We did DIY slabs from M Tex in the Denver area. They cut to the measurements we provided and we fine tuned the cuts (we didn't know exact measurements for our counters until after we ordered) and did the edge treatment ourselves. It takes some special tools but nothing fancy. Mostly diamond blades and bits for regular drill and good, quality circular saw. It was $41/square foot.

The prices quotes I've received for Central NJ have pretty consistently been $79 to $89 a square foot. That price includes fabrication and installation.

I got my counters from M Tex in Denver. They had a sale and I paid $70 per sq ft installed. The fabrication and install were tricky. I would highly recommend them. Other places in the Denver area were $75 - $90 per sq foot.

Francoise47, would you mind telling me where you got your quotes? I am also in Central NJ. I know of Garden State, but that is it. They quoted me $89 for fabrication and installation.
Thanks.

Thanks for the info. Doggonegardener, did M. Teixera give you instructions or did you watch videos on the web to figure out how to install? Also, are seams very noticeable? Any other info will be appreciated.

Depending on where you are, you can order DIY slabs and counters from M.Tex - the prices seem really great.

Here is a link that might be useful: DIY soapstone

Dear Designnov, I thought the price was $79 per square foot at Teixeira and $89 at Gardenstate. But I just looked at the fine print in my Teixeira quote and it says to add $10 per square foot for some areas. So maybe in the end the price with fabrication is $89 for both locations.

Green Mountain soapstone is what we choose. A harder soapstone then the standard. Our cost ends up being $110 per square foot for fabrication and install.

Here is a link that might be useful: Green Mountain Soapstone

M Tex was very helpful with instructions and guidance. We also watched videos from them and Dorado as well as some stuff here and on IkeaFans. We are VERY handy DIYers and have done all of our house ourselves but we still expected it to be much more complicated and trying than it was. My husband ordered the necessary diamond blades and bits and we fabricated in our garage. Dust is a problem so someplace outside the house is essential. We actually had a kitchen layout the did not require any seams. We did have a corner L shaped piece that goes over a blind corner cabinet and the 24" cabinet next to it in the other run and my husband was DETERMINED that that would be one piece with no seam. It was heavy but we got it in as one piece, no seam. M. Tex did provide epoxy and directions for making the seams and we weren't really worried by that. It sounds pretty simple, you just have to work quickly. Overall it was MUCH easier than we had anticipated and we were glad to have done it that way. I gave us the ability to do our overhang just like we wanted. We templated like you would for granite and cut exactly from the template.

designnov - I am also in NJ, decided to go with granite, but there is Garden State, M. Tex (soapstones.com) and Bucks County Soapstone. They are about 30 min over the PA border.

I think we're leaning toward doing the soapstone ourselves. I'm thinking we'll have atleast one seam in the L-shaped perimeter. From watching videos, it doesn't look like seams are too visible. Can anyone comment on that???

Take a look at this article from This Old House - instructions for how to install soapstone.

Here is a link that might be useful: how to install soapstone

My soapstone was about $95sf installed here in NE Ohio. Did find some shops that were less, however DH wanted one fabricator, and the one place had the marble I adored.

As for seams...you can't feel them, but you can see them.

Yesterday, we fell in love with a slab of Green Mountain Soapstone, paid $53.00 a square foot plus $600.00 minimum for fabrication & installation. Please suggest any extra features that you added to your Soapstone and the cost? They will be here, to do the template, in the next few days.
We have renovated many Kitchens and liked the Corian, but preferred the Marble in our Lake house and it was easier to take care of than the Corian that actually showed every stain! We broke the budget with the gorgeous Esmeralda Granite in the last house, it was beautiful, carefree but I am not the fan of Granite, like my DH! Now we both are looking forward to this new Soapstone - have looked for years for a piece that was special to both of us and now we finally found one! We are DIY for 90% of this kitchen except for the custom white wood cabinets that I designed to blend with the vintage cabinets in this old house - we had them made by an Amish cabinet-maker. Now, DH says he wants the Soapstone to be installed by the pros. We will have a large, single bowl, white Fireclay sink, under-mounted. And a Wolf smooth, cook-top, installed.
NOW, the question is - do You prefer your Soapstone with the mineral oil, the combo of mineral oil & beeswax (where do you buy it?) or not oiled? And if you do oil it - can you ever remove the oil and just let your stone be naked, again!
Does anyone have Green Mountain from Vermont - we found ours in Cincinnati. The cost here is a bit more than Danby marble and much more than Carrara and more than many granites. We thought that we wanted the Statuary marble or Calacatta, again but just Love the look and feel of this Soapstone! We are so anxious to see it in our kitchen with the hand-scraped antique-look, maple floors. We need any advice on how to take care of this lovely Soapstone? Thank you, to everyone that posts such wonderful pictures here, of their Soapstone, great inspiration! Just a thought, should this question about oiling Soapstone, be a separate Posting? Thanks for your help, Rose

Rose - if you search on the bottom of the forum you will see TONS of soapstone threads. We have decided against it, but from what i've read oiling seems to be a preference, not a necessity. People oil, then don't, then oil again. It's all on preference.
If I had gone soapstone one of the features I would have loved is the runnels next to the sink to drain the water! Check out Bucks County Soapstone's website - they have lots of helpful info on there.
Good luck!