Soapstone countertops

An internet chat room response about soapstone that caughtour curiosity.Re-printed

with permission of theauthorJoshua Schaefer who is a member of the Stone Fabricators Alliance (SFA)

"It blows me away how many misconceptions there are about soapstone. For those of you who don't know this. True soapstone is non-porous. Soapstone does not stain. Soapstone turns darker when oil is applied to the surface. The oil is only on the surface then evaporates off. A patina will build up over time. The application of mineral oil will have to be done more in the beginning and not so much as that patina is built up on the surface of the stone if you want the stone to look even. You don't have to oil, but the customer has to like the way the stone will patina. The areas that are more used will turn darker naturally causing an uneven look (many love this look). The oil will make the stone look more even. Oil does not protect the stone, it's only for keeping the "look" even.

The old saying if a mark is darker it's a stain, lighter it an etch. . .Does Not Apply to soapstone. Anything on the surface is only on the surface. A scrubby pad with dish soap will take care of 90% of problems with soapstone, the other 10% is done with a piece of sandpaper. . .not difficult. Care of soapstone is easy, but you have to like how natural soapstone looks. Don't sell them a black soapstone, don't sell them a grey soapstone, sell a process. . . an ever changing countertop that will react whatever way the owners use it. If they don't use it. . . it will look a certain way. If they heavily use the soapstone it will look a certain way. If they oil a lot, it will look even and darker, if they don't they will have a more natural patina. . . you get the point. Oh and soapstone will scratch. . .period. The harder varieties the softer varieties. . . they all scratch. End of story. Soapstone's patina includes all the wear that the owners give it. But it lasts.

Below is a lab table top that I would guess is older than 50 years. I believe the stone is from Albrene quarry before it closed a lifetime ago (now reopened). Someone really beat the snot out of it, painted it, kept using it, then I got it, refinished the one half and now have it as a show piece in my showroom. I could have gotten it perfect but that's the point, soapstone is not perfect, just different than any other stone in the world.

Hope this helps some of you.

Punta Gorda, Florida

http://www.creativesoapstone.com"

Soapstone countertops

By: Tom Shannon

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