If you pay attention to current trends, you will notice that most kitchens have granite countertops. Some kitchens even have countertops made from recycled glass. But why follow the trend? If you want to step out of the crowd, a countertop made from soapstone can be an excellent choice for your kitchen. It’s a unique and beautiful stone that gives your kitchen a special, mystic look. Read more at https://www.kitchenpursuit.com for more kitchen information.
The Geology of Soapstone
There were numerous myths about the limitations of this material. However, all of those turned out to be false, which makes soapstone a perfect choice. So, what is soapstone?
It’s actually a stone known as “steatite”, which contains a high percentage of talc. There are even some softer variations that contain around 80% of talc, which gives them a soapy feel. The main reason people avoid this material for countertops is that it’s used for carving. Naturally, it might give you a feeling that soapstone is not ideal for the kitchen.
However, the soapstone that is used for countertops contains around 25% of talc. Another great thing is that soapstone is less prone to staining. If you’ve checked the stores, you might have noticed that, usually, you can find them in variations of dark-grey colors.
Advantages of Soapstone
Obviously, the main advantage is that it’s almost impossible for the soapstone to stain. It’s a much better choice than granite, which can stain easily. But what about scratches? Well, you can simply sand them out when the time comes.
Also, the look of the soapstone is very antique. As it gets old and wears, it won’t change the feel of your kitchen. It’s an excellent choice if you have a rustic, retro, or old-looking kitchen. Now, let’s talk about sealing. For example, granite needs to be sealed at least once a year, maybe even more often. However, soapstone requires no sealing, and the material is immune to burns, which is fantastic.
Disadvantages of Soapstone
Let’s talk about some of the main disadvantages of the soapstone. At first, we should say that this material is usually expensive. For example, you might need to pay around $120 for a square foot, which is really pricey. Also, when it comes to colors, your choices are pretty much limited. Most soapstone countertops are gray, starting from the light variant, and then get darker over time.
Since the material does scratch, we can consider this a disadvantage. However, soapstone has a rustic look. That way, as it scratches, it only enhances the way it looks. Also, you might need to oil the soapstone countertop using mineral oil now and then. Also, during the first year, you will need to oil it every month.
Conclusion
If you like the old, rustic look of the kitchen, the soapstone countertop will be an ideal choice for you. It develops an even more antique look over time, which is another big plus. Also, there are no worries about the maintenance. So, if you are ready to pay a lot for the antique look of the kitchen, be sure to check out the soapstone countertop.