Is Soapstone The BEST Countertop EVER!

[@moocrazytn]

We once had a soapstone woodburning stove. Beautiful. When the house burned (nothing to do with the stove), the metal didn't hold up, but the soapstone pieces were all intact. I saved them for a project.

[@KatSchlitz]

That is a great (though painful) story!

[@MTKDofficial]

Wow! Thanks for sharing that. It really does withstand heat!

[@MeanOldLady]

@@MTKDofficial Yes, they make excellent masonry heaters.

[@lauraandrade2818]

Soapstone is a truly unique product. I’d put it in my “forever” kitchen because I’m not sure it’s for everyone. I was a chemist for 8 yrs and know how durable it is. It is a naturally honed finish and does age beautifully over time. It definitely makes a statement.

[@MichaelJ674]

Great video. FYI, asbestos is a problem only when it is friable (easily crumbled into small particles that can become airborne). Any asbestos in a soapstone countertop would be well encapsulated and almost impossible to make friable under normal use. It may require some special care in the fabrication process (into countertops) but should be no concern once installed.

[@MTKDofficial]

Thanks so much for the insight about the asbestos.

[@TheDriftwoodlover]

Good to know

[@covenywoodworks8563]

I ran a soapstone counter shop fabrication for a few years, it’s an absolutely wonderful material.

[@lvnn6198]

Is there a way to fox the scratches when they happen? I'm about to drop some money on a massive island and soapstone is my number 1 choice. I do have dogs and kids though. I'm doing a water fall island. Any tips would be great

[@covenywoodworks8563]

@@lvnn6198 absolutely. Chips and cracks are more professional fixes but scratches are super easy. Orbital sander works best, circular motions. Don’t stay in one spot too long, you’ll create divots. Shoot me a message. I’ve been thinking about making a tutorial video

[@ABCBom4thgen]

I've had a soapstone counter for two years now. I grew up with one in my family home, which my parents still live in, since 1999. I gotta say, scratching is not the problem that sales people make you think it is when they just so happen to not have it in stock. Also waxing it is easier than oiling, and you do it less and less over time. My parents maybe have accumulated a total of 3 scratches in multiple decades of having soapstone and they just buffed it out with a fine grit sandpaper. Like scratching isn't an issue if you're not cutting directly on it.

[@MTKDofficial]

Thanks for the input about soapstone. Always good to hear form people with actual experience!!

[@marieobrien7051]

What kind of wax do you use?

[@purpleslurple5149]

My SIL has had soapstone counters for 20 years and they are gorgeous. She's oiled them maaaaybe 3 times. It's really not necessary, only for looks, and they develop a patina over time that ultimately makes it unnecessary. Soapstone is used in chemistry labs as it is impervious to literally almost everything. My top three requirements are stain resistance ✅ heat resistance ✅, low maintenance ✅ and soapstone is (almost?) the only surface that checks all those boxes.

[@darlene19668]

I didn't know that...good to know

[@teri-joscott8279]

Thanks for sharing! Great information!

[@lazygardens]

I've spilled flaming alcohol, solvents, acids and biohazards onto a lab's soapstone worktops. It cleans up. We would disinfect ours with bleach and water, then polish it up with a beeswax and oil mix to make it all pretty. You could tell if it was a quiet night in ER because the lab looked like the Piinterest photographer had been there.

[@darlene19668]

@@lazygardens how is it as far as cracking?

[@lazygardens]

@@darlene19668 You would have to pick it up and drop it, or drop something really heavy on it where it was not well supported by the usual plywood backing. Granite would also crack under those conditions. The structure of the mineral is not crystalline like granite, it's interlocking strands like tangled yarn.

[@eileenglynn1774]

I love my soapstone counters because I wanted a very durable low maintenance countertop. You can skip the oil when you aren't concerned with shiny looks. Scratches can be sanded out easily.

[@TheSimArchitect]

Oh! Thanks for sharing the info! When I heard about scratches and when I thought about the fame soapstone has (for being soft) I felt it might not be resistant enough for someone who wants a reliable surface to cook without worry (I wouldn't use a countertop to cut ingredients directly, of course). Wood laminate surfaces are the cheapest but they're too weak and you can't even think about touching them with something hot even by accident or you might have some damage. I also like stainless but natural stones have a more natural luxurious look that go well with my beloved woodgrain. Matching floor and countertops (or playing with patterns) sounds like fun too!

