Eppinghouse,
There is a lot fo information on this forum, so make sure to read as much as possible.

We are installing our soapstone ourselves (still scary to think about after reading all this stuff) and Teixeira is cutting it.

We are making the templates. If possible, I would recommend making the templates and sending them.

For the sink, they told us to provide a template for the sink (it is a drawing that comes with your sink). The template that comes marks the inside of your sink (in our case at least). You need to specify how far the countertop is going to overlay with respect to that. Some people do negative, some people do positive overlays. Some people do it flush. You also need to specify, how far the CENTER of the sink is going to be from the edge of the template, left to right and how far the EDGE of the sink is going to be from the pack wall. Now, your supplier might ask for different kind of measurements, so double check with them.

You also need to specify where your faucet holes are going to be on the template.

Last, I read somewhere, not to fix the sink in place until the counters arrive, so you have a little bit of jiggle room in case the sink cut-out is not right on where you want it to be.

I hope this helps.

Pinar

Eppinghouse We templated for our soapstone counters and it really was not that difficult. We are working with Maine soapstone. They sent us the material and Gary talked us through the process. We included the sink template that came with our Ticor sink, the spec sheets for our faucet and soap dispenser. We also faxed a copy of our cabinet plan with all the measurements. Even with all this we still had quite a few emails and phone calls to discuss details. They have already fabricated and shipped them. We should receive them early this week. We are keeping our fingers crossed for a good fit and easy install.

I started another thread some time ago and Kevin from A-Z stone consulting posted an excellent response with lots of good advice. Maybe you can find it with the wonky search engine.

Pinar Have you started your template yet?

just remember all of you do it yourselfers....soapstone is very soft and breaks easily and if you break it while installing it, you are screwed because it doesn't "patch" like granite. We rarely use it on our projects because large area use almost always ends up with staining and wicking. It looks great when it is first installed...if it doesn't break...but long term you will notice the stains. We have used the best sealers out there and have tested every one without success. The stone still wicks, stains and discolors.

Good luck.

All I can say is, "Sealers????". Did I miss something here with my hours of reading?

The reason why selars do not work on soapstone is because you are not supposed to seal it. Anyone who does work with soapstone on a regular basis will tell you: it is non-porous, and therefore the sealers will not penetrate. The fact the stone is non-porous makes the sealer completely unnecessary.

Eppinghouse, I would check with Alberine and ask them for advice, as well as holding on for Florida Joshua and Kevin from A-Z to chime in. I used Maine Soapstone like vwhippiechick is doing, and they installed for me. One thing I remember is them telling me to tell the subs to NOT stand or kneel directly on the stone. If they had to get on there to finish some work, they should use a pad between their knees and the stone. I never did find out exactly why, but I think I will go back and ask Gary!

Don't kneel on the soapstone??!! Is that just when it's being installed or ever? Since I'm short, I often climb on my counters to reach into the top shelf of my cabinets. So I guess I'd have to learn to modify that habit if I got soapstone.

We did do out template today. Here is the method we followed.

We screwed an initial piece of template wood that we got from Teixeira onto a cabinet to keep everything from sliding around.

For the wall side, we put a piece along the wall and the traced it with a pencil, holding the pencil flush with the wall. This basically drew a trace of the wall on the piece. We grinded beyond the pencil mark using an angle grinder. When we put the new piece back, it fit snug to the wall. (Our house is old. Even though we tried to make our walls even when the new sheetrock went up, they are not exactly. I am not sure how necessary this is on a newer house.)

We used hotglue to put the pieces together first. When everything was finished, we used a staple gun to put the pieces together.

Our sink was hnad made fireclay and hence the sink opening varied 1/8" front to back. So we put extra pieces tangent to the sink opening as well. They can use these in addition to the sink template to make the cut-out.

We haven't marked the faucet holes yet. I think we forgot. We'll do that tomorrow.

I hope we did everything right.

Teixeira actually told us to make the template in pieces of how we want the slabs cut. I do have an imput as to where I want the seems, but we thought, if we make the template in pieces like that, they will never fit together flush. I think it should be the fabricators job to decide on the exact location of the seems, anyway. So, I think they are getting the entire piece, unless they reject it. We will see.

We allowed for a 1 1/2" overhang from the face frame of the cabinets, which ended up being about 5/8 - 3/4" from the door fronts. I can't remember the exact number. Where the peninsula ends and there are no doors, we had a 1" overhang. I am still crossing my fingers that it will look good. We kind of had to decide fast.

We also need to decide on how much of a counter overhang we should allow around the sink basin.

I hope we didn't do anything wrong.

p.

