Don’t Let The Beauty Fool You
Soapstone has a delightfully rustic feel to it and is perfect for homey kitchen designs. It has a “silky” look and feel that makes it feel “softer” and inviting for many projects. It is great for industrial-look designs. It may feel “silky” but it is often used in labs due to its resistance to acid and heat along with being non-porus.
The “eye” of the artisan is imperative when working with Soapstone. Its beauty is simple with understated qualities that add warmth to your kitchen.
Soapstone contains talc and this accounts for the softer feel and silky appearance Soapstone’s color spectrum can be affected by oiling and waxing the surface. When oiled it can begin as a light grey color and go all the way to dark grey/black.
Oiling or waxing Soapstone enhances the natural aging process and gives it a more consistent appearance over the whole countertop. Soapstone will naturally darken over time as well.
A family run business – Martina & Karl Groeger
The Wonder of Soapstone
But…..
You have to be prepared to “baby” your new countertop a bit. In the beginning, you may have to oil your Soapstone a few times a month and taper off as it ages. Use cutting boards and be careful of dropping heavy pans on it.
A bit of vigilance will ensure your family a heritage quality countertop your friends will envy and you will love.
Click here for your Soapstone Care Guide from Polycon our trusted supplier.
So, how do you decide if the homey chic and “WOW” factor of Soapstone is for you?
- Looking for a “hard and super tough option”
- A wide variety of color options.
- Or a high polish, shiny surface
Then Soapstone is probably not for you.
However, if….
- You are looking for a beautiful surface that can be used in any kitchen design but excels in older homes and heritage look projects then it could be for you.
- If you are a baker and need non-porous, wipe and go countertops. It is acid and heat-resistant as well.
- If you are looking for potentially cost-effective stunning results
Other Points to Consider
Soapstone is a viable choice for your kitchen. It has different levels of hardness depending on its talc content. Less talc means a harder stone that is more suitable for kitchen countertops and the wear and tear they endure.
Soapstone is non-porous, this means no sealant is needed and spills of wine are not going to stain your countertops. For dark rich color you oil or wax it more frequently in the beginning but that regime lessens over time. Soap and water are all the cleaning necessary for this remarkable stone.
Soapstone starts at a mid-level price and then goes up from there. Pricing may depend on where it is quarried (Brazil vs North America for example). We often work with Alberene Soapstone quarried by Canadian company Polycor in Virginia USA.
As stated above, Soapstone will darken over time as a patina develops. Some people love this and some do not. Be aware this WILL happen when deciding if Soapstone is for you.
You will need to contact Martina to see samples of this wonderful stone.
The final decision is up to you. There are pros and cons for every type of countertop. The secret is a quality product, milled by incredibly passionate artisans and installed with old-world attention to detail.