[@CC-gv6us]

I hate the soapstone counters that came with our house, because they are absolutely not durable and absolutely not low maintenance. You can't even set a glass bottle down on it without chipping it, especially when the bottle has a ridged bottom. It is absurdly easy to chip with a fork or knife or anything doing basic kitchen stuff. Then there's the fact that it only looks nice and even the day that you oil it. After that, it's constantly splotching especially from water- which is obviously everywhere around the kitchen sink. The only good thing about soapstone is if you want to spend a half hour oiling your kitchen every time you want people to see it then it looks nice.

[@RisaStacy]

@@CC-gv6us When we recently remodeled our kitchen soapstone was one of the countertop materials we considered. But it was readily available in ur area and the few dealers who had it didn’t seem very knowledgeable about the hardness of the slabs they carried. Apparently, or at least what we gleaned from our research, soapstone comes in a variety of softness/hardness. In the end we chose a honed granite with a similar appearance.

[@RisaStacy]

I couldn’t edit the above so here goes an abbreviated version. We learned soapstone comes in a range of softness/hardness as it pertains to chipping, gouging etc. None of the few dealers in our area who had soapstone slabs knew enough about what they carried to give us any confidence in the various slabs durability, so we settled for a honed granite which mimics soapstone. Still love the idea of soapstone.

[@TheDriftwoodlover]

@@RisaStacy Would be interesting to hear an update on how you like the honed granite. I love the look but worry if it’s higher maintenance.

[@sheilamccurley7084]

We have our very own Soapstone quarry, the only quarry in the United States that still quarry's soapstone right here in Virginia. The Albarene Soapstone Company. It seems that the only locations for it's showrooms is in the Northeastern states. I can't find anyone near me who handles the installation of soapstone countertops. Very frustrating.

[@JackieofAllTrades]

I live in Virginia too! Let me know if you find an installer.

[@MTKDofficial]

Have you tried a store like Home Depot? Even if you don't purchase from them, you may be able to find out who they use to install.

[@sheilamccurley7084]

Great Idea thank you.@@MTKDofficial

[@sheilamccurley7084]

Hi. Since my comment about the Soapstone quarry, well, the only Soapstone quarry in the United States and in Virginia has closed@@JackieofAllTrades

[@j10001]

You could even do a DIY installation. Soapstone cuts with a circular saw and/or a router with diamond bits. So if you can get a slab and you’re quite handy, you can be the installer!

[@pattibennett8774]

I just had a kitchen renovation done. Because of the age of the house (built in '45), the style of the kitchen, my experience with the material in the past, the durability, heat resistance, the fact that it isn't a bacterial super highway, and other reasons led me to soapstone. I whipped up my own walnut oil and carnauba wax concoction, I've applied it twice so far, and I have to say, it is one of the most beautiful countertops I have ever seen. It is magnificent. I'm not worried about asbestos because I don't plan on grinding it to a fine particulate. Small chips and scratches are often just family memories. I love it.

[@MTKDofficial]

Love this! thanks for the input!

[@teri-joscott8279]

This is very valuable experience to share. Thanks so much!!

[@JackieofAllTrades]

Another awesome video Mark! I loved it. But I was confused when I landed in the woods 7:19 for a bit… with the chirping birds and crickets. Your videos always take me on a journey but in this case, over the river and through the woods, I wasn’t sure if I would find Grandmother’s house or the Big Bad Wolf at the end of it. Luckily we hit the Happily Ever After. So so masterful! Thanks again for another great one!

[@MTKDofficial]

haha! Thanks Jackie. I create these videos in a vacuum and ideas seem to make sense in my head at the time. I was going for eco friendly and birds chirping came to mind.

[@TMB62]

I did not know any of this about soapstone. Thanks for the information. The antibacterial factor is huge.

