soapstone countertops

SOAPSTONE
COUNTERTOPS

For lovers of classic kitchen design and natural stones that can develop that charismatic patina through time, soapstone countertops are the right one for you. This mineral has the right blend of softness and toughness great for creating sculptures and countertops.

The natural and antique beauty of this stone is comparable to granite and slate. For those who are used with a classic design with low maintenance level, soapstone is the best choice for you.

Soapstone Kitchen Countertops

Aside from granite, slate, and quartz, soapstone is a good alternative for your kitchen countertops. The beauty is similar to granite but with hardness comparable with marble stones. Then again, this mineral has good resistance to heat and requires little maintenance and cleaning.

The hardness of this stone depends on its content of talc. The higher talc content, the softer is its texture and structure. Those soapstone with good durability contains talc content between 20 to 30 percent.

Soapstone Countertops colors

Unlike other mineral stones, soapstone comes in limited color options. Its typical color options are green, black, white, bluish gray, and gray. The veining of this stone is less compared to granite and marble.

Its surface oxidizes when in contact with air so it darkens over time. Oiling this stone must be done during the fabrication and installation process to facilitate the formation of patina. The oil helps in producing a rich dark tone on its surface.

Black Soapstone Countertops

Similar to marble and granite, black soapstone countertops have a glossy and vibrant black tone with uneven veining of white to light gray color. It projects subtle elegance to any kitchen and bathroom remodeling.

It is a good material to use for your waterfall, shower walls, vanity tops, kitchen walls and countertops, backsplashes, and floors. You can also use this stone with marble to save more and have good contrast.

White Soapstone Countertops

The whiteness and veinings of white soapstone countertops are similar to marble. The talc compound of this mineral contributes to its warm creamy white tone which gradually darkens through time.

The texture and veining of this stone are larger and more scattered compared to engineered stones. Veining colors can be light to a darker gray tone. Some stone yards offer high-quality soapstone with finer veining details and more durability.

Green Soapstone Countertops

Some soapstone countertops have the existing smooth light green color which darkens when you apply wax or oil over the surface. For other colors, this stone naturally oxidizes and develops that greenish tone over time.

It still has uneven ceilings which range from thin to thicker lines spread out over the surface. The color of its veins ranges from light green, light gray to darker green.
soapstone kitchen countertops

Soapstone Countertops Pros and Cons

It is wise to know the benefits and setbacks of this stone so you will have a more concrete idea if it is worth your time and investment. Aside from giving an excellent ambiance of warmth, below are the pros and cons of soapstone.

Pros
It is impervious to heat and scorching.

An excellent non-porous trait which contributes to its antimicrobial capacity

As time passes, it brings out outstanding antique beauty with its growing patina design

You can easily mend dents and scratches by sanding the surface and re-oiling after

It has good anti-stain abilities due to its non-porous trait

Cons
Its price is almost comparable to granite hitting at $100 per square foot

Soapstone countertops that are 6 feet or longer will tend to have noticeable seams

The color options are limited which are commonly light gray

You need to oil it periodically to develop its patina

It can be easily dented or scratched. Nevertheless, it is pliable which makes it more resistant to chips and cuts.

Soapstone VS Quartz Countertops

There are a few things to point out which sets soapstone and quartz apart. The former is natural stone while the latter is man-made. Below is a further discussion comparing these two minerals.

Design
Quartz have more refined and consistent veinings and texture compared to soapstone. You can have plenty of options for color and texture considering they can be customized during fabrication.

In contrast, soapstone offers a limited option of colors and designs to the market. Likewise, veinings and texture are limited like other natural stones. Nevertheless, the natural patina formed through time is priceless.

Durability
Quartz has a higher durability than soapstone. The former can better resist scratch, dents, and cuts, unlike the latter which has a softer structure. Unlike quartz, soapstone is more pliable so it still has substantial resistance to chips and cuts.

Heat Resistance
Soapstone has higher heat resistance compared to quartz. When hot saucepans are placed on top of the latter, black scorched spots easily develops.

Stain-Proof
Both minerals have good non-porous abilities, so they can fairly resist staining and bacterial growth with the presence of moisture in mineral pores.

Cleaning and Maintenance
Both require little maintenance and cleaning because of their non-porous nature. The main difference, soapstone requires periodic oiling so it can have a rich darker appearance. Both minerals do not need sealing maintenance, unlike granite and marble.

Soapstone VS Slate Countertops

Both minerals are metamorphic rocks but distinct differences can still be spotted between soapstone and slate countertops.

Design
Slate comes in more varied color and design options than soapstone. The former has the following color options – black, red, charcoal gray, white, brown, green, and blue. Meanwhile, soapstone usually comes in white, black, and green color.

Durability
Soapstone has comparable toughness with slate. Both can fairly resist chips, cuts, and scratches with the former more prone if talc content is higher.

Heat Resistance
No worries of placing hot saucepans over any of these two materials for they have good heat proof abilities. They will not scorch when exposed to light to medium heat levels, unlike quartz.

