SOAPSTONE COUNTERTOPS | Your questions answered!

It's time to take a look at soapstone countertops, our first natural stone countertop of the series. Soapstone is somewhat of a forgotten choice these days, but it provides some serious benefits over other options.
Non-porous ✅
Beautiful ✅
Heat resistant ✅
What's not to love? Let's talk soapstone countertop pros and cons!
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:53 What is soapstone?
1:52 Is soapstone durable?
3:30 What are the benefits of soapstone countertops?
5:37 What are the downsides to soapstone?
9:20 Soapstone countertop maintenance
10:16 Is soapstone environmentally friendly?
11:39 Is soapstone right for you?
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Installers in video: ‪@GardenStateSoapstone‬
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[@number6396]

I installed soapstone 20 years ago, then moved, and am using it again. It never cracked, stained or scorched. Placing hot pans was fine. Red wine fine. It did patina but I did not care. Patina gave it a warm, vintage look. Mineral oil made it fresh and shiny for a fancier look! I had young kids and it was never damaged. The island had a 22" overhang (that's big) and we could stand on it. The soapstone did scratch and get dinged edges (mostly around the sink. Edges were softened square). However, all I had to do was sand it with fine sandpaper. When other surfaces got chipped/dinged (I had marble, granite and travertine elsewhere) I had to call the fabricator to fix it (or replace) and that always hurt the wallet. I did not know about the talc percentage effecting hardness and maybe I was lucky with the slab I had. I had soapstone as my fireplace surrounds and it helped radiate the heat into the room. It was wonderful. It appropriately conducts heat and cool. It is expensive (not as much as quartzite) and doesn't come in white (which is popular today). In 20 years I never saw soapstone in anyone other home and I liked that. When I sold my home it added no resale value. Most buyers are ignorant and have no idea what it is! IMO it goes in any style home - farmhouse, lake house, contemporary, traditional, etc. and the cabinets and lighting dictate overall style.

[@hsdesignstudio]

You have precisely nailed the reasons why soapstone sits at the top of my list in our next home. When we renovated this kitchen, it was out of the budget and didn't really make sense in the home (especially seeing as how this house will be a tear down in 10-15 years). Quartz suited us and the budget. But I think the best thing about moving or renovating, is that you typically will do it more than once in a lifetime.

[@sbell9989]

There is also a non-shiny Dry Wax for Soapstone if you don't want to use mineral oil but if you wipe off the mineral oil well, it leaves very little shine and no residue. You only have to use the oil or wax in the beginning. My Soapstone is 20+ years old and haven't needed to oil or wax it for a long time. My only complaint is that because we have very hard water you notice some mineral deposits by the faucet after awhile. A fine grit mesh cloth or "Barkeepers Friend Cooktop Cleaner" (also great for water spots on shower doors...unless they are already etched...nothing helps that) followed by Dry Wax or oil does a pretty good job. I also dinged a few places, I just dot it with a matching color Sharpie and it disappears. I believe my stone variaty is Marina. I would choose Soapstone again. I am a food stylist and throw a lot at it. I love that it does not stain.

[@scrillathekid5562]

Seriously considering soapstone. There aren’t many great soapstone videos. Yours is definitely in the top 3. Thanks

[@hsdesignstudio]

Thank you! 👍

[@brandonwc]

Have had soapstone countertops for 10 years, and it looks the same as the day it was installed. Maybe we lucked out and picked a very hard slab. No dulling, scratches or dents. I don't know how we'd function in a house without this countertop, because we are so used to beating the crap out of our countertop. Hot pots and pans can be put anywhere, wine or tomato sauce sitting on it overnight when we are lazy and don't clean up before bed. Even had a battery sitting on the counter behind something, and it oozed all of it's battery acid out onto the counter. Came off with a magic eraser without any sign that it ever happened.

[@hsdesignstudio]

This is awesome! This is why I've said in my dream kitchen, our next house, I'm going with soapstone. I don't even mind if I wind up with scratching or nicks- just adds character.

[@bg5322]

3years and i still love my soapstone every day

[@509cougs]

I love my soapstone countertops. I've had them for about 15th years and they are as stunning as the day they were installed. Yes, they scratch and knick alittle, and I do put mineral oil on them every month or so, but I like that patina.

[@hsdesignstudio]

I love the patina as well. This is why in our next home and a different budget, I will likely go this route

[@marialane1805]

I decorate Early American. Soapstone is the only option for us! I find it absolutely beautiful! Thank you for such an informative video!

[@hsdesignstudio]

Thanks for watching!

