Soapstone, will work perfectly when it comes to achieving a “rustic” or “old fashioned” look. It also integrates well with modern designs, and is offered with many edge styles and surface finishes. Soapstone, adds value and elegance to any building project.

Soapstone is made up of mineral deposits created by nature and, quarried from the earth. It is produced by dynamo thermal metamorphism, which occurs at the areas where tectonic plates are sub ducted, changing rocks by heat and pressure, and without melting. The main mineral components in Soapstone include talc, chlorite, dolomite and magnesite, giving a warm, soft feeling to the touch.

There are actually two types of Soapstone. The artistic Soapstone which is used for carvings and sculptures contains higher talc content.

The other type of Soapstone, also known as "steatite", is used for architectural, construction purposes.

Soapstone is used for: counter tops, sinks, vanities, stair treads, balusters, sills, island tops and mixing bowl. Architectural Soapstone contains a lesser amount of talc. The more talc stone contains, the softer stone is.

Unfinished Soapstone often looks gray. The finished stone may look gray, black, green, yellow, orange, rust, pink, bluish, white or combinations of these colors. It's the presence of different minerals mixed with the talc that causes the differences in colors. These other minerals will sometimes cause the stone to be harder.

With so many variations it's no wonder that Soapstone has become very popular stone choice. After installation Soapstone is often oiled with mineral oil. It will then penetrate to a deep black matte finish with the beauty of natural stone markings.

Soapstone is very dense, non-porous, and chemically static. Nothing will stain or etch Soapstone. That's why Soapstone has been used as laboratory counters in schools and colleges, because of inertness, its ability to resist stains and not react to chemicals and acid. Therefore Soapstone's finish isn't jeopardized by acidic spills such as lemon, vinegar, or wine, like high gloss Marble and Granite can be.

Soapstone is also a great conductor of heat and can withstand very high temperatures. You can set hot pots and pans directly on your Soapstone countertop surface, and not worry about the stone being damaged. Soapstone has been used for hundreds of years in fireplaces, countertops and sinks. Practically indestructible, Soapstone is an excellent choice for countertops, fireplace surrounds, hearths, bathroom vanities, outdoor kitchens, wet bars and a myriad of other applications.

 Soapstone's advantage for bathroom installations is its non-porous surface and non-slippery texture when wet.

Soapstone is relatively easy to work with (fabricate) and can be cut with a circular saw equipped with a diamond turbo blade and can then be finished by hand with sandpaper. Both are available in most hardware stores.

Different edge profiles such as a bull nose, bevel, or ogee can be achieved because of its 1 1/4" thick edge. For counter tops, I recommend using 1-1/4" thick Soapstone which, unlike thinner material, doesn't require a sub-base on cabinets. A 1 1/4" inch thick Soapstone slab weighs about 20 pounds per square foot.

Because Soapstone is so dense and heavy common Soapstone slab sizes are smaller, compare to granite or marble slabs, approximately 63"H x 79"W.