Stain-Proof
The two minerals have good non-porous abilities which can be linked to their excellent antimicrobial and stain-proof abilities. Unlike granite and marble, there is no need to do annual sealing maintenance for slate and soapstone countertops.

Cleaning and Maintenance
The two minerals require less cleaning and maintenance level because of their reliable non-porous trait. You just need to spray their surfaces with neutral soap dish solution and wipe dry with a clean non-abrasive cloth.

Soapstone Countertops VS Granite

These two are both natural stones with rare elegance and beauty to add in your kitchen and bathroom renovations. In terms of price and overall quality, granite has a better edge which comes with a higher upfront cost. If you want to have a comparable option for a lower cost, soapstone can be the best choice.

Design
For overall aesthetics, granite provides more dynamic and dramatic designs compared to soapstone. The latter has a few color options with a monochromatic tone yet easy to alter as an accent to your kitchen and bathroom remodeling. The typical color of soapstone is brown, white, black, green, and bluish gray.

Durability
Granite is a winner over soapstone when it comes to toughness and resistance to chips and cuts because of the mineral composition of the former. However, as talc composition decreases and replaced with polyester resins for soapstone, its hardness will improve.

Heat Resistance
Both minerals have good resistance against hot pans to resist the formation of burnt surfaces. Granite is an igneous rock so it can resist heat without a doubt. Meanwhile, Soapstone’s structure and mineral have innate heat resistance.

Stain-Proof
Soapstone has better stain-proof abilities than granite because of its innate non-porous trait. Granite needs to have annual sealing maintenance to keep good resistance against stain and bacteria.

Cleaning and Maintenance
Considering soapstone’s non-porous ability, it needs less cleaning and maintenance compared to granite. Soapstone has more resistance against acidic and basic solutions as well.
soapstone outdoor countertops

Soapstone Outdoor Countertops

Oftentimes, we find it common and boring to eat inside your home all the time. It is also a good idea to have a kitchen countertop outside your home. You can enjoy your sumptuous meal with the crisp air and warmth outside your home. Likewise, if you have plenty of guests, an outdoor kitchen countertop provides ample space for food preparation and dining.

Reasons to have Soapstone Outdoor Countertops
Good heat resistance to withstand the hot summer days

Natural color does not easily fade even with the harsh climate conditions

Excellent non-porous trait to withstand moisture exposure

Reliable stain-proof abilities for drinks and food spills

Affordable option than the most popular materials

Requires low maintenance and cleaning. You just need to periodically oil it to enhance rich dark texture

Countertop Maintenance

Despite being non-porous and stain-proof, soapstone and other natural stones still require sufficient maintenance to keep its beauty and well-being. The steps for cleaning and maintaining soapstone is simple and straightforward.

How to Care Soapstone Countertops

For your general care solutions, you can clean its surface by using a neutral dish soap solution and water. Spray a sufficient amount of this mixture on its surface and wipe it with a non-abrasive cloth.

This mineral gradually darkens and forms a patina over time. However, you can speed that up and ensure even darkening by applying mineral oil. If you notice its color lightening up, you can re-oil again. Typically, oiling can be done 1 to 3 months interval.

Aside from mineral oil, a good alternative is beeswax and linseed oil. An application of the mixture of these oils is equivalent to multiple applications of mineral oil.

For treating dents and scratches, you can use sandpaper to sand out those uneven surfaces. For deeper scratches, you can have 120-grit sandpaper for the first sanding process. After, use a 220-grit for the last finishing touches.

How to Clean Soapstone Countertops

The cleaning process of soapstone countertops is straightforward. You can just use a neutral soap solution and water, mix it inside a spray bottle. Spray this mixture to your countertop surface and wipe dry with a clean fabric.

Soapstone Countertops Cost

This mineral is a good affordable alternative to granite, marble, and quartz. The average price of soapstone is between $70 to $120 per square foot. If you are planning to have a 30-square foot soapstone countertop, the average cost excluding installation is $2,100 to $3,600. nevertheless, the cost is dependent on the quality, size, and supplier of soapstone.

For a 50-square foot soapstone countertop, your average cost breakdown is as follows.
– Material – $2,100 to $3,600
– Installation cost – $550 to $750
– Average total cost – $2,700 to $4,200
– Average cost per square foot installed – $54 to $84

Overall, soapstone is approximately 19%, 38%, 42% cheaper than granite, quartz, and marble, respectively.

Where to Buy Soapstone Countertops

There are plenty of stone yards and suppliers of natural stones in Chicago, but we are the best in providing customized and high-quality stones for kitchen and bathroom countertops.

We can provide you with an array of variations on soapstone, granite, quartz, quartzite, porcelain, marble, and engineered stones that suits your preference and need for home redesigning.

We guarantee your satisfaction with material and labor warranty on our professional installers and fabricators.

Do not hesitate to contact us anytime so we can help you get the best countertops installed for your home improvements and resale.
clean soapstone countertops

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