Thanks for asking this! We are planning on an undermount with soapstone and chipping thoughts have crossed my mind as I fling down my cast iron dutch oven...

Cluelessincolorado--I'm worried about it. Sometime in the last few days someone posted pictures of a stone countertop and an undermount sink.. They had put padding (looked something like heavy duty bubblewrap) around the edges of their sink. I look at my trusty old topmount sink and wish I could find the configuration I need (topmount 40/60 double bowl stainless steel -- small bowl on left)for less than a bazillion dollars. Then at least THIS point of stress would go away! Hope we get some answers from this wonderful group!

I've had my dark julia installed for about 8 months now and there are definitely some small chips and dings around the sink (especially at the front). If I had to do it again, I would rethink the undermount sink, even though I like the look better than the overmount. Also, I was thinking that a farmhouse sink would have been better, since nearly all the chips are along the front of the sink.

I agree with your soapstone dealer based on direct and prolonged consumer experience. That is, I have a Green Mountain Original PA soapstone counter top and an undermount fireclay sink and I also use a lot of cast iron cookware in my daily cooking/baking routines. I don't worry about harming my soapstone with that heavy cookware. If anything, I love how I can take a hot pot out of the oven or rangetop and sit it directly on my counter top with never a concern about causing any damage. As for losing chunks of my soapstone due to mishandling of my cookware? In over 2+ years of heavy use, that's never happened. Not at the sink edge or anywhere else for that matter. And, yes, on occasion, I bang my pots against the soapstone edge at the sink.

Honestly, in order to "destroy" the edge by losing a whole chunk out of it, I think I would have to raise one of my heavy cast iron frying pans high up in the air, aim for the counter top edge and then slam it against that edge with all my might. But in typical daily use? Not.

I say go for it!

I have a large stainless steel main sink under soapstone. I am unaware of any chips after at least 6 mos of daily use. However, there are two helpful factors: (a) I used about an eighth of an inch positive reveal to keep the soapstone edge back a tad from the sink edge; (b) the soapstone is Belvedere and is relatively hard. A possible third factor may be that the size and depth of the sink allows washing away from the edges.

kas

How wide are your sinks and are they undermount or apron front? We're planning on small undermount -23" interior- but my husband is pushing for a soapstone farmhouse. It makes sense that the wider the sink, the less bangs the sides get. Ironing is not something that happens overmuch in my household...Denting and chipping is okay, I was just concerned that it wouldn't look like a mouse had been gnawing its way around the sink perimeter.

I have Amazon soapstone, Franke stainless undermount sink and a careless SIL who "helps with dishes." My cast iron gets banked around with no damage to the soapstone. Frankly I would be more worried about damaging the front of a farm sink with cast iron than I would be worried about the soapstone. The only scratch I have came when a worker put his circular saw on the counter. WHen I asked him to please move it--don't you know he slid the blade rather than pick it up. SO I had a about a 1/4 inch ding that was saw blade width. It sanded out easily for a smooth divot. Who plays with saws on a counter?

Thank you so much to everyone who replied! I went to a plumbing showroom today and spent a lot of time looking at countertops and undermount sinks. I'm feeling more confident about undermount now and it's GREAT to hear real-life experiences!! As for whether or not soapstone is a good fit for me -- I couldn't tell you when the last time I used my iron! Looks like a Ticor undermount is going to be ordered soon. Thanks so much!

I have had Old Dominion from Alberene with a deep undermount sink well over a year and there are no big chips, maybe a few tiny dings but the scratches and small dings are just patina to us. We do use care with heavy pots and pans though.

{{gwi:1588857}}

Clueless- my sink is a non-apron 30 inch wide under mount cast iron with center divide. It is big in total but I only wash dishes in the left side that is 13.5 inches wide. A single bowl 23 inch is plenty big and a soapstone farmhouse sink would be really lovely.

Hope I didn't come across as trying to judge whether ss is right for you guys, I have just always liked the reference to ironing as I never iron. Of course I am sure that there is at least one person out there that irons everything, including their sheets, and has soapstone and loves it.

I do have a small ding/chip around the sink area. I truly believe if I were doing it over I wouldn't use an undermount sink. I say this because I don't want to worry when I'm washing large pots or when my teenagers are working around the sink. I do have a soft soapstone though. Still love it!

Thank you athomeinva, weidiii, dretutz, kaseki, marthavila, and vickimp! All this info is great!

athomeinva--that made me laugh. Thought I was the last person on the planet to iron sheets and pillowcases. And, I love the soapstone.

I'm another in the camp that irons sheets and pillowcases but has soapstone. I really don't like oiling it but like the way it looks when I do. However, as to chips and dings; it's been in almost two years and none yet. We have a Franke Orca undermount sink and don't take particular care when washing up. Our soapstone is a harder variety though.

I WISH I had the discipline to iron my sheets and pillowcases! SIGH. When the DH and I discuss the "what-will-we-do-after-we-win-the-lottery" future one of my answers is ALWAYS expensive, expensive linens and someone to iron them for me. Maybe with a little lilac mist....

*swoons*