During my years in the industry I have heard of Soapstone Countertops countless times but, never done any real research on them. I was again asked about my opinion on soapstone the other day and decided enough was enough, I needed to educate myself!
Here is what I found out:
Durability
Soapstone is a very durable surface much like granite and quartz. It is not affected by heat and is non porous so it won’t stain. However it can scratch and dent easier than granite and quartz but those scratches are easily fixed with sandpaper and mineral oil.
Maintenance
Unlike other stone surfaces soapstone does not need to be sealed, it is a non-porous surface and will not absorb liquids. It is not maintenance free however; soapstone should be regularly maintained with mineral oil to keep the natural beauty of the stone and to make sure that the natural darkening of the stone is done evenly.
Availability
Soapstone is available in many textures and sheens but unlike granite and quartz it has a very limited color selection. Soapstone ranges from light grey to a very dark green/almost black color. Some slabs can also show slight light grey veining. The plus side to the limited color selection is colors do not range dramatically from slab to slab which can happen with granite. This makes soapstone a good choice if your project requires multiply slabs.
