What Are the Pros and Cons of Soapstone Countertops?

Soapstone, also called steatite, is a metamorphic rock made from talc-schist, which means it contains talc, in this case around 50 percent. If you know your minerals, you know thattalc is the softestone. What that means for soapstone is that it has a softer consistency than some other materials commonly used for countertops. In fact, it was named for its similarity to a bar of soap. However, within different slabs of soapstone, the percentage of talc can vary, so some are harder than others, and the slabs used for countertops fall in the harder range.

On theMohs Hardness Scale, which ranks minerals from 1 to 10 based on hardness (with diamonds ranking 10 and talc at a 1), soapstone falls between a 1 and 5, according toBobvila.com. Soapstone used for countertops comes in at about 2.5 to 3.5. The varying levels of hardness are determined by theother minerals in the soapstone, which can include micas, chlorite, amphiboles, quartz, magnesite and carbonates.

Soapstone is dense and made of up compact particles, which gives it an impenetrable surface. It's so dense, in fact, soapstone countertops don't even need to be sealed. Compare that to marble countertops, which may need to besealed on a regular basis. Soapstone also is low-maintenance, which is one reason it's used in places likechemistry labs.

Soapstone might be able to stand up in a lab, but what about a kitchen? Can it handle a messyfamily breakfastor a Sunday afternoon football party?

"It is [good for countertops], depending on the buyer," says Mandy Carbia, senior interior designer forCrosby Design Groupin Atlanta. "It depends on their style or their taste."

Because soapstone is a natural material, buyers are restricted to the appearance Mother Nature creates. Its range of hues are on the darker end of the spectrum. If a client is looking for a rustic style, soapstone coud be the right aesthetic fit, but if they want a modern farmhouse look, probably not, Carbia explains. Consider the multitude of color and pattern options of quartz offered byCaesarstone,而不是更有限了ge of color choices in soapstone fromCrocodile Rocks, a stone supplier in Kenmore, Washington, just north of Seattle. Crocodile Rocks has an extensive supply of slabs, it's just that soapstone doesn't offer too many varieties when it comes to color.

When choosing a countertop material, Carbia says it's important to ask buyers how they live. For a homeowner who cleans up quickly, marble can make a good option, but for those who tend to leave the sauce out all night, or those who do a lot of entertaining, soapstone could be a better fit because it's nonporous and doesn't stain like other stones.

"It is a softer material, so it does scratch easier," Carbia says. Homes with children who drop things, or homeowners who prefer cutting straight on the countertop as opposed to using a cutting board, might damage soapstone. Luckily, though, when a soapstone countertop gets scratched, it can be sanded to correct it, although the finish might not be perfect.

For many homeowners today, the whiter the countertop the better, and some gray veining doesn't hurt either, says Carbia. And soapstone does not come in white — it trends toward grays and blacks, while some can have blue or green hues.

"It's kind of the darker the better with soapstone," Carbia says. Although soapstone can have a bit of veining, it does not provide that white look so many are looking for today.

That's not to say it's not popular. It does impart an Old World, rustic feeling. And there are definitely fabricators who stock it regularly, Carbia says. "There is still a niche for it," she says.

Of course, the best countertop material is one that fits a homeowner's tastes, lifestyle and budget. But like granite, quartz and even concrete, soapstone has its pros and cons.

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Cons

Of course, price is a consideration in most kitchen projects, and soapstone offers a mid-range cost option. As a natural material, its price point is roughly equivalent to a high-end granite or a quartz, Carbia says. But because granites come in a much wider variety, you can probably find a granite option that is much less expensive than soapstone.

Carbia estimates soapstone runs about $72 to $150 per square foot, including installation. Inexpensive granite can cost as low as $20 to $30 a square foot. Marble is typically about $75 to $250 per square foot, while quartz can run from $55 to $155 a square foot, according toHGTV.