How to Identify Authentic Soapstone
- Soapstone is soft and can be scratched with a fingernail.
- Sopastone feels cool to the touch at room temperature.
- Polished and unpolished soapstone both offer a waxy, soap-like feel and a pearly or silky luster.
What does soapstone look like?
Depending on the region where it’s quarried, soapstone ranges in color from soft white and light gray to deep charcoal, with most types exhibiting gentle veining. Some contains hints of pearl, blue or green, but the most prevalent hues are whites and grays.
How can you tell the difference between soapstone and marble?
Soapstone is darker than most marble, and it often darkens further with age. Color choices are limited to the gray/charcoal family. The surface is far more muted, and it doesn’t have the same glossy feel of marble. While soapstone fits well into modern and elegant designs, it is much more rustic and worn in appearance.
What does soapstone feel like?
It adds on a rustic, elegant and urbane feel, similar to that of slate or granite. So, why is soapstone uncommon? Since this is a naturally occurring material, it may not be as common as man-made countertop materials.
What looks most like soapstone?
The quartz countertops below are your best options when it comes to finding a surface that resembles soapstone countertops.
- 5003 Piatra Grey Caesarstone Quartz.
- Copacabana Quartz.
- Coastal Grey Pental Quartz.
- 4120 Raven Caesarstone Quartz.
What is the average cost of soapstone?
Soapstone Costs per Square Foot
Soapstone countertops cost anywhere from $55 to $120 per square foot. A typical 30-square-foot soapstone countertop costs about $2,100 to $3,600, not including installation.
Does soapstone have sparkle?
Sometimes, it also has small white crystalline spots on the surface for added depth and sparkle.
What does aged soapstone look like?
Usually gray or a greenish gray, soapstone darkens over time when exposed to air, although the almost black color favored for kitchen sinks and countertops comes from applying oil. Such a solid, durable material would seem like a natural fit for old houses.
Where is soapstone most commonly found?
Soapstone is found in the Appalachian range from Maine to Georgia with significant deposits in Vermont and Virginia. Finland and Brazil are the largest international producers of soapstone.
How can you tell quartz from soapstone?
Soapstone is durable and heat-resistant, just like quartz and granite. Like quartz, soapstone is also non-porous — but unlike quartz, soapstone is naturally non-porous, so you do not need to worry about staining at all. There are no compounds that could get damaged and discolored.
Is all soapstone dark?
Soapstone Color Options
Natural soapstone colors come in a selection of hues. Typically, the color options range from a palette gray, green, black, or blue-ish gray. Additionally, there some options may have swirls of quartz and white.
Does soapstone scratch easily?
Soapstone is a relatively soft material, and it will scratch. Soapstone is primarily composed of the mineral talc, the softest mineral there is. The talc content of a given slab of soapstone dictates just how easily it can be scratched during everyday use.
Can soapstone be scratched by a fingernail?
About Soapstone
This scale is a measure of a mineral’s ability to resist being scratched. Higher valued minerals will scratch lower value minerals on the scale. Unglazed plates and knives (5.5), keys, pots and pans, and even your fingernail (Mohs 2.5) will scratch soapstone countertops.
Does water stain soapstone?
Mineral Oil and Soapstone
Soapstone fresh from the quarry is light gray in color. That rich charcoal color soapstone is known for comes when the stone is exposed to water, grease and oils. These liquids cause the stone to oxidize, which darkens the stone’s color and really brings out its natural beauty.
Can soapstone get wet?
In terms of shower surrounds, the fact that soapstone is heat resistant means it will absorb the heat of warm water and slowly disburse it, so you can get a shower nice and toasty and keep it that way! Our one caveat here is that, since soapstone is non-porous, it can get slick when wet.
What color is natural soapstone?
Natural soapstone colors can range from grey, green or black to a bluish-grey hue. Some soapstone options, like our grey soapstone here at Cosmos SurfacesTM, feature white swirls and dramatic veining patterns. This makes soapstone a worthwhile contender for aesthetic natural stones like granite and marble.
How can you tell granite from soapstone?
Hardness: Granite is hard and able to stand up to a great deal of wear and tear. This makes it an excellent choice for high-traffic kitchen countertops, bathrooms and other frequently used areas. Soapstone, on the other hand, is much softer and will show scratches, chips and gouges more easily.
Is soapstone shiny?
Soapstone countertops are typically found in a honed finish. Geologist Karin Kirk notes: “Unlike many types of natural stone, soapstone cannot be polished to a glossy shine. Instead, it has a soft, warm glow and rounded edges that help a space feel comfortable rather than imposing.”
Can you put hot pans on soapstone?
Soapstone is both chemical resistant and heat resistant, so you can set hot pots and pans directly on soapstone without risk of cracking or scorching. Soapstone is much softer and more prone to scratching than granite or quartz however, so preparing food directly on your soapstone counters could easily scratch it.
How do I know if my soapstone is raw?
Scratch the surface of the stone with your fingernail. Soapstone is very soft; it is assigned a rating of 2 on the Mohs Hardness Scale. This means that simply by drawing your fingernail across the surface of the stone you should be able to mark it.
Does soapstone stain easily?
Soapstone doesn’t stain: Soapstone is non-porous, which means it won’t stain and you don’t have to worry about bacteria growing like you do with other countertop materials. It also doesn’t react to acid, which often causes stains on other countertops.