So now that you decided to add a new soapstone counter for your new home, you should probably get acquainted with some of the maintenance which is required to keep soapstone counter looking attractive and new.  A new kitchen counter made from soapstone requires a little more maintenance than most other materials like granite or marble.  However, the look and beauty of this natural stone make the extra work definitely worthwhile. If a soapstone countertop is properly cared for and maintained, it can last for the lifetime of the home.

Typical Soapstone Counter

Your first option is simply not do a thing.  Time causes soapstone, which is normally a grayish-blue color, to slowly darken from regular use.  It is nothing to see a soapstone counter or a soapstone sink to become a natural darkened shade.  If your stone becomes marked, the softness of the stone allows you to either rub it out with dry paper towel and some elbow grease or you can use a small piece of light grit sandpaper, causing it to return to the original gray-blue color.

Your second option for proper soapstone countertop maintenance is to make sure it is properly sealed.  I recommend using a standard mineral oil which can be purchased in any home improvement store. Begin by rubbing a little bit onto the stone and then wipe off any excess.  The oil will darken all the stone tenfold to near a black color.  After some time, mineral oil will need to be re-applied to the soapstone counter about every four to eight weeks.  This keeps the countertop uniform in color as the oil evaporates.  Let’s say after a few years you get tired of the black color and wish to have your counters back to original soapstone grayish blue color.  You simply can achieve this from some sandpaper and a few hours of time.

You’re final option in soapstone counter care is to use a stone sealant.  This doesn’t have the same effect on soapstone as it does with granite.  Stone sealers are made to penetrate granite and marble.  Soapstone doesn’t allow anything in so the sealer can’t get down into the stone like it normally would with marble or granite.

There are two types of sealers to choose from.  The first changes the color of the soapstone to make it appear as if it was oiled. Once the sealer dries, it keeps the material looking dark and oiled for close to three years and sometimes more.  The other sealer causes the natural soapstone color to remain unchanged while also protecting your soapstone counter from changing colors.  This sealer should be re-applied once a year.

Many think of it simply as a rock; if they only realized how incorrect they are about this stone. Soapstone is a wonderful material perfectly suited for the interior of a home.  It’s soft and warm to the touch feel makes it a must-have for your kitchen.  Can you picture having a soapstone counter which is smooth, slippery, and silky while also being nothing short of breathtaking?

Soapstone is a traditional and old fashioned natural stone that combines a warm and inviting look with the functionality for today’s modern kitchen. Charming, rustic, and rich soapstone sinks have been used for centuries in our homes. It is a simple and subtle stone giving off a feeling of grounding and harmony.

So, what exactly can soapstone be used for? The question should be where to start?  Soapstone has a multitude of different kitchen uses.  Because of its heat retention, soapstone stoves are big sellers as well as fireplace hearths, wood stoves, masonry fireplaces, and pizza ovens.  You also don’t need to look to hard to find kitchens designed with a soapstone sink, a soapstone counter, island tops, and even soapstone shower stalls. Since, this is such a soft stone, it is very easy to carve and work with. There aren’t too many places in a kitchen where you can’t use soapstone.

Taking one look at the brilliant colors of soapstone counter and it’s easy to see why it’s such a popular choice among new homes.  It’s rich and beautiful, conveying calmness and serenity. What kitchen wouldn’t want that?  The colors range from a light ash gray to smoky blue-grays and even a rich, charcoal black. You’ll find that many soapstone stoves have flecks of green and blue scattered throughout which looks brilliant in contrast to the veins twisting throughout the stone.

You’ll often find a soapstone countertop available in either a honed or matte finish. Since soapstone is a soft stone, a polished or shiny finish is not possible.   Along with being heat resistant for items right out of the oven, like pots and pans, soapstone is also quite stain resistant to hot grease and oil once sealed with a silicone-based chemical. A soapstone counter has a cool polished surface that makes it ideal for rolling out pastry dough.

One last benefit of adding soapstone to your kitchen is its durability.  Soapstone can last many lifetimes if treated with the proper care.  It is a soft stone, softer than other natural stones. However, it doesn’t burn, isn’t porous, won’t stain, and acids won’t etch it, either. If you are looking for a traditional rustic look for your kitchen, take my advice and try soapstone.

Various Types of Soapstone

People have always been looking for the best for their homes.  Knowing this, it’s easy to understand why then soapstone has been used throughout the world for thousands of years as tools, carafes, vases, goblets, sculptures, fireplaces, etc. Currently, soapstone is used for a huge variety of everyday items such as soapstone stoves, stair treads, window sills and island tops.  It’s quickly becoming a popular choice by designers and architects. It’s one of a kind, unique texture and look make soapstone one of the most aesthetically pleasing stones for the inside of your home.

The actual soapstone is quarried pretty much the same way as granite and marble is. It is a steatite stone with primary components of magnetite, dolomite, chlorite, and talc.  The stone often ranges in age from 300 to 400 million years old depending on the geographical region the stone is quarried from. The talc in soapstone is quite soft to the touch, which gives soapstone that smooth feeling of rubbing a piece of dry soap which is where the stone’s name came from. While these qualities make it perfect for a soapstone counter, I wouldn’t try washing with it anytime soon.

Pure soapstone is inert which means alkalies and acids won’t affect it as they would harm granite, marble, or slate. For centuries, science class rooms and labs have taken advantage of this and used a soapstone sink and soapstone counter to clean their instruments.  The longevity for continued, high traffic use makes soapstone a very durable building material.

Soapstone holds remarkable, natural heat retention characteristics which are why it is widely used for masonry heater fireplaces, wood stoves, soapstone stoves and ovens to make the most delicious pizzas. Soapstone fireplaces heat very quickly from burning coal, pellets or wood, that then slowly radiates heat very evenly for hours on end, even after the fire has long gone out.

Upon installation of a soapstone countertop, many experts recommend sealing the stone with a mineral oil or stone sealer. The mineral oil brings out a beautiful and dark richness to the stones natural color while also acting as a protective sealant. Mineral oil should re-applied to the stone every once and awhile. Sealers, on the other hand, remain for quite a while longer than the mineral oil, so reapplication isn’t as frequent.

Soapstone is perfect for achieving a warm old fashioned, rustic, early American look.  The stone is also versatile enough that it can be implemented into today’s very modern designs.