This is a copy of a response by GROWLERY a few weeks ago. Not sure if you saw it or not, but I thought it was good info...

***RE: Tell me if I'm a good candidate for soapstone...

* Posted by growlery (My Page) on
Mon, May 5, 08 at 11:13

"Both gross and cool."

You might just have the spirit!

As I have said before, it's less about the surface than your reaction to it.

For example, no one who irons their jeans and towels is going to be happy with it.

Are your 3-year old jeans and shoes ready for the trash or just getting good?

Do you think your kids are adorable with their messy hair and juice moustaches in the morning, or do you itch to spiff them up?

Do you let dishes sit in the sink a little, or do you think that's the first step in the Decline of Civilization?

If you pick the more relaxed answers, soapstone's inevitable chips, scratches and patina will not trouble you.

On the other hand, if you keep a ton of stuff out on your counters, as many families do, picking it all up to oil may be a pain (unless you keep it on big trays or something).

I have to say, a scratch/chip on soapstone would bother me less than a scratch/chip on granite, as it will soon have friends to blend

#1 - We are DIY and I havenÂt priced granite but my understanding is that Ubatuba is one of the less expensive ones and installed SS is comparable to the more expensive granites.

#2 - Yes, 500 degrees is tolerated. There are hard and soft varieties of SS. I stick with the harder ones and they show no wear with normal use, including cookie cutters in the hands of young children, but I wouldnÂt dull my knives on any stone. The softer versions are scratched more easily but my only experience with those is in the form of samples that I was trying to scratch.

#3 - No. ItÂs dark colored and non porous so thereÂs not much to stain.

#4 - No.

#5 - We installed it at our last house but had to move within 6 months. IIRC, I oiled it a maximum of 5 times and most of that was within the first month. There are a couple pieces we brought to the new house and I have a new set of samples, doing their thing on the counter. Neither my old scraps or the new samples (which are very similar in hardness) require any oiling to be consistent, although they do look extra beautiful when I get around to it.

I recently took pictures of the cleaning/oiling process for a friend, if you want to see it.

I would love to see the pix of the oiling process. Does anyone have a feel for how much per square foot for a green soapstone? I am a pretty relaxed person (I leave the dishes in the sink for hours!). I have a chip in my granite right now and it isn't bothering me.

I do like this look, though I am not sure I want to pay more for it. We'll see. Any other information on soapstone?

1. How does the price compare to a granite like Uba Tuba?

I never priced granite, because I knew I could not DIY granite. My Soapstone was about $42 sq ft for gaged (not yet honed) slabs cut to size
2. Can you put hot pots on it? Chop on it (I never chop on my granite, but DH does sometimes)?

It's very heat tolerant; remember it is used for laboratory tops, it's unaffected by any chemicals. It will dull your knives if you cut on it, and steel will scratch it.

3. Does it stain?

No

4. Does it etch?

No

5.How often do you need to oil it? Will it eventually keep its darker color?

I never oil mine, it reached its dark color in 6 months. Oiling seemed like a colossal waste of time, I spent that time using "simple green" to clean the oil spatters from cooking. Wiping up spills and messes removed the oil, and would necessitate endless clean/re-oil procedures.
Casey

This is a large-ish scrap piece we have from the old house. It was used as and end table topper for several years and now itÂs the designated spot for the kids to prepare food. I have no idea what was on there (except that the lower right corner was some type of oil) but this picture was taken after my husband had been home alone all weekend.

A wipe with 50/50 vinegar and water. It doesnÂt look nearly this dull in real life.

After a coat of oil. This time, IÂd say it doesnÂt look that slick in real life.

The smaller pieces are samples we are interested in now and I keep them out to see how oiling, or lack of, compares to the pieces weÂve had for 4+ years. I've never sanded or used any special cleaner on that piece and it's seen some hard use.

backinthesaddle - thanks for answering those soapstone questions. I have decided on soapstone for my new kitchen but I need to get some samples now. Where did you get the samples you have and what kind of soapstone are they? I love the greenish color on the small top sample. I don't want my soapstone too dark (or too blackish).

Both those samples and the old piece are from M. Teixeira. The one you (and I) like are Rainforest Green. I started a thread about it a few months ago but I donÂt know how to link so IÂll see if I can bump it still. :)

sombreuil-- I'm a little confused; how did your ss darken if you never oiled it? I was under the impression that it would stay a grayish color without oil.

I guess it didnÂt bump but if you google "Rainforest Green Soapstone from M. Tex", you should find that thread.

We ordered the sampler and even though we ended up w/granite...I fell in love w/the Black Venata (my DH didn't want soapstone...but when we do the laundry room...I am putting in soapstone!)

Anyway...here's the link to M. Teixeira

Here is a link that might be useful: M. Teixeira Soapstone

Found the old thread on the rainforest green soapstone...thx

Here is a link that might be useful: Rainforest Green Soapstone from M. Tex

Soapstone can take waaaay more than 500 degrees of heat. There are wood stoves and fireplaces with fireboxes made of it. The "heat resistance" is a non-issue for a kitchen counter. Go ahead, build a fire on it, it won't hurt it. Might damage your curtains, though. : )

As for oiling frequency, that will depend on the stone you choose. I've had my GM Original for 1 yr., 5 mos. (yes, I love it so much I keep track of its birthday) and I oil it at the most once a month. Actually, I don't even oil it. I did the first few times then switched to the beeswax/oil mix. I sometimes touch up around the faucet/sink and stove area since they get more frequent cleaning with soap. It has never lightened up from the first oiling by Tom (Shadley's Soapstone).

No staining, no etching. Rarely do I get a scratch but I don't drag things across it nor would I ever cut on it or allow anyone else to. It doesn't have to get dinged up and scratched if you take care of it. And if you do get any of these they are easily fixed with another coat of oil or a light sanding.

I think mine looks as good as the day it was installed, and no, I don't iron my jeans. ; ) It's the perfect kitchen countertop, imo.

It darkens in contact with oxygen, I guess. Oiling it is like varnishing wood- it focuses the light hitting the stone, and fills in the surface micro-imperfections, and brings forth the "grain".
Casey

We were considering UbaTuba before we got interested in soapstone too. We went to two different granite places and got quotes on 3cm UbaTuba that both came out at about $5700, or $92/sqft installed. So when the DIY soapstone option at less than half that came up - and we loved the stone - it was a simple choice. I'm not sure what the same stone would have been if we'd had it installed.
I've oiled 3 times now I think, 4-6 weeks apart and it's been over a month now since the last one. I think it looks great just like it is and it'll have to be a day when I really have nothing better to do before I bother again. Oil as much or as little as you like - it's not actually necessary at all.

- Don

Thanks, Casey (much easier to spell!) I remember awhile back bayareafrancy (I think,) tried to figure out why ss darkens even though it is nonporous, and I don't think she came to any conclusion. It's nice to know that just leaving it also does the darkening job.