Low maintenance: Soapstone is relatively low maintenance and does not require regular sealing or special cleaners. Heat resistance: Soapstone is highly heat resistant, making it ideal for placing hot pots and pans directly on the surface.
Soapstone counters can scratch easily, and they require routine oiling to maintain their appearance. They also come in limited color options and are more expensive than other countertop materials.
Ease of cleaning and maintenance
Since soapstone is non-porous, it is easy to clean. However, you need to use mild soap and a soft sponge. When it comes to maintenance, soapstone countertops need regular oiling to maintain their natural look.
Soapstone countertops are a bit of a utilitarian countertop option because of their functionality and lack of color options. Still, they shouldn't be overlooked because they provide a good middle-of-the-road value for countertops and require little maintenance.
Limestone, Soapstone, Sandstone Countertops Last 20-50 Years. Limestone, soapstone, and sandstone are all softer stone varieties that make elegant, solid-color countertops in modern kitchens. However, all three are very porous which means a high risk of scratches, stains, and even hidden mildew if not properly sealed.
If you don't have a coating on your natural stone surfaces but are still worried about disinfecting, regular Clorox Wipes can be used to give your counters a wipe down in a pinch, but don't let them sit directly on the stone!
Soapstone is both chemical resistant and heat resistant, so you can set hot pots and pans directly on soapstone without risk of cracking or scorching. Soapstone is much softer and more prone to scratching than granite or quartz however, so preparing food directly on your soapstone counters could easily scratch it.
Quartz is resistant to scratches, stains, and heat, plus it's non-porous. This makes quartz one of the most durable countertops you can buy for your kitchen or bathroom.
"It is a softer material, so it does scratch easier," Carbia says. Homes with children who drop things, or homeowners who prefer cutting straight on the countertop as opposed to using a cutting board, might damage soapstone.
The nonporous, stain-resistant properties of soapstone make it ideal for kitchen surfaces. This dense material doesn't harbor bacteria, so you can easily wipe germs and contaminants from your countertop, sink, and backsplash.
Soapstone surfaces need not be sealed, but we recommend treatment with mineral oil if consistent surface darkening is desired. Without treatment, soapstone will darken in uneven regions around surface areas most frequently used. Leaving the soapstone untreated will develop a patina of age that many people enjoy.
You should apply it with a clean cloth, then wipe the excess away—it's that simple. Although soapstone is naturally nonporous, it will benefit from a beautifying sealer like SimpleCoat to make the colors pop and protect it from staining. Water, oil and greasy substances can cause it to become discolored and stained.
Quartz Countertops are your most durable option for New Stone Countertops. Scratch-Resistant, Chip Resistant, and Stain Resistant without ever having to Seal your Countertops.
Soapstone is a little more expensive than granite, although not by much. The prices can be comparable, depending on the stone. A high-end soapstone may be very expensive but also improves property values significantly.
Soapstone is non-porous and, unlike marble and granite, does not need to be sealed. You can purchase our specially formulated Soapstone Care Mineral Oil from our online store. This is a lighter-grade mineral oil, which is easier to apply than standard drugstore mineral oil.
It is a surface phenomenon and is not related to absorption, but mineral oil adsorption! This explains why soapstone is non-porous and therefore does not absorb any liquid, but it is darkened by mineral oil as it adsorbs it on its surface.
How often you apply mineral oil to soapstone is up to you and the look you like. If you like a dull dark look, once in a great while (quarterly or annually) perhaps may be more than enough. If you like it wet and glossy you will have to apply it more frequently (every couple of weeks) to maintain that look.
Talc and soapstone may contain asbestos. In a longitudinal study in Germany samples of materials used have been taken over a periode of 10 years. Only very small quantities of asbestos have been detected.
Quartz countertops are the easiest natural stone to take care of. They are engineered using ground stone and resin, so they don't require regular sealing they way most granite and marble countertops do. This stone is non-porous, so it does not easily stain or etch.
You could be considering finishing, maintenance, staining, durability, color, or any other of the number of aspects that come with different countertop options. But when it comes to specific interests, namely doing high level cooking in the kitchen, top chefs in the world prefer granite countertops.
Quartz is an incredible material and easy to clean.
For heavier stains, glass or surface cleaners will do the trick since quartz is non-porous and you don't have to be as finicky with the pH as you would with granite.
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 does not emit radon. This make it desirable as a building material for homes because it does not release a toxic gas into the living environment of human beings. It is advantageous in that regard to granite which does emit radon.
Just turn out the dough and get to it; the soapstone countertop is ideal, especially for larger products that might expand beyond a cutting board or piece of parchment paper.