What is Soapstone?

Like marble, soapstone is a metamorhpic rock. Unlike marble, which is comprised primarily of calcium, soapstone is inert, made primarily of talc, with a great deal of magnesium. This gives soapstone its characteristically soft, smooth finish, feeling "soap like". Unlike many other natural stones, soapstone is non-porous and does not need to be sealed. Soapstone is also chemical and heat neutral, meaning there is no worry about acid etching, or  scorching.  Soapstone will patina and darken with age, which enhances its beauty and helps to bring out the veining.

Green soapstone, or Emerald Soapstone is a popular color for many kitchen designs. The green color in the soapstone is due to the presence of serpentine, and helps to make the material harder, and less prone to scratching that occurs in soapstones. Many green soapstones do not need to be oiled.

Grey soapstones are a beautiful light gray to nearly black sometimes with dramatic light veins like marble. Grey soapstones are often oiled to deepen the color and blend small marks and scratches that occur on the surface with use.  See Soapstone Samples

Care of Soapstone - Options

Option# 1  Don't do a thing! Time will make grayish soapstone darken slowly with regular use.  It will gain a natural patina darkening slowly over time.  If there is a bothersome scratch or mark, either rub it out with dry paper towel or a very light grit sandpaper ( 300-400 grit )

Option # 2 Use standard mineral oil purchased in a pharmacy.  Rub a light coating into the stone then remove the excess.  This will darken the stone significantly to almost black.  Reapply every 4-8 weeks to keep the color uniform.  Over time the oil will evaporate.  If you decide you do not like the dark color use a sander to remove it. it has not penetrated very far into the stone.

Option # 3 Stone sealers will work with limited effect on soapstone compared to granite.  A penetrating sealer will not absorb deeply into the stone like it will into granite or marble, but will provide a barrier near the surface preventing it from changing color and developing a natural patina.  An enhancing sealer will darken the stone similar to the oil.  If either sealer is scratched all the way through, more can be applied to blend it in.

Scratches:  The depth of the scratch will determine how to repair it.  The deeper the scratch the lower the sandpaper grit you'll start with.  80 grit is very rough and will sand very quickly.  Graduate to higher and higher sandpaper grit, stopping at about 300-400 to match the original finish.  After completing the repair top it off with a little oil or sealer.

There are many types of soapstone, each one performing slightly differently.  Please use the above information as a base, but use common sense to accomodate minor variations of this amazing material.

After 100 years of hard use, soapstone can be easily refinished to it original state as though it was just installed.