Greenstone Soapstone Masonry Heaters use a labyrinth of core heat exchange chambers to capture the energy of an efficient, clean-burning fire in its stone mass, and radiate that heat evenly over many hours, resulting in the world's most comfortable homes.
The heat from the fire is transferred to soapstone itself where it is gradually released into the surrounding area, a steady radiant heat. Instead of heating the air directly, the radiation warms the solid surfaces in the room and will even pass through walls and warm adjacent rooms.
Discover the unique benefits of soapstone
The heat absorption capacity of soapstone is more than twice that of other stone types, and the heat conduction is about 10 times faster. This makes soapstone a highly suitable material for stoves.
With a soapstone stove, you will pay a premium for both the look and the efficiency of the unit. If you use your heating appliance regularly, then a soapstone unit will save you time and money because you will not have to add fuel to the fire as often as you would with a standard unit.
Once heated, soapstone stays warm for hours, making it the ideal material for overnight heating or for other long stretches of time when you can't tend the fire.
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.
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.
At 88% efficiency (82% HHV) the King is the most efficient wood stove in the world. This allows you to get the most heat out of your wood to reduce your heating costs.
Soapstone is not only durable, it's unaffected by heat (hence its historical use in stoves) that means a hot frying pan can go directly from the stove to the counter, no trivets needed. Because it is chemically inert acids like tomatoes or lemon juice won't stain or etch its surface.
At the top of the wood-stove hierarchy are soapstone stoves. These stoves are built using thick soapstone slabs, bolted together with cast-iron trim. The soapstone is incredibly dense and retains heat for much longer than steel or even cast-iron will.
Usually, I can't get water to actually boil on the stove – but I found if I stoke the fire and get a full load of wood crackling, I can actually get a full, rolling boil on the soapstone stove.
Many common household cleaners can be used to clean soapstone surfaces. Chemicals and acids do not harm it. However, we do recommend mild non-alkaline soap and water because harsher solvents may remove the mineral oil treatment, generating more maintenance.
Granite can withstand high heat and is perfectly compatible with gas, electricity or solid fuel stoves such as coal or wood.
7) Place soapstone in an unheated oven and adjust the oven thermostat to desired temperature (up to 500°F /250°C/10 Gas mark). This is very hot. Let the Stone heat for 30 to 50 minutes.
Cooking with a Greenstone Aria Soapstone Oven
Find out what many cultures have known for centuries… soapstone is one of Mother Nature's greatest heating materials and non-stick cooking surfaces. Not only can you heat your home but you can create a unique and efficient cooking experience.
Not only is it a soapstone wood stove, bake oven and broiler, but the surface can be used as a cook-top, and you can also heat hot water with an optional hot water interior stainless steel circulation tank.
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.
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.
The answer is yes and no. Asbestiform laths are obvious in some of the soapstone that we see; however, the asbestos particles do not have to be visible to the naked eye or even magnifying glass to be harmful. It has been reported that roughly 40 to 50 percent of the soapstone contains some asbestos.
Standard homeowners insurance covers damage from fire and smoke, including accidental fires caused by chimney fires and fireplaces, but wood-burning fireplaces and stoves pose an increased risk to your home, which could mean higher insurance rates or lead to difficulty obtaining coverage.
You can fit up to 91 lbs. of wood into the King's 4.32cu.
ft. firebox. That's equal to 703,390 BTUs of available wood energy. The King can burn for 40+ hours on low or produce a tremendous amount of heat for 12 to 16 hours, depending on your installation and wood type.
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.
Soapstone does not crack easily
While it may appear soft, soapstone countertops do not crack easily. This is however a problem when it comes to scratches. The softness makes it easily susceptible to scratches but protects it from cracking.
Examine soapstone samples and put them to the test to ensure the stone is stainproof and acid-resistant—if the sample section stains or if undiluted white vinegar left on the surface for an hour causes etching or damage, it's not authentic soapstone.