Anonymous
02/14/2015 14:26
Subject: SOAPSTONE counter tops. Tell me about yours
Anonymous wrote:not a good idea
http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2683491/life-with-soapstone-patina-pictures-galore
Funny enough, I like the little nicks that make it seem so much more real.
Anonymous
02/13/2015 18:16
Subject: SOAPSTONE counter tops. Tell me about yours
I don't love ours (Barroca) and wouldn't get that type again--chips and gets pocks too easily. The patina isn't an issue for us (oils out and just makes it look lived with IMO). Ours was cheaper than most, but not all, granite and cheaper than Caesarstone, which was what we were deciding between. Still love the aesthetic and function, though!
Anonymous
02/13/2015 11:41
Subject: SOAPSTONE counter tops. Tell me about yours
Anonymous
02/13/2015 11:31
Subject: SOAPSTONE counter tops. Tell me about yours
We love our soapstone kitchen counters! We got a type called Spyder/Spider and it has beautiful veining. So unique and different. It has a slight green tint to the overall black color.
We bought from a place in Chantilly - I can't think of the name. It was about the same as lower-level granite. We treat the counters regularly (every 6 months or so) because we like the clean, polished look.
It has been great for us for the past 3 years, though we do have a couple of small chips. I have had the same issue with granite in the past, though. The good thing is that with soapstone it is less noticeable. We haven't had any issues with scratches.
We bought from a place in Chantilly - I can't think of the name. It was about the same as lower-level granite. We treat the counters regularly (every 6 months or so) because we like the clean, polished look.
It has been great for us for the past 3 years, though we do have a couple of small chips. I have had the same issue with granite in the past, though. The good thing is that with soapstone it is less noticeable. We haven't had any issues with scratches.
Anonymous
02/09/2015 18:10
Subject: SOAPSTONE counter tops. Tell me about yours
Anonymous wrote:We have soapstone. We got it in Frederick, from Designer Surfaces (?) and picked out our own slab. First, it is gorgeous and I love how natural it looks with the matte finish. To me, I like the oiled look and we actually just ask our cleaning ladies to oil it when they clean (every 2 weeks). But it certainly optional and just for asethetics-- we used to only oil them before people came over.
It is not porous and is totally heat resistant. It's major con is that is is SOFT. It will dent and scratch. You can buff out (or oil over) the scratches but if that's something that will drive you nuts,I would not recommend it.
Post on your neighborhood listserv to see if someone will let you come and see it installed.
I don't think it's cheaper than granite.
I just got a sample slab and I have been banging it with pots and knives. Yes, it is soft! But I still like it. It looks like it belongs in my kitchen.
Anonymous
02/09/2015 15:48
Subject: Re:SOAPSTONE counter tops. Tell me about yours
It is not cheaper than granite by any stretch. Probably more like a mid level marble.
We have it in a bathroom. I will likely do it in the next kitchen we remodel. I love the look of it, so natural, lots of variation.
We have it in a bathroom. I will likely do it in the next kitchen we remodel. I love the look of it, so natural, lots of variation.
Anonymous
02/07/2015 21:20
Subject: SOAPSTONE counter tops. Tell me about yours
It's definitely not cheaper than granite. But it's much less busy and more beautiful and pleasant to the touch than granite, so there's that!
Anonymous
02/07/2015 21:12
Subject: SOAPSTONE counter tops. Tell me about yours
We have soapstone. We got it in Frederick, from Designer Surfaces (?) and picked out our own slab. First, it is gorgeous and I love how natural it looks with the matte finish. To me, I like the oiled look and we actually just ask our cleaning ladies to oil it when they clean (every 2 weeks). But it certainly optional and just for asethetics-- we used to only oil them before people came over.
It is not porous and is totally heat resistant. It's major con is that is is SOFT. It will dent and scratch. You can buff out (or oil over) the scratches but if that's something that will drive you nuts,I would not recommend it.
Post on your neighborhood listserv to see if someone will let you come and see it installed.
I don't think it's cheaper than granite.
It is not porous and is totally heat resistant. It's major con is that is is SOFT. It will dent and scratch. You can buff out (or oil over) the scratches but if that's something that will drive you nuts,I would not recommend it.
Post on your neighborhood listserv to see if someone will let you come and see it installed.
I don't think it's cheaper than granite.
Anonymous
02/07/2015 20:46
Subject: Re:SOAPSTONE counter tops. Tell me about yours
Anonymous wrote:We love ours. I don't know why so many people think it is porous and has to be sealed. It is 99.5% non-porous, which is why it has been used in chem labs for over 100 years. You do not have to oil it. Over time it will naturally darken, oiling the soapstone will show you what it will look like when it darkens. Ours darkened a lot within one year. If you get oil or water on the counter, the area with the liquid may look blotchy until it completely evaporates, or you wipe up the spill. It is extremely heat resistant, which is great if you cook.
We purchased ours from R. Bratti in Virginia because we wanted to buy stone from the one quarry in Virginia (and maybe America) that mines the stone.
I do not recall how much it costs. My recollection is that it was not cheap -- more than granite and similar to marble.
The only downside is that you can chip the edges. My wife hit one of the edges with a cast iron pan and made a small chip.
I would purchase it again.
OP heer, thanks for the feedback.
I have read that it is actually cheaper than granite.
Anonymous
02/07/2015 16:32
Subject: Re:SOAPSTONE counter tops. Tell me about yours
We love ours. I don't know why so many people think it is porous and has to be sealed. It is 99.5% non-porous, which is why it has been used in chem labs for over 100 years. You do not have to oil it. Over time it will naturally darken, oiling the soapstone will show you what it will look like when it darkens. Ours darkened a lot within one year. If you get oil or water on the counter, the area with the liquid may look blotchy until it completely evaporates, or you wipe up the spill. It is extremely heat resistant, which is great if you cook.
We purchased ours from R. Bratti in Virginia because we wanted to buy stone from the one quarry in Virginia (and maybe America) that mines the stone.
I do not recall how much it costs. My recollection is that it was not cheap -- more than granite and similar to marble.
The only downside is that you can chip the edges. My wife hit one of the edges with a cast iron pan and made a small chip.
I would purchase it again.
We purchased ours from R. Bratti in Virginia because we wanted to buy stone from the one quarry in Virginia (and maybe America) that mines the stone.
I do not recall how much it costs. My recollection is that it was not cheap -- more than granite and similar to marble.
The only downside is that you can chip the edges. My wife hit one of the edges with a cast iron pan and made a small chip.
I would purchase it again.
Anonymous
02/07/2015 16:12
Subject: SOAPSTONE counter tops. Tell me about yours
SIL has them. I think they look nice, but you have to oil them or put something on them to keep them darkish looking, otherwise they are dusty/pale looking and splotchy where you put greasy food, plates, etc. They are porous, so stains would show up. Maybe they need sealant?
Anonymous
02/07/2015 15:49
Subject: SOAPSTONE counter tops. Tell me about yours
Do you like it?
Where did you buy it?
How much did it cost.
Pros and cons.
TIA
Where did you buy it?
How much did it cost.
Pros and cons.
TIA