[@AimEmery]

I love my blackish greenish Brazilian soapstone countertop. Have had 4 years. Heres the maintenance: Mineral oil keeps it looking great. Learned not to drag heavy objects over it. I dab with black magic marker when we get a ding and then a rub with paper towel and the ding ‘goes away’. Love it a lot. Its really minimal maintenance and very beautiful. ❤

[@bobbert1945]

I love my soapstone countertops. I got them 10 years ago, because I fell in love with my neighbors' then 20, now 30 year old soapstone countertops. i initially put mineral oil with a little beeswax (Boos mystery oil) on it, to get it evenly dark, and skip the whole slow patina process. If soap sits on it, it will lighten in that area, but it takes about 5 seconds to wipe some more butcher block oil on it. I clean it by spraying some diluted pine-sol on it, then wiping clean.

[@missyb7311]

We are planning a kitchen with soapstone. I have a little desk area. I’m concerned about the oiling/waxing on a surface where I often have papers. It drops down and is in a corner so I could definitely do a different surface there. Anyone with soapstone still watching/commenting?

[@jenniferdineen5254]

Great video. Very thorough and fair.

[@hsdesignstudio]

Thank you

[@j10001]

Many thanks for this video!

[@5610winston]

I've always hears Mohs pronounced like the possessive form of the lead Stooge's name: Moe's. I have this from several geology professors and earth science teachers, and the linguistic phenomenon of vowel shift. By the way, talc is often associated with asbestiform inosilicate and phyllosilicate minerals, although you will also find similar silicate minerals in granites and some marbles as well.

[@hsdesignstudio]

Thanks for the pronunciation, I've heard it both ways. However, I'm sure known of them knew the right way either. You are also correct about that second half. You are also correct about talc, and actually the processing of many natural stones can lead to problems for workers after decades of cutting and breathing in the dust.

[@stacydavidson7353]

Very helpful video! Thank you 🙏🏼

[@hsdesignstudio]

Thanks for watching!

[@ABCBom4thgen]

You'd be surprised on the cost it really depends on how much square foot you're using and if your fabricator is sourcing it directly from the vendor. And where that vendor is sourcing it. If you have a good understanding of how supply chain works you can call and ask all the questions and people will probably tell you things that are considered proprietary. But it's really good negotiating power. Additionally I got quotes from over 20 places because I asked a vendor for a list of local fabricators. And I was really surprised at how many fabricators were willing to bump the price down because they wanted to work on my kitchen because I rarely have people ask for soapstone and because sometimes they end up taking out soapstone and putting in granite from people who don't understand soapstone. As far as maintenance goes, I would consider them in the same category as butcher block actually maybe even a little bit easier. The oily feeling actually goes away if you wipe the excess off with a flour sack towel after it sits for an hour or two. Unlike granite and other sealed stones, you don't really need to worry about streaking or ruining the resin. Also it's nice not to use resin. The scratching really doesn't happen unless you're the kind of people that like to chop veggies directly on the countertop. Any scratching, which honestly you'd be surprised at how little it actually scratches in comparison to what a sales person may warn you of, can actually easily be repaired with fine steel wool in my experience, which is gentler than most sand papers. And the oil part, you can lift any uneven splotches of oil with a flour sack towel or if you need more help, gauze, and a tiny bit of dawn and hot water, or isopropyl alcohol. Also the seams can be almost distinguishable if you've got a good fabricator and you communicate and advocate at final measure and install. I wish there was a way to anonymously share my experience because there is so much you can do to customize your hope if you just have the drive to keep asking questions and get to the bottom of things. I've learned so much!

[@hsdesignstudio]

Oh don't get me wrong- soapstone would be my first choice (and likely will be in our forever home) when it comes to natural stone countertops. However, when it comes to cost, I have yet to ever find them cheaper than any other natural stone option.

[@j10001]

Super useful comment! Thank you

[@paulcarroll5971]

The only two operational quarries in North America are in Alberene, Virginia, and our quarry is in Eat Broughton, Quebec.

[@Card_Crazed]

my daughter did some research, and what you want for counter top is Architectural Soapstone. This is the less talc end of the spectrum, but will hold up better in the long run. you DO NOT WANT sculptural soapstone, as this is the softest soapstone, made for sculpting. We were considering using soapstone in our future kitchen reno. Our area is not in an area where natural stone can be used in a kitchen, so we are going with a laminate instead, which is common to our area of town.

[@hsdesignstudio]

That is correct- I have never seen anything but architectural soapstone at a fabricator, which is why I didn’t dive to far into those details. It is definitely a discussion to have with your fabricator before purchase though.

[@lenormand4967]

@@hsdesignstudio Can soapstone be used in huge pieces for role in shower walls and built in seats?

[@tracydas2523]

Thank you! Soapstone is on our short list for our renovation planned for 2025. I am planning well in advance

[@hsdesignstudio]

It's good to plan in advance! I wish more people would do it haha

[@racheldick3056]

Very smart

[@joyspear-smith7567]

About 5 years ago I chose soapstone to be on my counters while I used quartzite on my island. I love the soapstone overall and I prefer using wax over mineral oil on it when I want it to be darker and have a nice sheen. It always goes back to a dark matte gray after about a week but I really like that look with my white quartzite island.

