Soapstone Countertops - Adding Warmth And Value

If you are looking to redo your kitchen countertops, you might consider using soapstone. Soapstone countertops have many good qualities and are very pleasing to look at. When soapstone was first used in America in the 19th century, it was often used to make sinks and washtubs, but as advances in kitchen designs have evolved they were brought in as countertops.

Most of the top quality soapstone is imported from Brazil. You can also find it in India and Finland but the high quality stuff comes from Brazil. There are not a lot of color choices when it comes to soapstone countertops. In its natural form it ranges from a dark gray and turns towards the sage green family.

What Exactly is Soapstone?

Soapstone is a metamorphic rock. It is composed of two elements, talc and magnetite. The magnetite is what gives it the soap like texture, hence the name. Some manufacturers also refer to soapstone as "steatite" so do not get confused if that is how it is referred to.

One of the great things about soapstone is that it is inert, which simply means that it is nonreactive and will not be changed by chemical or biological reaction. So they cannot be harmed by substances that are acidic or alkaline like other countertop materials.

Your soapstone countertops are also very easy to maintain because they are non-porous. Being a non-porous material means that it will not stain and that it will be a bacteria-free surface. Soapstone is also very heat resistant and able to withstand high heat. In fact it withstands heat so well that it is often used in fireplaces and in different types of cookware.

When shopping for soapstone you will learn that some people have a misconception about it. Many people have the idea that architectural soapstone is not good in home construction projects because it is too soft of a material. This is just not true; it is actually denser than say granite for example.

There may not be many real color choices when it comes to soapstone countertops but you can take your countertop and apply mineral oil to it giving you a way to enhance and darken up the color. The good thing is that if you don't like the change, it is any easy process to restore it back to its original color.

Soapstone countertops will add durability and beauty to your home. It will give your kitchen a warm traditional look and help to increase the value of your home. When properly taken care of they will not only last your lifetime but they can go on for generations. Soapstone may cost more than other countertop materials initially but it is an investment that will certainly payoff in long run.