If you're thinking of DIYing yourself, then consider the weight factor. It's VERY heavy, and that's the factor that makes it the most difficult for DIYers. The cutouts are not "hard" to do, but they are hard to do right because of the weight. Support them wrong during the process, and they'll tear out a huge hole in the slab and maybe break something in the proces---including bones. The edges are the simplest part. The joints are pretty hard to DIY to the perfection that this forum tends to expect. They're pretty hard to do to "reasonable" tightness and color match. Color matching is difficult because of the changing nature of soapstone. Will it be oiled or not and what will the adjacent color look like at a later time after more oxidation occurs.

It's worth paying professional stone fabricators with soapstone experience to take care of these details for you. For the ones that you list, there doesn't seem to be any glaring red flags other than their inexperience with the material itself. Will they take full responsibility for their work and purchase you new slabs if they break any of yours? Or are they not confident enough in their abilities to be able to do that?

It's my understanding that fabricating soapstone is different from fabricating other stones and requires someone with experience to do it and make it look right. Be sure your fabricator has had lots of experience with soapstone.

I'll be using Dorado Soapstone and their store/workshop is two hours away. They will come down, template with a thin wood that is cut to the shape I'll want for the counters, go back to Austin to cut the stone, then bring it down. I don't know if they cut the sink opening there or on site, probably there. Faucet holes are usually left to on site. I am having a farmhouse sink, so the opening won't be in the middle of a slab. BTW, my contractor first talked to the people she usually uses for fabricating and they were honest enough to say that the few soapstone jobs they have done didn't go well because of their inexperience and don't want to do any more. Soapstone is "new" to this area.

Yes, the sink cut-out is a weak spot when transporting. I think there is a special bar that can be put across the opening for help with transporting. My GC was a few days late starting my kitchen this week as the job before mine had a problem - the granite fabricators were bringing in a granite slab without that sink bar and the slab snapped in two at the sink opening. So, completing that kitchen got delayed. Not trying to scare you - I'm sure this happens even when everyone has done everything right. Sometimes the stone itself has a weak point.

I would trust the carpenter if you have liked his work so far. It seems like many soapstone exclusive installers had their start as cabinetmakers (mine included).

mamalynn,

You must be very anxious to finish your kitchen. What kind of soapstone are you getting?

The fabricator who may be doing our soapstone has none in stock, so I didn't go to their shop today. He assured me they have done soapstone work. I wonder if they give references!

I don't think it is the templating/computerized fabricating that worries me as much as seaming at the shop. There could be many things that effect the seam, is it wise not to do it on site? Our sinks are apron front, too. Supporting the opening during transport should reduce the risk of breaking the slab.

rubyfig, I do not know of any homeowner in our area who has soapstone. Finding someone local with experience is tough. Our GC declined to to the soapstone work because they have no experience. It is interesting that there is so much on DIY soapstone on one hand, and caution about choosing a fabricator who has lots of experience on the other hand. I have seem some very nice installations on the KF, so I don't doubt that it can be done DIY.

My trim carpenter, who is very gifted, does soapstone counters along with the cabinetry he builds, and says it's a snap with his professional woodworking tools. I think access to the correct seaming epoxies and colorants might be the bigger snag for the DIYer.

But I'd bet that much of the angst re. DIY soapstone isn't entirely justified. You just have to educate yourself well, be fairly confident around power tools and have carpentry experience. :-)

Cotehele,

I'm getting Iguazu from Dorado. Here's a picture of my sample, provided I can get it to post. It shows up a bit greener here than it does in person, but the tone is right. This was my deciding on hardware. And I decided on the black scroll on the lower left for everything. They come in left and right hand scrolls. The one on the right is ORB. I thought I wanted cup pulls for the drawers and I ordered several samples, but they just didn't work for me.

Today is just Day 2 of the remodel, so I'm a bit away from seeing soapstone.

Good Luck! And post pictures.

circuspeanut, I wish we lived within driving distance of your trim carpenter! M Teixeira has a DIY kit with the the blades, bits and sanding pads required for installation, but it is the work not the skill keeping DH from doing the counters.

mamalynn, Iguazu is beautiful. It looks like a green stone with alot of color variarion. Day 2 is in the 'very excited' phase of remodeling. Enjoy! What are you doing to your cabinets? If you have a thread, I am sorry I don't remember. I have been away for awhile visiting my son.