[@pksmith1275]

Great video! Informative and entertaining with good energy level. We recently decided on new countertops and your videos have helped us in our decision. We're done with granite which came with the house and is quite esthetically unpleasant to the eye. We are older folks and don't want to spend a lot of money on new countertops as we use our kitchen minimally for cooking - just the two of us. We went with Corian!! I can remember, back in the day, when we had to settle for laminate because Corian was too expensive -lol! We've decided that Corian fits our lifestyle the best and I, personally, like the look of it. We'll get a new sink and faucet and we're good to go. Looking forward to installation and more of your videos. Thanks for sharing!!

[@JackieofAllTrades]

Love it! 🥳

[@MTKDofficial]

Thanks so much for the comment. I don't think Corian gets as much attention as it deserves. It has fallen by the way side in recent years, but is a wonderful choice for a countertop!

[@adntigger71015]

@@MTKDofficial All the multimillion $ homes in my area (Northeast) are doing solid white Corian with waterfall legs on the ends of cabinets or islands. Sleek and modern look. I have a feeling this will trickle down to middle-class homes just as granite and marble did in the coming years. Personally, I ALSO want the super heat resistance & non-porousness of soapstone and I'm not a fan of the look of granite, marble, etc.

[@samanthadalloo8232]

Talc...you are saying this word in an interesting way.😊

[@MTKDofficial]

Must be my Canadian twang. lol

[@freddycugarjr]

Great knowledge on the soapstone my friend!

[@michaelkagan6910]

Thanks Mark. This video is actually very timely for my wife & I. Soapstone countertops is in our top 2 choices for our upcoming renovation, along with sintered stones, either Neolith or Dekton. Or a combination of both types. One on the perimeter and the other on the Island.

[@5610winston]

Look into soapstone asbestos content and the hardness (or lack thereof). I would go with a natural granite.

[@michaelkagan6910]

@@5610winston thanks for the information, I will definitely look into it

[@pattibennett8774]

@@michaelkagan6910 Certainly look into it, if for nothing else, your own piece of mind. But unless you're cutting it or grinding it to inhale it, asbestos dust isn't going to come jumping up out of your countertops. There is some danger to people who work in manufacturing or artists that may grind very soft pieces into sculpture but they should be taking precautions to avoid particulate inhalation of any stone. Personally I'd take the less than infinitesimal risk of inhaled asbestos from a slab of soapstone over the less than infinitesimal risk of contracting silicosis from a slab of granite or quartz. Not all soapstone contains asbestos. Ask the folks where you're looking at slabs if the stone they carry is free of asbestos if you're concerned.

[@michaelkagan6910]

@pattibennett8774 Thank you ! I completely agree with everything you said. The only time "asbestos " becomes a problem is when it is airborne, which I don't think will happen in my kitchen. Soapstone, in my opinion, is beautiful, and the pros of it outweigh the cons. We might even get a Soapstone sink when we do our renovation. Plus, I'm not sure how many people realize that the tops of the tables in most science/chemistry classes is actually Soapstone as well. They last forever!!!!

[@pattibennett8774]

@@michaelkagan6910 We just finished ours. I went with the sink as well. And my being a bit of a science nerd did influence my decision a little. I do think people hear the word asbestos and not being familiar with inhalation toxicity they don't understand that it must be airborne to be a danger. The silica dust from a granite slab would also be dangerous, but in any use of a natural stone slab you're going to have the same concerns about inhaled dust. As far as I'm concerned unless I'm trying to pulverize the stone into dust, that concern for me runs right around none, +/- zero. My kitchen is predominately sage green. We chose a slab with a lot of green veining. This kitchen has been in use about a month and I have gotten many compliments about how the green in the soapstone ties the whole project together. We couldn't be happier with our choice.

