buttons Allow for Seasonal Movement	Factory Assembled Tabletop (Screwed down to the skirt)	Finished Piece (With the breadboard pinned in place)
Floating Mortise & Tenon Breadboard (Prior to assembly)