Our project is into the 17th week. The garage is finished, but is being used by the contractor as a work area. The kitchen is waiting on the floor installation and the painter to finish. The cabinets are done. I saw them Wednesday in the shop and love them. The appliances are in and the sinks, faucets, windows and lights are in the garage. DH says every day, ''Are they done yet?'' We are ready!

My kitchen is 28 yrs old and a number of the drawers are beginning to fall apart. I did a facelift 20 yrs ago when I closed in the deck - replaced a badly worn vinyl floor with another vinyl floor, took some doors off upper cabinets, painted the routed out part on the remaining doors, new wallpaper. ("I" means I had it done. I have no DIY skills.) The wall oven and sink are original. It's all going. New cabinets will be painted, some cream, some a light green. The floor and backsplash will be ceramic tile.

17 weeks! How have you managed that long!! How much longer before you are "in?" I'm glad you love your cabinets. What are they like?

Your kitchen sounds very nice! 28 years is a long time to live with a kitchen that doesn't tug at your heart. We have lived in this house 27 years with cabinets that were at least 25 years old when we moved in. I know you feel about getting a new kitchen. :)

Our kitchen is going in a different room, so fortunately we are not without a way to cook. The only picture I have of the cabinet is the sample door. Yesterday was not a good day to take pictures. She kept saying they would look much better installed, but they looked good to me dusty and stacked around the shop!

That's going to be beautiful!

I like it! I may be a bit biased, though, since it looks quite like my cupboards. My dh and my brother did our soapstone counters, and did a fine job.

thanks, timber.j! I would love to see pictures of your kitchen, but could not find them.

If you have the skill sets to do the project - just take your time
do alot of re-search....... lift using your legs - NOT your back!!! HA!

Draw everything out on paper first to visualize where your seams will go...

Measure twice (or better yet - THRICE) and cut once

just remember that this is NOT rocket science, but however it ends up
is what will great you every morning AFTER the job is completed......

hth

kevin

Judy, I don't know of any stone place that epoxies seams PRIOR to installation. That sounds a little crazy to me. I don't recall how long your counters are, but I know the fabricator putting in my SS needed 4 guys to lift the larger sections (measuring 82" and 101" long-- standard depth). Sink cut out was done on site.

When I was looking around, granite installers and specialist SS installers were the two choices. It seemed to me that the SS installers (those that dealt exclusively in SS) originally started as cabinetmakers (same tools, and meticulous about cutting/installing). Dorado SS should be able to point you in the right direction regarding the epoxy needed, but I would be leery about any fabricator that wants to epoxy seams at the shop and then transport to the site. My $.02.

If you link over to ikeafans.com kitchen forum, and do a 'soapstone' search, I think you will find GardenofDarwin -- and I believe they installed their own SS counters. the IkeaFans site has very helpful and kind members as well, and they may be able to mentor you a bit about DIY soapstone. Also, I think sombreuil_mongrel on this forum (could be wrong) installed his own SS -- but perhaps is he a carpenter?

Here is a link that might be useful: ikea fans site

Hi,
Yes to both. I am a carpenter and I DIY'ed my soapstone. LOL Guilty.
Casey

cotehele-I'm hoping our oldest will have a chance to take some pics for me before he heads off to college next week-he has a better camera and more talent than I do...My camera has got some settings messed up and the colors are showing up funny.

In addition to sombreuil_mongrel, do some searching for "vwhippiechick" and "don_chuwish"--they are other GWers who did their own soapstone installation. If I remember correctly, vwhippiechick had hers pre-cut by the pros and then shipped to her to install.

Kevin, glad for a nudge toward DIY from you. DH has the skills, and we are way beyond what we hoped this rehab would cost. The savings would be a big help to us. The weight of the stone would be a huge challenge.

rubyfig, thanks for sharing your experience. I agree, epoxying the joints should be done on site.

Hi Casey! You do beautiful woodworking :) I am still working on those wood/glass antique doors. Just don't work as fast as you do. Your kitchen is beautiful!

holligator, thanks. I remember vwhippiechick's beautiful kitchen. Don_chuwish, not so much. I'll look for them. I also remember someone doing a sloped drainboard DIY that was awesome. You are so lucky to live near Joshua :)

timber.j Is this DS's first year in college? I remember those times. Best wishes to him. Looking forward to seeing your kitchen!

Judy