Welcome to our ultimate guide on beautiful soapstone countertops including a variety of kitchen design ideas.
This stone naturally contains talc, so compared to other stones like quartz or granite, soapstone is a softer material, which is why soapstone with high talc content is a popular material for sculptors. For countertops, the soapstone with lower talc content are recommended as they are more suitable for for interior & architectural applications.
Due to its natural beauty and durability soapstone is often used for applications such as countertops in the kitchen & bathroom, sinks and fireplace surrounds. Unlike many other counter types soapstone does not need to be sealed or stained, however many homeowners apply oil or wax to the surface at least twice a year to help keep it looking new.
Soapstone Countertops Pros and Cons
- Soapstone is non-porous, meaning unlike granite or other porous stones, you don’t need to seal this material constantly to keep it in shape.
- Because this material is so dense and non-porous, it doesn’t hold bacteria, doesn’t stain, and is very easy to clean.
- Unlike other materials with strict lists of cleaning agents that can be used, soapstone can easily be cleaned with soap and water or any all-purpose cleaner. Acids from lemons and other fruits won’t really affect the material.
- You don’t need to seal this material. A layer food-grade mineral oil is enough to maintain its sheen
- Easy to resand in case of chips or scratches
- Because it is soft, you can easily carve-in or fabricate features such as a drainboard, or even make an integrated sink using a piece of soapstone.
- Easy to DIY since you can cut it using diamond-tipped circular saw.
- Heat-resistant – so there is no worry cracking its surface when you put a hot pan on top of it.
- Can be used both indoors and outdoors
CONS:
- Price – soapstone can cost as much as premium-grade granite countertops, which is a harder material
- Its softness means it is prone to scratches and chipping (which can easily be remedied by sanding)
- It only comes in 7′ or 84″ lengths, so this means you’ll have to have more seams on your counter if you have a long run.
- It changes color over time – for some, it can be a pro instead of a con, but do keep it mind that soapstone naturally darkens over time. Adding mineral oil will help speed up this darkening process as well
- Colors are limited
Soapstone Countertops Cost
Depending on where your soapstone is sourced and its talc content, soapstone can range from $45 to $85 per square foot. This cost will be affected depending on your location, installation cost (if you’re using professional installers), thickness of your slab, configuration and other special fabrication needs (adding drain-boards, openings for built-ins, etc.
Installed, soapstone can cost around $60 on up to $105 per square foot. They are comparable to the cost of high end granite.
Soapstone Countertops Colors
Soapstone naturally comes in very limited colors, mostly in the shades of gray. The veining of soapstones varies from quarry to quarry an can vary from small to large. Although some might contain hints of blue or green, the dominant colors are usually white, gray or black. Always keep in mind that soapstone naturally darkens over time, so take note of that when selecting your soapstone color.
Black Soapstone Countertops
Soapstones are commonly found in black color with varying vein sizes and patterns, depending on the quarry of your soapstone. Most dark gray soapstones will darken to black over time, so do keep that in mind.
White Soapstone Countertops
Don’t expect a pristine white like quartz on soapstones. Most of white-background soapstones will have varying amounts of gray veins scattered along, so it would appear more light-gray overall than white. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to find a slab that has more white than gray.
Green Soapstone Countertops
Finland green soapstones are famous for this green talc color that gives that green tint to the soapstone. They come in varying shades of green as well.
Gray Soapstone Countertops
Gray soapstone often has striking white veins that look impressive and can provide a lighter backdrop. They can be used for island countertops, waterfall countertops and backsplash with great results.
Faux Soapstone Countertops
If you like the look of soapstone but don’t want to deal with the constant dents and scratches, then making a faux soapstone counter might be the best solution. First off, you can also consider soapstone which were already mixed with quartz. These alternative makes the soapstone harder, and therefore more suitable for kitchen counter use.
Otherwise, if you’re on a tight budget, you can just make a faux soapstone. There are different possible materials to do this, but among the popular ones are through laminates (can look obvious), using paint or using epoxy. If you’re DIY’ing, choose the method that best matches your current equipment and skill-set!
There are also many types of quartz countertops which can provide a similar appearance to soapstone.
Caring for Soapstone Countertops
DIY Soapstone Countertops
As soapstone is a soft material, it’s easier to cut than most other countertop surface materials, so it will save you costs if you have basic DIY knowledge. Here’s our simple recommended DIY method for cutting soapstone:
- Use a thin sheet of plywood to serve as a cut-out template. This way, any measurement mistakes will be minimized (and will be lest costly!). Once you get the plywood cut-outs finished, you can use these measurements as the cutting guide for the soapstone.
- Use a knife to score/mark the edges on the soapstone, using your plywood template as guide.
- Prepare your cutting table/surface. Make sure it is level to avoid chipping and damage to your stone.
- Use a circular saw or a jigsaw and attach diamond-tipped blades. Don’t forget to cover the sides of the saw blade with tape to avoid damaging the stone.
- Wear your safety gear and proceed cutting at half the thickness of the stone, the cut the remaining depth after. Bboth wet and dry cutting is possible.
- Sand the edges of the sandstone, starting with an 80-grit, increasing the grit gradually to smooth the surface.
- Optional: Add a layer of mineral oil to add sheen and darken the soapstone.
Soapstone Outdoor Countertops
For outdoor applications, soapstone is still a good choice. Its non-porous surface is ideal for the outdoors, as it will not absorb bacteria in its pores. This also makes it more resistant to moisture and weather-related damages.
Just always keep in mind that soapstone is softer than other common materials like granite, so do keep away from hard, heavy objects or any areas that exposes it to possible surface impacts, as the soapstone is easily chipped and dented.
Where to Buy Soapstone Countertops
Depending on your location, soapstone availability and types would vary. Most builder & hardware stores that carry other stones such as granite, would also probably have soapstone.
You can also search for soapstone or natural stone stores/specialists in your area for more selections and detailed recommendations and installation guides. Many stone suppliers can also deliver and accept orders online, so if time and convenience is an issue, a simple internet search will give you a list of suppliers around your area.
Soapstone Kitchen Countertop Ideas
This kitchen walks the line between light and dark with black soapstone countertops paired with a white soapstone counter island. The island itself has a dark gray base cabinet while the main kitchen cabinets are white. A white Arabesque tile backsplash helps to add cohesiveness and keep things looking bright.
There’s no such thing as white soapstone, according to the M. Teixiera Soapstone website. This is a different type of stone marketed as “soapstone” to unsuspecting customers. Other stones are also falsely labeled as soapstone and do not have the same properties, so people need to do their research.