Yes I have 3 very small chips. I am probably the only one who notices. I have not bothered to sand or smooth them. You will get "wear and tear", I assume with any surface. My sink /cooktop area is teak so the negative reveal for the old soapstone sink is not a problem. Hope this helps. I am suprised no one else has posted. I waited all day to see what response you got. Good luck deciding. Caroline

I don't have soapstone (yet!), but was on a kitchen walk this weekend when someone noticed a soapstone counter and asked the CKD about it being soft. She replied, that it was indeed pretty soft, "Look, here's a chip right here." I hadn't noticed the tiny thing. These kitchens all had been done within the last year. The CKD also responded that if you're getting soapstone, you need to be able to live with the inevitable scratches and dings. FWIW, I'm getting soapstone. I think the wearing will be charming.

Yes, my husband hit the edge of our countertop with the bottom of a glass and chipped a small piece off the edge. It was small-somewhere between 1/4" and 1/2"-but it bothered me. I saved the chip and had the company that did the soapstone out to repair it. They did something with epoxy and the repair is invisible. I've had my soapstone sink and counter 2 years and that is the only thing that ever bothered me. I think it was one of those "freak" things, because we have dropped/banged the soapstone before with no real damage. It's good to know, however, that damage CAN be repaired.

We dropped a wine bottle from a few inches above the counter and made a little chip. We lightly sanded, but could still see the dots from the bottom of the bottle until we oiled -- now you have to look hard (or feel) in order to find it. I think it's inevitable that you'll get some dings in any stone -- but it's part of the patina and charm of a working kitchen. I've been surprised at how much of a bump I can do with no marks at all.

I had a huge chip, more like a chunk, fall off the finished corner of our peninsula slab as it was taken off the delivery truck. I saved the pieces and easily epoxied them back on. I can't even see the epoxy lines anymore.
I dropped the heavy brass soap dispenser body on the countertop and it took out a tiny divot so I just filled that with a dab of black epoxy and sanded smooth - again, invisible.
We've been living with these countertops now for about 3 months and there's no marking that causes any concern.

- D

I didn't respond initially because I don't think I qualify as a longtime owner. We've only been using our SS countertops and sink for 6 months.

They do get heavy use, though, with a number of folks prepping on the island and counters every weekend. We've had one mishap - a heavy bottomed glass slipped out of my hand when I was putting it in the cupboard and made a dent in the countertop. DH took fine grit sandpaper and smoothed out the sharp edge of the ding. I rubbed some beexwax/oil paste on it and haven't seen or thought of it until I read this post.

If I ever did another kitchen and soapstone suited the design, I'd get it again in a heartbeat.

I also don't know if I qualify as long term - I'm at about 8 months. I haven't had any chipping so far (my SS is a harder variety) but I did have a big ol' chip around the sink when I had granite! Go figure!

We had soapstone countertops for two years in our old house. Like everyone said...yes, they can chip, ding, scratch but everything really does blend in and if it got really bad it could be sanded down and reoiled and it would be as good as new. We love soapstone and we will be getting them when we remodel our current kitchen. I actually had a nightmare that the new owner ripped out my beautiful soapstone and put in laminate.

I grew up in a house with soapstone laundry tubs in the basement that were probably about a hundred years old.

I absolutely loved those tubs and they are the reason I am having soapstone, no matter whether it's trendy or not. They showed a century of fantastically beautiful wear. THAT is beautiful to me.

As everyone has said, the fact is, it DOES chip, scratch, etc. The question is whether that's going to freak YOU out or not.

The fun comes when all the little scratches and chips accumulate into something wonderful. (Yes, I actually mean this.)

Phrases like "you'd never notice" and "good as new" may mean very different things to a soapstone person than to a honed granite person.

I don't want to make it sound like a club. That's just ... stupid.

But you do have to have a temperament/style that embraces that can't-control-the-universe look.

If you want a fast-forward, go to a salvage yard and ask if they have anything soapstone and go look at it.

Good luck!