[@ryansoo4000]

MY GOD! Your background is gorgeous! I just noticed it. You got rid of that dark brown cabinet thing (I asked you once what it was and you wouldn't tell us) and now there's beautiful new furniture and lovely paintings and artwork arranged in a gallery wall motif. Well done! And you say you're not an interior designer. Your wife must be so pleased :)

[@MTKDofficial]

Thanks. it was my first attempt at interior design. lol

[@KatSchlitz]

I just ordered our soapstone slab a couple of days ago, such great timing to your video! But we are doing Invisacook hidden induction in our island, so that will be honed granite. I cannot find if soapstone can work with hidden undermount induction, but for the island I think the harder stone will be better anyway. I am debating if I should blend or have a bit of contrast in the two stone colors. (like black and charcoal, or all black). But mainly I am SO excited for the soapstone, a living surface that can be buffed and contribute so much life to the space. And we having the fabricator make a molded-in deep basin sink, so wonderful!

[@MTKDofficial]

I don't see why soapstone wouldn't work with Invisacook. But can't say for sure. Great question. Sounds like your kitchen is going to be epic though!

[@SamanthaSweetAnne]

Where?

[@bobbert1945]

I love my soapstone counter tops. I treat them like I do my butcher block: Pine-sol to clean, Boos mystery (mineral oil/beeswax combo) for occasional spot treatment.

[@macpduff2119]

I fell in love with soapstone when we met in college chemistry lab; later when I found Canadian Inuit animal carvings. I can't afford it for all my counters but think Ill splurge on my island (good touch of contrasting interest - rest of kitchen has white laminate)..

[@liz1768]

I wish I would've come across you when I started designing my kitchen. I'm in the midst of it now and keeping my fingers crossed that I will come out the other side! Lol I'm going to check out a soapstone countertop tomorrow and I'm praying that it's "the one"!

[@MTKDofficial]

It's a great choice for sure! Thanks so much for watching!

[@liz1768]

@@MTKDofficial Thank YOU for creating a such a fun and informative channel that is enjoyable to watch! I have a question for you: There is a fabricator locally that currently has soapstone. It's beautiful! It has white veining and the only thing about it that is a problem for me is that it is a very light gray. If you have soapstone that is a very light gray, will it turn black when you oil it? The fabricator will not oil a small spot for me so I can see how dark it will get. I don't understand what the problem is because you can wash the oil off.

[@JMaxwell1000]

I LOVE soapstone!! It's so much prettier than quartz and granite. Not quite as gorgeous as brass or copper, but definitely beautiful - especially if you can get a greenish version. The only problem is you cannot get longer pieces.

[@stevelp]

Love the award-winning acting at 7:03. Ha!

[@MTKDofficial]

I'm waiting for Warner Bros. to call. lol

[@JackieofAllTrades]

He’ll be waiting a while I’m afraid.

[@PuolikuuIrene]

Just for info, my mum has had a marble sink/countertop for 40-50 years and she always cleans it with lemon so it stays nice and white

[@mcanultymichelle]

Love soap stone ,the scratches buff right out so easily with the oil or beeswax you wipe down your countertop with (once a month)

[@darlene19668]

Laminate counters were my first choice, For cleaning, maintenance, and options in color had its on voice. Value & accessability who could contest, Never looked back we knew for us...our choice was the best. Soapstone oooh🤩 would have been a yes please, But with our life circumstances we needed a counter that worked for us with ease. Every material has its own intricate personality, Chose what you love even if what you love is a whimsacaliity, Pros will enhance... cons will dissappear Once you've made your choice You'll love it year after year. Said all that just to say this... When nerves were on edge choices incomplete, We took a deep breath binged watched Mr Marks videos as we propt up our feet. To our suprise at the end of the day. It confirmed our choices all doubt cleared away. Good kitchen designers are not bullys of their own design, They understand what we love, give us realistic within budget goals....take our ideas and make them shine! 🤣🤣🤣Great job Mr Mark thumbs up all day everyday👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@JackieofAllTrades]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@JohnMason-z6w]

Great video. Thank you. Just installed soapstone. It's a beautiful bluish grey. Why do I have to oil it?

[@Theaterbuddy717]

Thanks, Mark! Another helpful video. I did not realize the asbestos content issue and wondered if I must worry about it if I broke the soapstone! Something to investigate further for sure as the scratches don't both me as much, can't those be sanded out? Anyways, until the next time!

[@bluedrummajor2876]

You mentioned blue and green soapstone colors. Will those eventually patina into a dark gray/black color? Is there any way to prevent that? Asking for a friend.

