This is why I always recommend buying soapstone from a genuine soapstone dealer, like M. Texeira, Vermont Soapstone, and Garden State Soapstone, (there are others across the country), and not a generic ”stone” dealer. With a generic stone yard that mostly sells granite, quartzite, marble and the fake stuff (quartz), you never know if what you‘re getting is real soapstone…or that the soapstone will be fabricated properly.

Soapstone should have a matte appearance, and be silky smooth to the touch. Any place that would coat their soapstone with resin, I would run from, quickly.

My soapstone counters have been in use for 10+ years. They’re a very hard variety, Belvedere, from M.Teixeira. After all this time, I still love running my hands over the counters. It’s almost a sensuous feeling. 😊

Why play Russian roulette with your counter choice when there are reputable soapstone dealers you can buy from? Listen to Darbuka above.

It is a pretty stone but it is unusal looking for a soapstone and any time someone finds a unique version of something there are at least two questions to ask. 1. Is it truly soapstone and 2. Why is it uncommon/unique? Followed up with-if it is soapstone, is it uncommon to see because it is a softer variety that does not preform well as a counter? If it is extremely soft then that may be why it has a resin coating and it would not be a good idea to try to remove it. Or, potentially, the veining which makes it so dramaticly pretty is unstable and needed reinforcing.

Personally, I would pass on this stone, even though it is very attractive.