Why is it so hard to find nice soapstone in Kansas?

15 years ago

I just got back from a second round of shopping the local granite suppliers for nice soapstone. I have my heart set on the Cobra from M. Tex. My fabricator laughed out loud when I told him the materials cost (about $45 per square foot) and said I could do much better. He sent me out shopping locally again and it was awful on several counts. None of this will surprise anyone on this board.

1) The granite suppliers are CLUELESS about soapstone. I got the usual "it will etch" "it is high maintenance" baloney. The thing that was new to me is the "it is all just called soapstone" when I asked what kind they are showing me. I said to one girl "that is like saying this is all granite" about their hundreds of slabs of granite. Clueless.

2) The soapstone available locally is all very green and very very grainy / blotchy. I'm looking for very clean with some veining, no blotching at all, and grey, dark grey, or black. Two different salespeople told me that the green stuff will "turn black" over time. Is this true? I don't think so - I think the green stuff darkens to a darker green and the grey/black stuff darkens to a darker black.

3) I had two different people try to sell me slate instead of soapstone. I guess it does have a similar look, but my guess (not supported because I have done any research) is that it does not stand up to abuse like soapstone does. I truly pity the poor fool who makes any kind of decision based solely on what they are told by the granite suppliers.

I saw nothing I loved and little I liked a lot, so I'm probably going to choke on my checkbook and go for the Cobra.

Anita

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Comments (6)

jkinpv
15 years ago
Because it's harder to find everything here in Kansas! Have you checked around the KC Metro for suppliers? There's got to be someone who deals with soapstone here...
smilingjudy
15 years ago
I feel your pain. It is soooo hard to find anything slightly out of the mainstream here. How is slate a substitute for soapstone? They've obviously never felt the stuff.

This may be a bit out there, but have you tried Sturgis? Love those guys. They might have it.
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staticfritz
15 years ago
My soapstone deinfitely changes color tint a bit after oiling. it is very green when watered or on the first oiling, but after letting it sit for a day or so, and all subsequent oilings are much darker.

it's mariana reserve soapstone from Rocktops in crete, IL

good luck with KC! (you could always drive up to Rocktops to buy the raw slabs)
kelleg69
15 years ago
Are you in Kansas City? I did see some grayish soapstone at either DalTile or ISI (Tile Gallery). I like the green soapstone and have seen some nice slabs of that, but it sounds like that isn't what you want. Also, Home Depot does carry soapstone. A girl from St. Louis got some through them and it was very nice (and she posted pictures somewhere on this forum). I asked about it at the Metcalf and 95th Home Depot and they do have it was grayish. The problem with them is that you can't look at slabs until they have a purchase order. Maybe you can find a fabricator first who can help you find the soapstone.
phoggie
15 years ago
jkinpv~~ AMEN....everything is harder to find in Kansas...if you think KC is bad, try coming west a couple of hours...nothing but small Home Depots and Lowes....and if you do happen to find something, it costs an "arm and a leg". I hope you find what you are looking for.
nomorebluekitchen
Original Author
15 years ago
smilingjudy, I laughed out loud when I saw your post. My husband had just one minute before asked me "have you looked at sturgis?" when I scrolled down and saw your question. The answer is, yes, I asked them, but they're a fabricator. They get their stone from the same supply houses as everyone else, CST, Case Supply, Bedrock, DalTile, etc.

I did a little research on slate and actually it looks very much like soapstone (matte, very buttery to the touch, and pretty darn impervious to stains and such) if you pick the right variety. There have been a few threads here on GW about it.

Thanks for the empathy everyone! Kelleg, thanks for the tip to try Home Depot. I never would have dreamed to look there for something so specialized.

Anita

Why is it so hard to find nice soapstone in Kansas?

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Why is it so hard to find nice soapstone in Kansas?

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