Very, very interested. We live in Bala Cynwyd which is a stone's throw from Philadelphia. Sign me up please.

Great! I think you should also email Josh. I've linked his website and his contact information is on there.

Thanks!

Here is a link that might be useful: Creative Soapstone

I'm hoping there are others that may need their counters touched up. The more people we get in this trip the better the pricing I can give. I haven't picked the date as of yet, but it will happen in the next few weeks. Please let me know if you are interested. I'm also interested in doing little stuff like vanities if it's on the way. . . . . Just throwing out idea's . . .I'll bump this post a couple times so people have a chance to respond if they would like . . . .

Hey Joshua, are you driving or flying to Pennsylvania? We're right outside of DC, about 2 1/2 hours south of Philly so it might be kind of on your way if you're driving.

I love my Santa Rita soapstone, but it's a little too shiny and I think it might have been over polished before install. Perhaps we should talk... Please let me know if DC is too far for you or not. Thanks!!

Yaaaaay! ! !

Arlosmom, I'll be driving, shoot me an email with your contact info. . . I'll send everyone a estimate after I give some time to see how many people are interested. So far 3 people! Super excited!

Shall I keep bumping? :)

I'll bump! Maybe Mimi can get in some sightseeing in DC while you work??? But really, PA, DC in February?

Joshua- we are in Baltimore. I haven't gutted the kitchen yet, but M. Tiex gave me a free wonky edged piece of ss for my upstairs bathroom sink. It too needs to come out, but we really need to get a new sink/cabinet. It is very small, at most 34" wide, and fairly shallow as well, at most 18". It needs to be cut and installed, and I guess finished as well.

When are you going to be up this way?

I have a very, very small soapstone need that's probably not worth your time. I need a piece of scrap (doesn't have to have squared edges - in fact, dramatic shape is better) big enough to accomodate a 10" dia. hole cut in the middle for a vessel type sink; base hasn't been decided on so size is not a factor but it will be small. No installation needed - just a scrap with a hole cut in it. This is for my 'art project' powder room vanity, as DH calls it.

I'm thinking middle of Feb. . . . It seems to be a good week to set aside right now. The vanity would be no problem to do onsite. . . .

Please, if youÂre interested in any aspect of soapstone goodness, let me know and please get me your contact info as soon as you can so I can set up my schedule for this trip. I'd be interested in pretty much any aspect of fab work to refinish work. I'd only be able to do one medium or smaller sized kitchen job if I were to be asked. I should be calling everyone this coming week to set everything up.

Not really looking forward to the weather though. . .

antiquesilver, I'll be in touch, I'm interested. I love unique projects. I have some ideas you may find intersting. . .

Any chance you can make it to Boston? I would love for you to come and refinish my soapstone.

Any chance you can make it to Boston? I would love for you to come and refinish my soapstone.

Willowdecor,

I was waiting for a response from you. Please email me with your contact info. I'll see if I can make it happen. I lost my outlook a while ago and with that everyone's email and contact info. Not good when I didn't back anything up. . .

I want to thank everyone here. . . .I've had so many people asking me for this from the GW and I'm happy that I can make the trip.

Well, since you're driving . . . would it be possible to stop in Gainesville to check out my kitchen for soapstone counters to be put in late spring? We could put you up for the night if that would help w your trip.

bump

I am so excited for all of you. Back in September I was ready to pull my soapstone out and get granite, then Josh came to the rescue, now I love my soapstone! It's been 4 mos and my soapstone still feels wonderful and scratches disappear after some oiling. You will love Josh and once again focus on soapstone's fine attributes. The finish matters.

bump

I've set aside the 15th to the 27th of Feb as the date to make this trip happen.

I'll be starting to contact everyone today about costs and schedule. . .

If there is anyone else let me know. It would help if there were one or two more further north.

Willowdecor,

Where you at! ! !

I'm not sure I've heard from you. . .I have a hard time telling people's real names from their name here. . . .

You do not have your email hooked up here so please email me soon!

bump

So sorry I missed this!! Any Boston area folks, Joshua is trying to add our area!! If anyone is interested please contact him asap.

Im redoing my kitchen and really want soapstone countertops. I realize they scratch but I've heard that is part of the beauty of them. It makes me nervous to see so many people wanting their countertops refinished. If I get soapstone will I need to refinish it occasionally?

Bummed! I'm in the Boston area and am planning to do soapstone, but I'm nowhere near ready for install. Oh well. Willowdecor, if you see this, could you email me privately? I'd love to hear about your soapstone issues so I know what and who to avoid. Thanks!

josh-

We are demoing this weekend. I am not sure if this would work for you on this trip, but would it even be possible for you to do our install? We have paid our deposit for Python slabs at M. Teix in November. If it worked out in your schedule, and M. Teix would deliver the slabs, would you be able to work with them uncut onsite? It is a relatively small amount- the pieces on the perimeter are 30"wide x 27"deep, 36"wide x 27" deep, and the peninsula piece is 84"-87" (not sure of the final yet) x 39" deep with a cut out for a Shaws sink.

Please email me if you might be able to fit this in your schedule. I would be THRILLED.

Thanks,

Amy

susieliz -- I don't know about the others, but my desire to refinish doesn't have anything to do with scratches or day-to-day wear and tear on the counters. They are holding up beautifully to anything I put them through (and I have one of the softer varieties). The few nicks and scratches I've gotten in the two years since mine has been installed don't bother me in the least.

In my case, I dealt with fabricators that didn't have a whole lot of experience with soapstone. My guess is the slabs were sanded with too high of a grit and so are shiny rather than the wonderful soft matte appearance that they should have. Also, the fabricators did not tint the seam epoxy to match the soapstone, so I have a light gray line running through my darker counters. I could live happily with my counters just as they are, but I'm just jumping at the opportunity to have them refined by someone who actually specializes in soapstone. If you do a search and look at pluckymama's before and afters (done by Joshua), you'll see what I'm hoping to achieve.

Don't fear soapstone. I think almost everyone who gets it loves it. I certainly do.

joshua,

probably too late and also not exactly on your way, but if you could work your way to chicago, i'd love to talk with you. we've got a small kitchen (15.5' x 10') and am interested in soapstone counters. please let me know either way, if you see this message.

thanks
rob

Colickyboy, on this trip Chicago is just too far. . . sorry. . . The further away for me people live the harder it is to make it happen for a reasonable price. . . .

I'm heading up North on the 22nd of march. . . If anyone else wants us to stop by let me know quick and I'll fit you in on the way south. . . If you are interested in getting your counters refinished please get a hold of us soon so I can make it happen for you. Again I'll do everything I can to get to you but where you live and how much time I have in this trip will play a big role.

The last trip was pushed off but this time frame is set. . .no more snow. . . water I can deal with, but snow . . .lol