Hi Sherri, thanks for the input. I too read slate is non porous. However I have a rust stain from a cast iron pan that was dry but unused for a very long time, the counter was dry as well, I was moving back into my kitchen and the rust from that pan definitely stained. So did my hisbiscus rose hip tea. So I have slightly porous slate. I have bunny rabbits that eat what the books say they shouldn't too! Lol, at least I can use fine steel wool to get rid of them. I'm currently debating between hoping they weather darker and I get a scratch patina or using a sealer which I really didn't want to use. I loved simplicity of the mineral oil. But found out it wasn't so simple! Lol. I knew it was softer than granite etc. But didn't expect it to scratch by someone moving the butter dish, or a plate. There's not a ton on the web in regards to slate in particular. Just a bunch of copied and pasted articles from one site to the other.

I have been "abusing" my Black Ash slate samples for a few days now, and am intrigued. LOVE the way it looks and feels. Little concerned about the scratching, dragging, etc marks. Although, I have been able to hide all of my experimental scratches with steel wool and a black sharpie. The sample stood up remarkably well to red wine as well as softenend butter--both wiped off with no problem after sitting for an hour or so. If you actually have slate counter tops, please share any insight. Thanks!

I work a lot with slate (for roofs) and it has a nice rugged feel to it. What might happen is that, in certain circumstances, blows to the edges might cause it do shear off in layers. Note my lack of certainty about whether this would happen because I think it largely depends on how the slab was cut. Your fabricator can reassure you on that point, or ought to be able to. When I cut or split slates it never ceases too amaze me how easily (with very modest blows) I can cause a hard rock to separate into layers. What makes for easy fabrication of roof slates might be a nightmare if it kept separating along the edge of your sink cut out every time you accidentally whacked it with a pot lid, for instance. While it's quite touchable, it doesn't have quite the "pat me" warmth of soapstone because it always feels cooler due to its different thermal properties. That could be a good thing, or a bad thing, depending on how you use it and your typical room temps. In a cool to cold climate having that much slate mass (absent counter heating) might seem like too much of a good thing. OTOH, if your mountain-y house is in AZ, or AL, it might be just the ticket. It's also pretty pricey, even here in northern NY next door to still active quarries in both NY and VT. It's even pricier than some granites and soapstones brought from far overseas. Go figure. However, at least with US-mined slate you csn have a reasonable hope that mine safety and environmental issues have been addressed. Not so, I fear, with stuff hauled out of Brazil and Asia. Slate is a really nice rock and I have seen gorgeous counters made with it (in showrooms, not in private houses). I would have it in my kitchen in a heartbeat except that I think it is too cold to work well in my wood-heated, but still very chilly (by most people's standards) house. HTH, L

I don't like the look of granite either. I had also considered slate. But slate does require some maintenance like granite. I settled on soapstone, which has the right look without the maintenance. There is another option too. It's called Pietra di Cardoso. They usually list it under granite because it has the same maintenance. I have read that it's not good choice for a countertop, but I do love the look. I'm also in MA and one place I went to look at slabs is Granite and Marble in Westwood. They have some of everything including the Pietra I mentioned above. I think they will match you up with a fabricator if you don't have one. http://www.marbleandgranite.com/ I got my soapstone from the M. Teixeira affiliate in Newburyport.