Soapstone sample test-- Is this normal?

4 years ago

I'm leaning toward soapstone for my new kitchen (new build). I've been saving these samples for years, after not using soapstone in my current kitchen. I wanted to get it back then, but I was overruled! (Got granite instead.) Now I'm testing the samples to see what they look like when I abuse them, eg, leaving fingerprints on them, dragging heavy pans across them. The larger sample is a "Brazilian" soapstone from a Vermont dealer. The smaller one is Alberene soapstone. I've ordered samples from M. Texeira but I don't have them yet.

I like the look and feel of the larger one, and I prefer the stone unoiled. The smaller one seems harder and smoother, and I don't care as much for the feel or for the pattern. That one scratched visibly when I dragged a cast iron pan across it (something I would avoid doing in real life), whereas the larger one didn't. I intentionally left olive oil fingerprints on the samples for a few days. (That test is more realistic for me!) When I tried to wash the olive oil away with Dawn dish soap (what I was told to do by a soapstone shop), neither of them washed out, but the larger one is more noticeable, as you can see.

Is the fingerprint thing something that happens with most kinds of soapstone? If you don't oil the countertop, do the fingerprints fade away over time, or do they develop into a sort of patina? I don't think this is a deal-killer for me, but I'd like to know what to expect.

Featured Answer

darbuka

4 years ago

My soapstone counters are almost 6 years old…one of the hardest varieties, Belvedere, from M. Teixeira. All oils, whether from cooking splatters, dripped olive oil, or melted butter left sitting on the counters, will show atop the soapstone. That’s how patina is formed.

However, unlike other stones, nothing, absolutely nothing will permeate soapstone. All the ”stains” are on top. All patina can be removed with Comet (or Ajax, Bon Ami), water, and the back of a blue scrubby sponge. We do this every so often, to remove the cooking splatters from either side of the rangetop. Dishsoap…be it Dawn, Joy or whatever, will remove the greaseyness of the oil spot, but not the patina, i.e., the actual spot.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

2rickies
Original Author
4 years ago
darbuka, thank you for replying. I've seen pics of your kitchen on other threads, and your soapstone is gorgeous. Good to know about how to remove the fingerprints, if I want to. (I'll give that a try, as a test.) Also good to know about the patina, which to me is part of what makes soapstone interesting.
Related Professionals
Eureka Interior Designers & Decorators · Enid Architects & Building Designers · Brainerd Architects & Building Designers · Willmar Architects & Building Designers · Liberal Architects & Building Designers · Williamsburg Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Fall River Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Wichita Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Cleveland Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Aberdeen Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · San Bernardino Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Santa Rosa Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Helena Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Natchitoches Kitchen Remodelers · Medford Kitchen Remodelers
cheri127
4 years ago
If you don't oil your soapstone everything that contains oil, including skin, will leave a mark. Your stone will also naturally darken over time. I'm not sure how you can keep it a uniform light gray.
2rickies thanked cheri127
darbuka
4 years ago
Btw, all soapstone finished properly…by a soapstone expert like M. Teixeira, will have a matte appearance and a sensuous feel to it. Soapstone should never be shiny. That’s when people have problems with water rings.

Wait for the samples from M. Teixeira. If you live within a couple of hours from one of their locations, I highly advise you take a ride, talk to the staff and ask questions. And, of course, look through the slabs in the yard. At the yard, you can test for hardness (in the corner of a slab, with a coin), and with your finger. You’ll also be able to see the patterns on the slabs, and if they appeal to you.

We wanted a hard stone, with green and white inclusions. With the help of the Teixeira staff, we found the perfect slab.
julieste
4 years ago
I am in the process of getting soapstone counters in a second home (already have them in my primary home). This go round in this location I had difficulty finding soapstone, and I am getting my slabs from a genera slab yard that specializes in a variety of natural stones. They weren't able to tell me anything much about the soapstone, but I am going with it anyway. It is hard enough to be acceptable to me. Teixiera is a couple hours away from me, but I didn't bother making the drive because when I contacted them their pricing was much more expensive than I could find at yards locally, and I would have had to pay additional shipping costs on top of that.

I have never oiled my counters in the seven or eight years that I have had them, and they are definitely darker than they originally were. When they were originally installed I was more frustrated with them than I am now that I have lived with them for a while. I think it takes some experimentation to figure out how to best clean them to keep the appearance the way you want them.

I learned that if you want to use a grease dissolver spray to clean them, you need to then immediately wipe dry with another clean cloth. Otherwise you will be left with an awful looking spotted mess after the evaporation process. That frustrated me until I figured it out. I just recently discovered an easier method and that glass cleaner (I have been using Sparkle) does a good job of removing grease spots and stains. Last night I spilled melted butter all over one counter and wiped it up with regular soapy dishwater. It was still somewhat evident this morning, so I sprayed glass cleaner and that did a fine job of taking care of the stain to my standards.

Just be aware though that these aren't going to be absolutely perfect and pristine counters. If you need that, choose something else. Mine have small scratches from use throughout that I can see when I look closely, and I don't care. Frankly, I don't examine them that closely unless I have been reading the threads here about scratches, stains, chips etc. in countertops. My current counters are original PA (pinhos alteros) stone, and this is considered one of the harder varieties.
2rickies thanked julieste
2rickies
Original Author
4 years ago
julieste, thank you for sharing your experience, this is very helpful. Would be willing to post a photo of your current countertop?

I tried removing the stain with Bon Ami and the scrub side of a sponge, but it didn't work. Realistically, i won't be hunting and scrubbing stains most of the time, but I'd like to know that I could if i wanted to. I will try a glass cleaner next. Do you let the cleaner sit, or do you wipe it off?
julieste
4 years ago
As far as photos, can't do it right now. Maybe in a day or so. Then, I'll see if I can successfully post photos (I have had huge issues with this).

With the glass cleaner I just spray and the wipe it off. Then the last little bit evaporates.