I don't have soapstone, but I have done two kitchens with quartzite, one with 2 cm slabs and the other with 3 cm slabs.

If you have a choice, then go with 3 cm slabs. No need to miter or build-up the edge, just use it as is, with a pencil/eased edge.

3 cm slabs.

No plywood needed underneath. Used as is with eased/pencil edge.

Kitchen in FL where most slabs are 3 cm.

2 cm slab with plywood under-layment and built-up edge.

Kitchen was in CA where most slabs are 2 cm.

thanks, Chispa. It's interesting to learn 3cm slabs are more common in FL and 2cm in CA. We are in CA and I don't know about other quartzite but we saw 3cm and 2cm soapstone here.

I'm hoping one of the soapstone owners chimes in. (I'm thinking of @darbuka and there are others.) I love the look of soapstone but have never had it. Many ss owners here have recommended working with M Teixeira (link) as the expert ss supplier. Might be worth checking into; they have a stoneyard and showroom in San Francisco. Looks like they have some slabs of Belvedere, which is one of the harder soapstones.

I would go with a larger overhang if you will have seating at the island. 12 inches is just barely enough. 15 inches would be better to have comfortable leg room.

Perhaps darbuka will weigh in--she's the soapstone expert here!

I’m here…thanks for the call out!

C J, your contractor is absolutely incorrect. Soapstone is a different animal than other stones. For one thing, iIt’s much denser than other stones. Also, soapstone should never be polished like granite and quartzite. It has to be sanded with a particular grit in order to get that silky smooth, matte appearance, and perform properly.

Also, you want a variety that’s higher on the Mohs scale of hardness, that won’t scratch or chip easily. You should test for hardness, any slabs you're considering. Any slab you can scratch with a fingernail, or a coin you want to avoid.

Where in California are you? As @chicagoans suggested, contact M. Teixeira in SF. Teixeira is the largest soapstone dealer in the US. They are the experts. It’s their specialty…unlike generic stone yards which only carry one or two varieties.

Chicagoans brought up Belvedere, which is the variety I have. It’s very veiny (gorgeous white and turquoise-y veins), and is just about the hardest soapstone variety, very difficult to scratch or chip. However, since you want minimal veining, I’d suggest Stormy Black. It’s a dark stone, with occasional white veins.

Btw, you don’t have to apply wax or mineral oil. Unless you’re OCD, many of us just let the counters patina on their own. Initially, we oiled. After a while, we decided to just let nature take its course.

There is no maintenance. Soapstone is anti-bacterial. One can use just a dab of dish soap and a wet sponge/cloth to clean it…or, just use water. You’re bound to get some oil buildup on either side of the cooking surface…or, where people lean and put their hands. For that, a scubby sponge is useful.

Here are my now 10+ yo soapstone counters.

Trailrunner here. 7 yr with stormy black on all counters at this house and 10 yrs at last house with PA soapstone almost everywhere in kitchen . Heavy use with baking both locations . Never treates with anything just soap and water . They get and stay very dark with use. No chips ever.

Minimal veining with Stormy black… this is the most of any one location

@C J When shopping for soapstone be aware that some places will mislabel slabs as soapstone that are actually phyllite or slate. This is a good read for more information from M. Teixeira: Fake Soapstone: What you Need to Know

👆This 👆is true. When you go to a generic stone yard, you can’t be sure od what you’re getting.

M. Teixeira carries some phylite, however it’s always identified as such on their website, and in their slab yards on site.

It won’t let me edit— we used MTex in Sterling VA 7 yrs ago. They were ourstanding and DROVE WAY out of their area up there to come to Lexington VA first to measure then install. There was an upcharge but it was so reasonable. They are amazing people.