Why Soapstone Countertops Are a Unique Choice for Your Kitchen
The kitchen is truly the heart of the home – a place where comfort meets constant activity. It’s packed with essential infrastructure, from cooking zones to refrigeration and storage. Among these elements, countertops stand out as one of the most exciting choices in any kitchen remodel.
Soapstone countertops take the lead for low-maintenance, durability, and modern sensibilities
(Above) Sweeten homeowners Janet and Jerry install a soapstone countertop and backsplash
Why Countertops Matter
Arguably, countertops – along with your sink and faucet – are the most “hands-on” components of your kitchen. You interact with them dozens of times a day, making their quality and functionality paramount. Investing in high-quality materials here isn’t just about aesthetics; it’s about daily usability and lasting satisfaction. There’s simply no substitute for parts that stand up to constant use.
(Above) Soapstone countertop and backsplash in Sweeten homeowners Melissa and Russ’kitchen. Drainage is carved directly into the surface.
Why Choose Soapstone?
If you’re looking for a unique aesthetic that goes beyond the ordinary, soapstone countertops offer a distinct appeal. Known for their unique texture, varying colors, and an undeniable artisan feel, soapstone brings a timeless elegance to any kitchen design. For a deeper dive into why soapstone might be the perfect fit for your home, Sweeten offers an excellent exploration of its benefits and characteristics.
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What is soapstone used for?
First, soapstone is a real stone, and there’s no soap. It’s named for its relatively soft quality, as a major component of the stone is talc, the softest mineral. It comes out of a quarry in giant sheets, just like granite. Most soapstone in the U.S. comes from the Appalachian states, from Maine to Georgia.
This is the material often used for the benchtops in the chemistry lab in schools. That’s deliberate, and the attributes that make soapstone ideal for the lab also make it a top choice for the kitchen.
Soapstone is classified as either artistic stone or architectural stone. Artistic stone is used for decorative items, such as sculptures and jewelry, because it’s very soft and easy to carve by hand.
Pros and cons
In a wood stove, its thermal mass radiates heat comfortably for hours after the fire has died. This quality made it a top choice back in the day before we enjoyed “instant-on” heat in our homes. For countertops, its density makes it nonporous, so it does not harbor bacteria. Overall, soapstone is a very “easy care” material. It should be obvious that a stone used in a wood stove can handle a hot pan with no worries.
The downside, in comparison to granite or quartzite, is the relative softness. It’s not as chip resistant, and you can mark it by cutting directly on it, rather than on a cutting board. Soapstone mends easy though. If you nick it with a knife, fine steel wool or sandpaper smooths it out. Re-oil the entire surface as the finishing touch.
In addition, because it’s so dense, it’s impervious to moisture. In fact, it does not even need to be sealed. A light coat of mineral oil every few weeks works fine and gives it an attractive sheen. It’s up to you.
Compared to nearly any other material choice, soapstone offers the best stain resistance. Red wine and tomato sauce, for example, are notorious for staining just about anything. They don’t penetrate soapstone the way they can with marble and granite, which should be sealed regularly.
(Above) Close-up of Sweeten homeowners Janet and Jerry’s counter and backsplash
What colors does soapstone come in?
Aesthetically, soapstone colors are in the gray to black range. Some sheets come with some veining, but it’s often a solid black. There is definitely not the range of color options you’ll see with granite and synthetic materials. But if you like the gray and black colorways, you’re in luck!
Another bonus is the sink: you can have that seamless, one-piece look so your countertops and sink all look to be expertly carved from one massive block of stone!
Soapstone is definitely a first-tier option for countertops and sinks, despite it being relatively under-used. If you like the color options, you cannot go wrong with soapstone.
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