Soapstone weighs an average of 20 lbs. per square foot! It is a nonporous stone and will not absorb liquids and stains like other natural stones will. It is also heat resistant.
Soapstone Countertop Pros and Cons
Composed of magnesite, dolomite, chlorite, and talc, soapstone is very soft yet extremely dense. Soapstone is heavier than granite per square foot. Like granite and slate, soapstone is a siliceous stone and is not affected by acids. It's nearly indestructible.
The most common size of a soapstone slab is approx 70” x 118” and 3cm (1-1/4” thick).
Density of solid soapstone equals to 2.96g/cm3 exactly which makes it 184.79 lbs/cu-ft and in Metric 2,960 kg/m3 heavy volume.
Raw soapstone slabs range in price from $45 to $85 per square foot, depending on where the stone was quarried and its talc content (lower talc content—and a harder surface—is usually more expensive).
Since soapstone countertops do not crack easily, they are more durable than other countertops made of natural stone. Its non-porosity feature also means that your soapstone countertops can serve you for a long period without requiring sealing.
Soapstone, being softer than granite and marble, is also more prone to scratches. The great advantage is that any scratches can be easily removed with a light sanding and/or mineral oil. Light scratches can be hidden by lightly applying some mineral oil.
For kitchen soapstone countertops, we recommend using 1-1/4″ thick soapstone which, unlike thinner material, doesn't require a sub-base on your cabinets. Most backsplash material is made of 1-1/4″ thick soapstone.
The weight of granite depends on its density. The average 3/4″ thick granite weighs 13 pounds per square foot, 1 1/4″ thick granite weighs around 18 to 20 pounds per square foot, and 2″ thick granite weighs about 30 pounds per square foot. The darker stones are usually heavier than the lighter stones.
Each cubic foot of rock weighs approximately: Limestone: 165 lbs/cu. ft. Granite: 175 lbs/cu.
So, if you have a 70 sq ft kitchen, but the soapstone countertop slabs are 55 sq ft apiece, there will be a lot leftover. However, if your kitchen is 90 sq ft, there will be less material left over, which will decrease the cost per square foot.
Unlike other mineral stones, soapstone comes in limited color options. Its typical color options are green, black, white, bluish gray, and gray.
Scratch the surface of the stone with your fingernail. Soapstone is very soft; it is assigned a rating of 2 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. This means that simply by drawing your fingernail across the surface of the stone you should be able to mark it.
Soapstone is a rare stone. This makes it relatively more expensive compared to man-made countertop materials. The average cost of soapstone countertops ranges between $70 to $120 per square foot, excluding installation.
Soapstone is very dense (2.75 grams per cubic centimeter, 20% more dense than standard firebricks), which means it does an excellent job of retaining heat.
Also a high-quality natural stone, granite will not cost you as much soapstone. The material typically costs in the range of $40 to $100 per square foot installed.
Another benefit of solid surface material is that it only weighs 5 pounds per square foot compared to 18 to 20 pounds per square foot of granite and 16 to 23 pounds per square foot of quartz.
Because quartz and granite are minerals with natural variations, exact density varies from sample to sample, though overall quartz averages about 2.65 g/cc and granite comes in a little heavier at 2.7 to 2.8 g/cc. Countertops of comparable size of granite and quartz will weigh about the same, give or take a few pounds.
Stormy Black is one of the harder soapstone varieties, so it easily withstands everyday use in the kitchen.
Unless you choose one of the more exotic varieties of marble, you can expect to pay between $60 and $85 per square foot for marble countertops. Soapstone countertops cost between $70 and $120.
Thanks to its mineral composition and nonporosity, there is no need for soapstone to be sealed to keep moisture, bacteria and food particles from penetrating its surface, as is often required for porous stones such as granite and marble.
When it comes to natural stone countertops, there are more options out there than just marble and granite. If you love the dark beauty of granite and the light veining of marble, consider soapstone instead. It's durable, relatively low-maintenance, and has a lovely, old-world feel.
Stains are easily cleaned by scrubbing or even sanding the stains away. However soapstone is a very soft stone and is prone to scratches. Minor scratches are easily repaired with an FDA approved food grade mineral oil or enhancer.
Natural soapstone colors come in a selection of hues. Typically, the color options range from a palette gray, green, black, or blue-ish gray. Additionally, there some options may have swirls of quartz and white.