[@MTKDofficial]

I don't think so. From what I understand it will darken, but the green or blue color will still be there.

[@tzehr2617]

We’ve had black and green (two different slabs) soapstone for 20+ years, the green is still green after all that time.

[@ZachZRipper]

Asbestos in soapstone and in bulk rock in general really isn't an issue... It's when the asbestiform minerals are in fibrous or particulate form then it becomes an issue! Totally nontoxic in a solid rock countertop

[@debraweiss9734]

I'm wondering now what the scratches would look like. Guess I'll try to Google it.

[@heidimartin3984]

We just had Alberne soapstone countertops installed. They put 511 seal and enhance on them. Everything I have read is to just use mineral oil. Any suggestions? Is it okay to reapply as needed or should we try to remove the 511 and just use mineral oil. We want the dark look of the stone. And it is also scratching like crazy. I am shocked how much. Our daughter just moved one of our cereal bowls across the counter and it left six long scratches. I am going to have to let the scratches go but honestly I was not expecting it to scratch this easily.

[@lineraymond9508]

Bonjour Mark, Granit, quartz, soapstone, great ! Now, what about Dekton countertop ? Does this material worth the price ? Merci beaucoup !

[@MTKDofficial]

I happen to love Dekton. The high price is unfortunate. There's a video on my channel about it too.

[@edwardcasper5231]

Each countertop material has its "super power" and each has its "kryptonite."

[@MTKDofficial]

Very true.

[@mikerudd4943]

I found that coconut oil is a good oil to use

[@sabajess9083]

Hi do you recommend black countertop over white cabinets ( small kitchen ) I like it so much when I see it on the pic but I am afraid to chose it for my new countertop I feel light color makes the place looks bigger

[@MTKDofficial]

While it’s a personal choice, I think that if the cabinets are white it provides enough light reflection to accommodate a black countertop.

[@SamanthaSweetAnne]

So since it has talc, no kneading of dough then.

[@mariaramirez4357]

Where is best place to purchase soapstone.

[@emilylockman9296]

Do you recommend soapstone for a fireplace surround ?

[@MTKDofficial]

Yeah, I've heard it used as such. Probably would look incredible .

[@sailormercuryLSR]

My cabinets are in and I keep waffling between soapstone and Dekton. So hard to choose!

[@MTKDofficial]

Both are great options! I'm not sure what I would choose.

[@kdockrey]

Soap stone was/is used for counters in science labs.

[@keradee8742]

Great video Mark! Keep up those acting classes. There really starting to pay off.😅

[@MTKDofficial]

lol. I'm trying!

[@keradee8742]

@@MTKDofficial Seriously, I now know more about soapstone than will ever be necessary. You always have a great blend of information and humor.

[@JPatrickT12]

Mark - Did you ever meet an old veteran from Korea or Vietnam who got anchor tatoos 40 years previously? Yeah- that’s gonna be your arm when you’re 60.

[@MTKDofficial]

I'm down with that!!

[@sheilamccurley7084]

Use mineral oil.

[@Xingqiwu387]

HOW can you be sure that the soapstone you order does NOT contain asbestos?

[@MTKDofficial]

I suppose you could have it tested. The fabricators or stone yard should tell you.

[@Scudmaster11]

what if i want a andesite or obsidian countertop? (i know... its heavy)

[@MTKDofficial]

Very niche as well.

[@TheShannie33]

I'm confused. It's non porous and won't absorb bacteria, but I'd need to oil it with oil that won't go rancid. Why is that? Is that because it...absorbs the oil?

[@MTKDofficial]

The oil brings out the beauty of the surface. It's a surface application in which an oil that goes rancid would end up introducing bacteria to the surface and it will start to smell. You don't actually need the oil other than to make it darker. Sorry, I may not have made that clear in the video. Thanks for asking.

[@TheShannie33]

@@MTKDofficial thank you for clarifying. I was considering soapstone for my laundry room but I definitely wouldn't want standing oil anywhere near my laundry.

