Category Archives: Soapstone

What kind of oil to use for your soapstone countertops.

Oiling Tips:
We recommend oiling your countertops to ensure that the stone will evenly darken. The oil is not sealing or protecting the stone, it is only “speeding up” the natural darkening process that steatite (soapstone) goes through. Soapstone is non-porous and, unlike marble and granite, does not need to be sealed.

 
CARING FOR SOAPSTONE
The only maintenance required for soapstone (steatite) is the application of mineral oil to enhance the natural darkening process the stone goes through. You can also use butcher block conditioner. It last longer, appears more even & its not quite as messy. Once mineral oil/wax is applied, the stone will turn into a very dark charcoal gray, sometimes black. Often times, varieties of soapstone will keep a hint of green. Steatite (soapstone or soap-rock) is virtually heat proof and used in the construction of masonry heaters because of its excellent thermal qualities. It is also used in creating pizza stones, cooking pots, oven interiors and numerous related applications. You can take a pot right from your stove and place it on your soapstone countertops without harm.

Soapstone fireplaces? YES….. PLEASE!

Just the hearth, but that’s all it needed :-)

Oh.. so lodge sleek

Library green soapstone with rich cherry wood

Warm walnut wood surrounding this gorgeous charcoal grey soapstone centerpiece

Nautical comfort

Contemporary warmth

Distressed modern
Under construction. Straight & simple lines.
Cozy STYLE!
Simply Traditional
Antique sweetness
Two sided soapstone bliss!
Craftsman
Contemporary Mod
Loving this dog, rug & fireplace <3 <3 <3

Soapstone fireplaces? YES….. PLEASE!

Just the hearth, but that’s all it needed :-)

Oh.. so lodge sleek

Library green soapstone with rich cherry wood

Warm walnut wood surrounding this gorgeous charcoal grey soapstone centerpiece

Nautical comfort

Contemporary warmth

Distressed modern
Under construction. Straight & simple lines.
Cozy STYLE!
Simply Traditional
Antique sweetness
Two sided soapstone bliss!
Craftsman
Contemporary Mod
Loving this dog, rug & fireplace <3 <3 <3

Soapstone

A classic stone material with truly remarkable characteristics. This stone is pleasing to the touch with its soft soap-like feel, hence its name “Soapstone” which is due to its composition of Talc and Magnesium Steatite. As one may ponder the softness of this stone don’t let that elude you in terms of durability as Soapstone is a dense material, it is inert to acids such as lemon juice and it’s overall a strong stone. The surface of Soapstone does develop a charming patina over time which is quite desirable by most. Soapstone material is also easy on the maintenance list…the traditional means of sealing Soapstone is by using mineral oil and all that it entails is a simple wipe on & off procedure and voila sealed stone. The application of mineral oil reveals the inner beauty of this material and gives the stone a fresh and lustrous appearance.

This material typically is used as kitchen countertops, vanities, sinks, fireplaces or even pizza ovens! Yes that’s right pizza ovens, the heat characteristics of this material are beyond that of most materials so hats off to the chef!




How to care for your SOAPSTONE

SOAPSTONE MAINTENANCE

The only maintenance required for soapstone (steatite) is the application of mineral oil to enhance the natural darkening process the stone goes through. Once mineral oil is applied, the stone will turn into a very dark charcoal gray, sometimes black. Often times, varieties of soapstone will keep a hint of green. Steatite (soapstone or soaprock) is virtually heat proof and used in the construction of masonry heaters because of its excellent thermal qualities. It is also used in creating pizza stones, cooking pots, oven interiors and numerous related applications. You can take a pot right from your stove and place it on your soapstone countertops without harm.

OILING YOUR SOAPSTONE COUNTERTOPS

We recommend oiling your countertops to ensure that the stone will evenly darken. The oil is not sealing or protecting the stone, it is only “speeding up” the natural darkening process that steatite (soapstone) goes through. Soapstone is non-porous and, unlike marble and granite, does not need to be sealed.
There isn’t a set rule of how often you should oil the countertops. Oiling too little or too much will not damage the stone in any way. We recommend oiling the countertops as soon as the previous coat of mineral oil has started fading away (evaporating). Once you oil the countertops for the first time you will see the stone will become much darker. A few days from the first oiling, most soapstone will lighten back up. You can re-treat your countertops every time this happens. The soapstone will take approximately 3 coats of mineral oil to reach its final color, getting darker after every oiling. Every time you oil your countertops, the stone will hold the oil longer than the last time, until about the 6th or 8th month the stone will stay permanently dark.
You can oil the countertops any way you like. You can spread some oil on the counters, then rub it with a rag, or you can put the oil on the rag and oil the counters. To make the next oiling easier, keep the same rag in a zip lock bag, you will see that the rag will soak in the oil and spread easier on the countertops.
Immediately after you’ve oiled the soapstone, you can remove all the excess, until the countertops no longer feel slick. There is no such thing as “let the oil soak in”. Remember, soapstone is impermeable, nothing penetrates the surface.

CLEANING YOUR SOAPSTONE COUNTERTOPS

Any common household cleaner can be used to clean soapstone counter surfaces. Chemicals and acids do not harm it. However, we do recommend that you use regular soap and water because harsher solvents may remove the mineral oil treatment, therefore generating more maintenance. 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.
Removing Scratches
Eventually the countertops will get scratched. Most scratches can be hidden by lightly applying some mineral oil. If you get a deep scratch in there, you will need to do some sanding. With a small piece of 120-grit sandpaper, sand the scratch area in a circular motion until the scratch is almost gone, then using a 220-grit sandpaper do the same thing but this time using water. Clean up the countertop and oil in that section again. Sanding will remove the mineral oil, and remember that the stone will take 3 coats to reach the final color. You may notice a slight color difference on that spot. Do not worry, you can oil in the morning, then again in the afternoon and so on until the color evens out.

Conditioning Soapstone

Did you know you could use butcher block conditioner on your soapstone, instead of mineral oil? Not only does it last longer; its not as messy, its still food safe AND the overall look of your soapstone appears more even!