Soapstone sample test-- Is this normal?
I'm leaning toward soapstone for my new kitchen (new build). I've been saving these samples for years, after not using soapstone in my current kitchen. I wanted to get it back then, but I was overruled! (Got granite instead.) Now I'm testing the samples to see what they look like when I abuse them, eg, leaving fingerprints on them, dragging heavy pans across them. The larger sample is a "Brazilian" soapstone from a Vermont dealer. The smaller one is Alberene soapstone. I've ordered samples from M. Texeira but I don't have them yet.
I like the look and feel of the larger one, and I prefer the stone unoiled. The smaller one seems harder and smoother, and I don't care as much for the feel or for the pattern. That one scratched visibly when I dragged a cast iron pan across it (something I would avoid doing in real life), whereas the larger one didn't. I intentionally left olive oil fingerprints on the samples for a few days. (That test is more realistic for me!) When I tried to wash the olive oil away with Dawn dish soap (what I was told to do by a soapstone shop), neither of them washed out, but the larger one is more noticeable, as you can see.
Is the fingerprint thing something that happens with most kinds of soapstone? If you don't oil the countertop, do the fingerprints fade away over time, or do they develop into a sort of patina? I don't think this is a deal-killer for me, but I'd like to know what to expect.
Comments (7)
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2 years agoRelated Discussions
Real life soapstone test - water, lemon, ketchup
Comments (22)Wait a minute, plucky, I thought it was you who was supportive of me? Anyhow ... I'm glad it makes sense. Waxing may become a lost art if it's not passed on. And it DOES make a difference if you do it right -- a few coats of wax give you a nice, durable finish that's renewable and feels and looks SO good. There's nothing as lustrous as a real wax finish. I wish I knew more about chemistry and physics. I'm sure I could have a better explanation about how the molecules are excited from the energy introduced into the lipid and make a conformational change and line up differently ... but I took Italian instead! Ha! And now I can just order nicer things in restaurants. I admire laxsupermom's scientific approach. (But a wooden spoon to the head to her husband for not asking if he could clean it up. Sorry. Even my dad would.)...See MoreHelp with Testing Stone Sample
Comments (6)I can't speak to the staining on the side of the stone but if the top did not etch with vinegar & lime juice, it doesn't sound like your stone is marble. I recently did a similar test (red wine, vinegar, ketchup, mustard, orange slices) with several different marble samples (honed & polished Danby & Calacatta) and they all etched very quickly. Staining is not the same as etching. Etching is almost colorless. The etch marks on the polished pieces appear whiter than the marble and feel slightly rough. I'm not sure if I can feel them on the honed marble. Sealers will not prevent etching on marble. I'd feel good about your test results....See MorePlaying with my soapstone samples
Comments (13)frenchred -- I have Santa Rita, which is one of the very soft stones. It was installed in April, so has been in use for 8 months now. Yes, it dings easliy. It also scratches easily. And the thing with my Santa Rita that you will definitely want to check on your sample is that, unlike most soapstones, oiling doesn't make the dings and scratches completely disappear. If yours is a soft stone, it will look broken-in and lived-with. That said, both DH and I LOVE our soapstone. We have a very old house and did not want a shiny or contemporary looking kitchen. The dings and scratches are not at all glaring, and they don't really bother us (although I'd be happier if they weren't there). I'd recommend torturing your samples and then honestly assessing whether you can live with what you see. Soapstone is not for everyone, but I think most of us who have it, love it....See MoreSilestone Quartz Samples Tested
Comments (16)Yes, your results are consistent with what I found when I did several rounds of testing on manufactured quartz last summer. The suede finishes seem to be pretty prone to staining. I haven't tried bleach on a suede finish, but I used it a lot on the polished ones and it didn't damage the surface and it did remove the stains. As for the scratching, yes, the quartz surfaces tend to be slightly softer than granite. I tested that over and over and found that to be a consistent result. Another consequence of that is that scrubbing or abrasives can damage the finish. I didn't end up doing any comprehensive testing on suede finishes, so I didn't write about it in any of the articles - these used polished samples for the tests. Nonetheless, the results might be helpful to you. https://usenaturalstone.org/do-engineered-quartz-countertops-stain/ https://usenaturalstone.org/got-data-testing-the-performance-of-granite-engineered-quartz-concrete-and-sintered-countertop-surfaces/...See Moredarbuka
2 years agoBtw, all soapstone finished properly…by a soapstone expert like M. Teixeira, will have a matte appearance and a sensuous feel to it. Soapstone should never be shiny. That’s when people have problems with water rings.
Wait for the samples from M. Teixeira. If you live within a couple of hours from one of their locations, I highly advise you take a ride, talk to the staff and ask questions. And, of course, look through the slabs in the yard. At the yard, you can test for hardness (in the corner of a slab, with a coin), and with your finger. You’ll also be able to see the patterns on the slabs, and if they appeal to you.
We wanted a hard stone, with green and white inclusions. With the help of the Teixeira staff, we found the perfect slab.
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2 years agojulieste
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