Soapstone Countertops Top Your Kitchen

Are you tired of seeing the same old counters every morning as you prepare yourself a cup if coffee?  Instead of redoing you countertops with the usual marble or granite, why not try soapstone countertops.  No matter if your kitchen is old-style or contemporary these countertops will fit in very well.  Their naturally rich darker colors will add warmth and beauty to your kitchen.

What Is A Soapstone Counter?

Soapstone is actually made out of a mineral called talc, not out of anything to do with soap, as its name implies, it’s just called that because of the soft feel that it has, that is similar to the feel of soap.   You’ll know someone has soapstone if  when you visited them five years age, they had light gray counters, but today their counters turned a darker gray- that’s one of the qualities of  this stone- it darkens with age.   If you don’t like that gradual change and you like the look of total even coloring, you can force the change to happen faster and more evenly by applying miner oil to it regularly.

You may be wondering what the real difference is between soapstone and other counters, and if you should go ahead and buy it.  So I’ll show you the pros and cons, and let you decide.

Soapstone Countertops Pros And Cons

We’ll start with the pros of these counters. Soapstone is a very durable material, and extremely heat resistant.  In fact, many  times ovens in pizza stores are made from this material, for that reason.   You will not have to worry about placing a very hot pot on this counter, thereby making your cooking experience easier and with less hassle.  Because of its durability and because of its natural chemistry, you will be able to use almost any cleanser on its surface, without worry about it’s deterioration.

Soapstone also does not stain easily, which is a very important factor in your kitchen, where you don’t want your countertops to look discolored, due to stains from foods such as blueberries or tomatoes.

Ok, so now for the cons.  If  you’re looking for counters that require little or no maintenance, then soapstone is not for you.  For the first year, you will have to treat the countertop monthly with mineral oil.  After that, it will require treatment only every few months.  Because of it’s softer surface, these counters are more easily chipped and scratched then other surfaces, so using your countertop as a cutting board is not a good idea.

To get rid of the scratches, you’ll need to sand it down, using some good old elbow grease until it looks as good as new.   Before purchasing these countertops you need to keep in mind that the color gets darker with time.  Although many are attracted by this feature, others are not because they find that the darkened colors no longer match their kitchen.  Opting for black soapstone countertops is one solution, as that obviously won’t get any darker  Another concern is that soapstone countertops prices can considerably exceed that of other kinds of countertops, for several reasons.

Cost Of Soapstone Countertops

Soapstone countertops cost more then other materials, and if you have a tight budget, this may not be an option.  Also keep in mind that if  the surface cracks, you will have to replace the entire slab that covers that particular counter, which can wind up costing you a pretty penny.   One solution to this potential problem is to opt for soapstone tile countertops.  In the event that there is some cracking, you will only have to replace the individual tiles that were damaged.

Soapstone counter top prices are based on the size, weight, and thickness of  the piece.  There is additional cost for  the backslash and decorative finishing.  There are discount soapstone countertops available, and with the proper  shopping around, you may be able to find something suitable for you.

Another option is DIY soapstone countertops.  It is much easier to do it yourself with soapstone, as opposed to other materials, because the stone itself is softer and easier to work with.

So, now that you have the facts laid out for you, good luck deciding on your new kitchen.  If you choose to use the beautiful soapstone, you’ll be sure to enjoy its natural look and feel for many years.