Anyone have a soapstone countertop?

[Deleted]

I really love what I see, but would love to see what people think after using for a while.  Also, did you install yourself?  I've read that you can actually cut and install without a pro and my parents are very DIY handy and would help.

[hausfrau]

Gardenweb is a great resource for soapstone info. In particular, I saved this thread about DIY'ing soapstone counters when I was researching them myself: ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0310172923514.html.

I'm still considering soapstone when we ever get around to our countertops, but I have a feeling we'll end up with butcher block because it isn't quite as heavy. We might need to reinforce our cabinets if we use stone.

[bunnymendelbaum]

We were going to get soapstone until the installer/drug addict ran off with our deposit. He did do the neighbors soapstone countertops and while they looked nice, I was almost glad it didn't work out for ours. They were greenish and very variegated in color. It looked almost '80s to me. We wanted a more black matte look.
I'd check out the soapstone you can get in your area before you decide. It varies in look region to region.
I think it could be DIY. Just make sure your cabinets can handle the weight.
It will show scratches, and water marks to come extent, so you need to be ok with that.
(We ended up going w black epoxy resin DIY. I loved it.)

[decemberwedding07]

I have soapstone and I really like them. We are moving in the coming weeks and eventually we will probably replace the counters at the new house with soapstone. I like that soapstone in veined and marbled, but not porous like marble. We haven't had issues with stains, but soapstone does scratch. Our house is 100 years old, so the nicked surface doesn't look out of place. It doesn't bother me at all. When they are oiled, the scratches aren't noticeable to me.

[msmerymac]

Jan 25, 2015 14:42:43 GMT -5 decemberwedding07 said:

I have soapstone and I really like them. We are moving in the coming weeks and eventually we will probably replace the counters at the new house with soapstone. I like that soapstone in veined and marbled, but not porous like marble. We haven't had issues with stains, but soapstone does scratch. Our house is 100 years old, so the nicked surface doesn't look out of place. It doesn't bother me at all. When they are oiled, the scratches aren't noticeable to me.

Does oiling change the color? I hear it makes them darker. 

I'm basically only considering soapstone or butcher block in our kitchen, but it's a few years away. I think either of those or marble are the only products that would like right in our ~100 year old house, but marble might be a bit high-end for our neighborhood. I also like the idea of a contrast with white cabinets. 

[decemberwedding07]

Jan 25, 2015 14:49:32 GMT -5 msmerymac said:

Jan 25, 2015 14:42:43 GMT -5 decemberwedding07 said:

I have soapstone and I really like them. We are moving in the coming weeks and eventually we will probably replace the counters at the new house with soapstone. I like that soapstone in veined and marbled, but not porous like marble. We haven't had issues with stains, but soapstone does scratch. Our house is 100 years old, so the nicked surface doesn't look out of place. It doesn't bother me at all. When they are oiled, the scratches aren't noticeable to me.

Does oiling change the color? I hear it makes them darker. 

I'm basically only considering soapstone or butcher block in our kitchen, but it's a few years away. I think either of those or marble are the only products that would like right in our ~100 year old house, but marble might be a bit high-end for our neighborhood. I also like the idea of a contrast with white cabinets. 

Oiling does make them darker, but only temporarily. They will be darker as long as the oil is on them. The oil usually wears off in about a week. Oiling them is very easy. You just clean the counters like you normally would, and then apply the mineral oil. I have found applying the oil is much faster if you use a sponge, rather than a rag.