[@deanauhrig1170]

Hi Joy, We just installed soapstone on our island (with white quartzite on our perimeter...so opposite you), I like the honed look of it now, does wax leave it shiny or does it still have a honed/matte look after you wax it? And do you mind sharing what wax you use? Thanks so much!

[@joyspear-smith7567]

@@deanauhrig1170 so I use Clark’s Stone & Concrete Wax most of the time. My counters look a little shiny and much darker for a few days to maybe a week after the application but they always go back to the more matte/honed look.

[@Herr2Cents]

I love soapstone

[@stevie_jean1953]

Thanks for this! Thinking of getting soapstone, I have 5 kids all very young and a factor on what I'm going to get. But still liking soapstone and the story it well tell once my kids are gone.

[@hsdesignstudio]

I do love soapstone. But I also love not having to worry about my countertops at all right now..

[@ev4504]

I've had soapstone in my kitchen for the last 8 years and I have a love hate relashonship with it. Looks, I give it a 10, it is beautiful. Durability, I give it a 3. The scratches can be managed with a carnuba wax made for soapstone but the chips and dings are tough to manage. Would I Get it again? No, I would not. Also, if you have kids, don't get it.

[@hsdesignstudio]

Part of the reason we skipped it in our renovation was kids. And the cost....outside our budget at the time.

[@lauriemodean3301]

We installed soapstone about 5 years ago and we loved it. However the fabricator put a sealant on it to give it the darker look. However now, it is splotchy now and not the best look. We also have hard water and the white appears all the time around our facet and sink area. What is the best way to clean the hard water? And, do we need to have the counters all-over sanded and the sealant removed? What are your feelings about a sealant versus just a wax, which I do occasionally but it is just applying wax over the sealant. Thanks.

[@melaniekeeling7462]

That soapstone is gorgeous.

[@hsdesignstudio]

Yes it really is. I love the dark moody look it imparts on a space.

[@melaniekeeling7462]

@@hsdesignstudio I don't like dark furniture, but I'd really consider those counter tops.

[@paulcarroll5971]

Canadian Soapstone - East Broughton, Quebec

[@yeutruyen8146]

What countertop do you have. We have a cottage farm house look and orocess lots of fruits and vegetables using baking soda. What would you recommend. We currently have butcher block counter which cant take the amount of Bsoda n water as well as lack of maintenance time we have. So thats why we want to change out to something ez to take care, green/no/ or limited off gasing countertop . Thanks so much

[@TheDecoCottage]

Surprisingly, our local stone countertop show room has natural soapstone as less expensive than quartz.

[@hsdesignstudio]

That's wonderful (if you are planning on soapstone?)

[@scubatom8232]

I really want gray soapstone. The warehouses in Nashville doesn't have much. I seen one slab. It wasn't very good looking.

[@hsdesignstudio]

It can definitely be harder to find.

[@tracisamczyk7088]

I have soapstone on my outdoor kitchen and it's in DIRECT sunlight. Here before I bought the house. Two questions 1: mineral or dry wax for maintenance? 2: If I want to clean and prep it (been a long time without maintenance) can I use a hand sander with multiple grit paper? Or, must I only do it by hand?

[@hsdesignstudio]

That really comes down to your preference. Different waxes/oils will make the black slightly different shades. They will both work to help maintain the surface. You could use a sander, just be gentle and don't overdue it. It's a lot easier to over sand using a sander vs hand sanding.

[@stevemunz2031]

I have soapstone in my outdoor kitchen and I would not recommend adding mineral oil or wax as the sun will dry out both and you’ll need to reply more frequently. Up to you though as you might prefer the darker look.

[@JMaxwell1000]

Outstanding video! Soapstone is BEAUTIFUL! Quartz, granite, quartzite all look so BORING! Dull, drab, and drabbest. How about copper, brass, zinc and soapstone countertops - something with real character and not something that 350,000,000 other people have in their kitchens. Quartz, granite, quartzite countertops all look alike, with no distinct or exciting colors.

[@oliphauntsneverlie6227]

There is soapstone and then there is all that other stuff people pick for one reason or another. lol

[@hsdesignstudio]

Hahah thats one way to put it

[@JoeNovella]

Patinas are always a pro. Take the patina off of most items and the value is destroyed.

[@kimiskimhell]

it’s pronounced mose. rhymes with hose :)

[@hsdesignstudio]

Thanks 👍

[@5610winston]

I'll give a hard pass on this material. The soft surface and risks of friable asbestos release from handling and polishing consign it to my fecal roster.

[@hsdesignstudio]

Everything has it's problems when you look close enough.

[@5610winston]

@@hsdesignstudio Soapstone has no redeeming qualities that could ever balance its numerous negatives.