go to this website and read what Tom, this knowledgeable stone guy, says about them. You can read about soapstone on the left side of the home page and you can type in honed black granite into the search box on the top right side.

He will explain everything in simple to understand ways. Now you might still want to go with one of them but at least he'll tell you the negatives so you know in advance.

Here is a link that might be useful: The Rock Blog

I don't know that much about granite, because I've always coveted soapstone. What I do know is that even a harder variety of soapstone will probably be softer than a softer variety of granite. A smooth honed or leathered granite will not be quite as silky as a soapstone. If the look of soapstone is what you want, a honed jet mist will get you there. If the feel of soapstone is what you want, it won't. HTH.

The above link to the granite supplier does not give correct information about soapstone. I can't scratch my GM original with my fingernail. "Heavily pushed by Martha?, Deformations?" very strange info.

Soapstone is like nothing else. It just seems very "natural" to me. The few dings and scratches on my counter disappeared after a few days. (I am too lazy to oil all the time. ) If you want your kitchen to look perfect, you might be disappointed in ss. I have an old house, and the new soapstone looked like it had been there forever, along with the beat-up pine floor.

I don't know much about granite, but I believe it has its own issues, like any countertop.

Asking really specific questions about fingerprints and maintenance gives me the impression you're a jet mist girl at heart. That, basically, gives you the look without the maintenance. Does that help?

As I have said before, I think the difference is less about the stone than about the owner.

You have soapstone with the understanding that there will be a little bit of maintenance, as you own a wood floor or table knowing that you can't jump up and down on it in your ski boots and invite the neighborhood kids over for paintball. We like taking care of it; it's a presence.

Me? I wouldn't know a fingerprint if you pointed one out in front of me. It's just not on my radar. If you chase them down all day in your kitchen, the fact that they're not showing up on the soapstone doesn't matter. Its "patina" of a lot of all-over chips and scratches will bother you, I think. That's not wrong! Everyone should be happy.

So the question becomes, not what is the stone really like. The stones are the stones.
But what are YOU really like? What do YOU really need? What is YOUR family like?

Then, if you're still intrigued, go get some samples from a place that specializes in soapstone.

Good luck!

Growlery has so much wisdom for you. Soapstone is not for someone who wants their countertop to always look like it did the day it was installed. There are many different honed and antiqued dark granites. Some, like absolute black will show fingerprints etc...others, like nordic black antique or cambrian black will not.

And like Growlery said, if you decide you want soapstone, go to a place that specializes in it. I personally, have had a very positive experience with Dorado Soapstone. Dave, the owner in Shrewsbury, MA is fantastic. Not only knowledgable but honest and caring and willing to go the extra mile.

I have a dark honed granite that's developing a patina after a year. It showed fingerprints the first week, but after that, prints are not a problem. I would say we chose it over soapstone because in our area, soapstone is expensive and hard to find, and I was too exhausted by the remodel details to make the effort. Our granite was available and less expensive than soapstone would have been. Overall, I think the look is very similar, although my countertop is probably cooler to the touch than soapstone. I love my granite.

I love soapstone, too, though, and I've talked my mom into using it in her kitchen remodel!

Hi ebse,
It is hard to understand. I tried to explain this to
my DH too. He did not really understand until we
were at the Granite Slab place. I guess you have already visited
a slab yard. The best thing to do is touch the stones,
scratch, wet them, feel them and this might help you.
I will give you my pros and cons and maybe this can
help you. Keep in mind my pros/cons are different than others.

The Pros of soapstone
1)Durable nothing can destroy it (except a chainsaw)
A counter made 100 years ago can still be used today.

2) Nothing dangerous from it, no bacteria, SStone is still
used in labs at MIT, Harvard Medical and countless
other labs across the world. Scientist love this because it can
not be damaged by chemicals nor can it damage chemicals.

3) Beautiful, amazing and unique

Cons of soapstone
1) It must be oiled or it is recommended it be oiled
every week for the first year.

2. It scratches but these can be sanded out.

3) smudges appear it is a lived in look like comfortable
slippers or a comfie sofa.

4) Price for some it is high for more care

Pros of Honed Granite
1) Beautiful and some look like soapstone (Jet mist anyway)

2) Sealed Honed Granite is impentrable, durable
and easy to care for.

3) Nothing can scratch granite except a diamond.

Cons of Honed Granite
1) Honed shows more ocassional finger marks than a polished look. A honed dark color will show crumbs and
have a flat finish rather than a polished clean
look.

2)Imgaine paint chips. Honed looks like flat paint.
If you do not like that look it is a negative.

For my DH Honed granite was our choice it is cheaper
than Soapstone but still looks lovely.

Whatever you decide will be great.
~Boxerpups.

PS. Here is TomCordova the Rock blog that might
help you, it helped me to understand the differenes better.

......"Regarding Soapstone, if Martha Stuart didnt like it, I donÂt know who would. This is a very dense, non-porous stone but extremely soft. Your fingernail can scratch it. Basic Soapstone maintenance involves sanding down scratches and using mineral oil to even out the variations after sanding. If you THINK you might like Soapstone, then you donÂt. If you want a divorce, then this is a good choice. I rarely find two people in the same room that like Soapstone.

Honed finished granite is problematic if not professional sealed. Granite is hard but the orthoclase minerals and the microscopic gaps between then can be somewhat porous. That issue is successfully avoided after it is professionally sealed. However, honed granites love to show smudges from wipe cleaning and thumb prints. Dark colors are worse than light ones. If you search Absolute Black Granite on my blog, you will see how much I discourage using Honed Absolute Black Granite. That being said, I do know the Virginia Black Granite very well. It is the same stone as Jet Mist. This was very popular granite for government building in the early 1900Âs. I never thought of this granite for a kitchen countertop before but it might be the perfect color for those looking for a honed black that does not create the Âflat black maintenance issues. ........." from TomCordova Rock Blog

http://tomcordova.com/239/a-granite-instead-of-marble/

Here is another site that might be helpful called
Soapstone 101.

http://www.soapstone-co.com/whatis101.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_4431088_clean-stone-countertops.html?ref=fuel&utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=ssp&utm_campaign=yssp_art

Wow, thank you, this is so helpful! I've been researching and researching, but sometimes I think I overdo it, you know?

While I gasp when I see soapstone, I think that if I am being true to myself, it probably is not the best fit. (sigh).

Also, cost is certainly a factor, and I think that in our area, the jet mist goes for less.

THANK YOU

Ebse,
Be true to yourself! Then you will be happy with your choices. Check your email.

I want everyone to be as happy with their counters as I am with mine. They ARE right for me, I just don't want there to be a backlash against a product that is what it is from people who have different hopes based on optimism, and are disappointed, and blame the stone and the people who choose to use it, you know?

Go out and give the alternatives, with all the finishes, a good look.

(And pluckymama, who seems to be right behind me on these posts, I'm sorry things didn't turn out like you'd hoped! It sure wasn't for a lack of trying.)

Good luck to everyone!

I think that is exactly the answer. What's good for one person might not be a match for another person. Seems a lot like dating :)

I love my honed black granite. We put it in a new house three years ago. I often think I should be doing something to maintain it like sealing it. However, the very word "sealing" suggests applying a sheen to it. That isn't what you'd want on honed granite. So what specifically should be used?