Bellamy,
if you are a stone "professional" and you are discouraging the use of soapstone you are in the wrong place.

And if you are a stone professional and you are sealing the little amount of soapstone you have installed, then you do not know about soapstone, because you do not seal it. Silicone sealers are not absorbed into the stone.

type soapstone into the search engine here and read a bit before you comment.

It is always amazing how much misinformation is out there still. Installed correctly you can stand, sit, even hang out on your countertops. I would avoid sitting on small rails like the front of a cook top or sink but I would prob say that about any counter. People who say that are just not confident about the stone or their work. Or they won't guarantee their stone or work. I will. And I sat on my counters all the time.

Staining soapstone is a joke, any scientist will tell you it does not stain. Oil turns the surface darker though, this is many times mistaken for "staining". If someone does not like the patina of soapstone they often oil it to even it out.

It gets old hearing the same lies over and over. The good thing is most people seem to know the truth now so when misconceptions come up it is quickly realized.

Pinar, looks like your on the ball, keep up the good work. A bit of advice, is when marking out your sink template keep the overhang ¼ inch into the sink. Also keep it at a 90 degree angle to the face of the cabinets so your sink (which is often not straight) looks straight to the eye. It also gives you and the fabricator some wiggle room. If you want the sink to reveal a bit tolerances have to be perfect. Carrying the stone, just make sure you carry it like glass; keep the stone close to your body when carrying it and always use your legs to lift. And always get some help. Your health is not worth any counter top.

Eppinghouse-

You asked:

Are there any pitfalls we should avoid?

Do we really need a designer/expert to measure if only the sink cutout size is changing?

Does our contractor need any special experience to install the soapstone?

Here's my toughts:

IF you don't have "skills" (remember the scene from
"6 Days - 7 Nights" Anne Heche asks Harrison Ford:
Aren't you one of those guys with "skills"???) You may
be in for an very difficult time...

Every one of us "pro's" - started out just like you - and
we either learned from our mistakes, or were fortunate to
have a mentor/teacher (in my case it was my Dad) to guide us
through the various "mine-fields" at the school of hard knocks...

With that being said - I'd employ an expert to watch over my
shoulder -
to catch any goofs that I'd make along the way-
it would be (in my opinion) a good investment in order to
insure that the job gets done right - the first time - instead
of the second or third time...HA! :-)

Does your contractor need special experience to install
your soapstone?? - well, yeahhh!!!
I mean, this is NOT rocket science -
BUT - Soapstone is different that other stones,
and it has it's own unique set of personality traits that
a guy who does other materials (other that Soapstone) may
not be aware of... It's like meeting a guy who owns a
Cessna 172 and can fly it well - and asking him to get in
a Lockheed C-5A and fly it around - both airplanes fly well,
but if He's not famliliar with both - He may have a bad day...
(trying to fly the C-5A that is...)

Don't get me wrong - IF you have the skill sets, take your time
and plan out every step that you are doing, you'll probably
be fine -

but if I were you, I'd take a serious look at
getting some professional help with the installation of your
Soapstone - It sounds like you are almost "there" and I'd
hate to see your investment spoiled by making mistakes that
you could have avoided...

Hopefully Florida Joshua will chime in on this thread too-
VR James has some great comments too, and the more "pro" opinions on this (IMHO) the better....

vwhippiechick - thanks for the kind remarks!!! Groovy!!!!

kevin

Kevin M. Padden MIA SFA
Fabricator, Trainer & Consutltant to the Natural Stone Industry
www.azschoolofrock.com

Joshua -

Looks like you were typing at the same time I was too!!!

I'd like to know some things about you, so I can refer folks
to you directly on Soapstone issues:

How many Soapstone projects have you installed over the years?

And how many different types of Soapstone are you aware of /and have worked with?

Do you have a website tha people can be referred to?

Clearly, you are one of the best sorces for Soapstone
information, and IMHO - your comments and expertise are
always a valuable asset to any Soapstone Discussion...anywhere

Best Regards my Brutha - and Happy Fabricating!!!

kevin

kevin M. Padden MIA SFA
Fabricator, trainer & Consultant to the Natural Stone Industry
www.azschoolofrock.com

I sent you an email to your website Attn. Kevin

Didn't want to hijack this thread, I'll see you around brother! ! !

Kevin - You're welcome. Sorry 'bout the Packers. We love 'em too. Guess I'm an Eli fan for next weekend. Groovy to you too! ;-)

Peace Love Dove

Farm Out - Right Arm!!!

(I'm putting my tiedye Grateful Dead T-Shirt on...)