How about honed absolute instead of polished? It's beautiful and looks very much like soapstone!

Cpang I thought honed absolute showed fingerprints. Maybe I'm misinformed.

I do know is that I love the look of matte black counters . . . ooooh and white marble.

Anyone have a run of marble and a run of soapstone (or other black countertop) with a counter depth refrigerator or tall pantry separating the two counters? Photos please, is so! : )

Wow, I just re-read my posts again . . . I ought to slow down . . . mistakes mistakes.

I've got 2" thick marble counters over most of my kitchen and used the same sealer that mostly everyone here has used (Porous Plus 511) - no stains (and, believe me, LOTS of abuse that *should* have led to them!) but definitely some etching - the etching is only visible IF you know exactly where to look for it AND only at certain times of day under exactly the right light....in other words, etching happens, but on a honed surface, it's just not an issue in any way! As for PP being food safe, YES - I checked into that as well and there are no problems to be concerned about.

There is a thread somewhere that some folks have posted etching marks in pictures but I can honestly say that mine don't look like theirs and don't show up to even photograph.

The rest of my kitchen has wood counters so I can't help with the AB questions...sorry!

1. Sealed marble does not stain, but does etch. On honed marble, the etch marks are more difficult to see and I do not notice any difference in the feel of the marble. My island countertop is honed marble. I do most of my prep work on the sink side of the island, so that a large window is to my back as I'm chopping at the island. From that angle, I cannot see any of the etch marks. However, when I stand on the other side of the island on a sunny day, I see what looks to be lots of splatter marks that are a bit duller. To me, etching makes the marble simply have different reflective qualities. It looks as if there is something spilt there, but I wipe and wipe and wipe and it doesn't go away. As other folks have pointed out on other posts, once the marble develops a patina over time, it will bother you less and less ... it's those first etch marks that make your heart break.

2. Don't know.

3. Some soapstone is harder than others, so I don't think there is one general answer for you. I don't know what variety my soapstone is, but it does not easily scratch and any scratchs easily disappear with a swipe of the oil. The only scratches I've really ever noticed occur with I try to move the heavy kitchenaid mixer which is pushed back into a corner on my counter. I only move it when I'm oiling the counters, so it's never caused any problem.
4. Just don't know.

Good luck.

RE: Marble etching. Just to ditto what those above have said. It looks, when viewed at an angle in the right light, like an area that is duller than the the surrounding area. Really not even noticeable unless you are looking for it, and sometimes not even then.

MaryT

judy, more than seeing the etching, I notice the feel of it. When I run a dishcloth over it, it feels rougher than the unetched part. I don't know if that's a decision breaker or not. Could you go to HD and buy a honed marble tile, or to a marble dealer and obtain a small scrap? I put a scrap near my sink for a couple of months and learned firsthand what it'd be like having a marble counter. (I think I'll go with it.)

BTW, you said you're having formaldehyde-free cabinets made. Where did this plywood come from, do you know? I looked into it and didn't get anywhere. If I can't find it, I"m going to take my old cabinets apart and incorporate that plywood into the new cabinets when I make them. I figure that they're finished offgassing by now, they're 40 years old.

Sealers fill the microscopic pores in the stone so that liquid remains on the surface, rather than soaking in. But the stone is still stone, and in the case of most marbles, has a lot of high ph calcium-type materials. So anything acidic will react to it, and cause etching. As mentioned, it won't be too visible on a honed surface.

I think they can be considered food safe for food contact [as opposed to safe to eat] IF the label says they are: the FDA is the group that issues this judgement. They occasionally goof on perscription drugs, but for food contact material, part of the determination is based on the idea that once cured, there's basically no way it can be absorbed into food.

egganddart,

The cabinets I'm going with are called Cabico. There are other lines that are environmentally friendly also. I'm going with Cabico because they are mid priced even though they are custom. And my sister in law can get me her builder's discount!

If you google 'green building supplies' or 'green cabinetry', etc. you'll find other manufacturers. Also I believe Green Depot sells a non formaldehyde brand.

More and more will be available not only in cabinets but also in furniture. It's about time! Sofas, and mattresses, for example, are very toxic made the 'usual' way. I've paid a small fortune to buy special mattresses, sofa and love seat to by pass all the off gasing. Here's the sofa/loveseat I just bought from Vancouver (I live in CT). The shipping was $900.00!!! (Which took me by surprise). But I LOVE them. They are made from pure rubber mixed with a natural mineral to make them non flammable. They are wrapped in cotton and wool. I paid extra for down fill also and I chose wool for the upholstery material. Wool is a great sofa material. It has natural lanolin in the material which helps to resist stains. If you spill something and blot it right away, it doesn't sink in. I spilled red wine on it the first day (can you believe it???) and it blotted off completely. I also paid $150. approx for a fabric warranty. If the fabric ever gets stained for any reason, an upholstery cleaner comes to the house. If they can't remove the stain they have to replace the material!

I should have 'fluffed' them up for the photo. But even 'unfluffed' they are VERY COMFY on top of being very environmentally friendly. As a matter of fact, all of their pieces are biodegradable and the manufacturer (Upholstery Arts) will take the furniture back when you are done with it for 'financial rewards'. Don't mind the unhung art. I am still redoing this room.

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}