[@logik100.0]

All comments help algo right? I have to take issue with your pronunciation or "talc". The "a" should be said as in apple not as in tackle

[@JackieofAllTrades]

I noticed that too… but figured I’d let it slide since he’s Canadian. For true friends, we make allowances, right? But for a Texan like me, the A in “apple” and “tackle” have the same pronunciation.

[@logik100.0]

@@JackieofAllTrades Yes I realised after I posted. Just did not get round to correcting it.

[@logik100.0]

@@KatSchlitz I speak the queens English. Not a bastardised USA version.

[@Caliabra]

It’s odd …I used to live in Canada I never heard it called “tulk

[@MTKDofficial]

Talc and in say Aaaaah, right? Maybe it's me east coast maritime droll. Long live the algorithm. lol

[@JohnMason-z6w]

Why do you have to oil it?

[@MTKDofficial]

You don't "have" to, but it brings out the richness of the stone.

[@melaniesee8916]

When we renovated our kitchen in 2012 soapstone was waaaay pricier than Caeserstone.

[@MTKDofficial]

Oh for sure. I remember selling quartz at that time and no one ever looked at soapstone.

[@melaniesee8916]

I looked…it was just out of budget.

[@LisaFladager]

Love your video…very helpful. BTW, it’s aesTHetic, with a voiced TH, not aesTetic. You’re welcome. ;)

[@MalcolmRowley]

You don't have to oil soapstone. You want the contrast... then yes. Oil it before you sell the house.

[@MTKDofficial]

Great advice!

[@lazygardens]

It will develop dark spots where you work the most from hand oils and cooking ingredients, but unless it bothers you you don't need to do anything. We oiled our lab worktops with a beeswax and mineral oil blend (made in our lab because we could - we were chemists!) just to make it look pretty.

[@---ey6hj]

Real men use pink spatulas when cooking 👍🇨🇦

[@darlene19668]

Looked like a purple rubber spatula to me🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@---ey6hj]

@@darlene19668 well maybe more of a magenta or fuchsia, I didn’t have my glasses on this morning

[@JackieofAllTrades]

I also saw pink… and its use conveys confidence and security. I love it!

[@MTKDofficial]

hahaha.

[@nevillenewman2785]

Real men use pink spatulas when cooking ... quiche !

[@winstonelston5743]

There are some soapstone benches in the labs at my place of employment, and they have lots of nicks and gouges and scratches. For my home, no thanks.

[@lazygardens]

Soapstone has been the countertop of choice in labs since alchemist days. We had WONDERFUL soapstone counters in an old hospital's lab - decades old and silky-smooth from all the use and cleaning, and fabulous quarter-sawn oak cabinets. When they remodeled that wing, they reassured us that they would save the countertops and the cabinets. They did. The counters were recut into a tabletop for the executive meeting rooms and some exec washroom countertops and the cabinets became bookcases for the same management. The lab got stupid plastic and metal crap. We wuz robbed!

[@MTKDofficial]

Yeah you wuz. lol

[@geoffrothman]

TIL talc isn’t pronounced “towelk”. Ty!

[@aleksandrac9335]

Wood. The best countertop is always wood

[@michelegrigsby]

I just have to know if this is a thing....I never, no matter what the material, put a hot anything on my counters. It's just not something that would ever cross my mind. Why is this a topic. Even if your counter could take it, why would you want to. Why not always take the extra step to protect your countertop.

[@JackieofAllTrades]

Agree but on occasion, accidents or clumsy thoughtless teens do happen. 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@darlene19668]

@@JackieofAllTrades amen

[@marywhyte8484]

@@JackieofAllTrades Yes, exactly!

[@Caliabra]

Yes! just put it on the burner you are not using or a trivet

[@MTKDofficial]

It happens more than you would think. I've never burned a countertop either, but have many clients over the years who ran into this issue. I echo @JackieofAllTrades on this one too.

[@_lu9]

granite is still the best counter material. wont scratch, is heat resistant and durable.

[@MeanOldLady]

I hate seeing rich people using great materials for vain, stupid projects like countertops. Save the soapstone for masonry heaters instead!

[@TheDriftwoodlover]

It really is beautiful but how badly does it scratch? That’s the issue, less so for me but the dreaded resale. 🫤