When thinking about a new counter top, one of the less likely choices that come to mind is soapstone.
When people hear soapstone they think of beautiful little handcarved treasures but fact is the material makes a wonderful counter top.
Soapstone is especially suited for kitchens because it has inherent antimicrobial properties.
When SARS hit Toronto, Public Health Canada released a report that said soapstone counters were the best option to eliminate harmful bacteria from kitchen surfaces.
Soapstone is a beautiful counter and many should consider it.
Make sure you find a professional who is familiar with the stone as it is quite different from granite, marble and other counter materials.
The soft nature of the stone does make it prone to scratches, but these are easily buffed out with sandpaper.
Regular oiling increases the appearance of the stone to a darker black color (from it's natural grey color).
The oiling, which is done with regular mineral oil (light is easier to work with) will enrich the veining in the counter.
Oiling needs to be done less frequently over time, as the oil builds up on the surface.
Trivets? Not needed with soapstone.
Soapstone can handle changes in temperature very easily.
With true soapstone you will not be able to stain it either.
In fact, old chemistry lab benches were made out of this material due to it's inert properties.
Go ahead, try the acetic acid you have hidden in the pantry.
Soapstone was a traditional counter top used in many traditional homes but it is not becoming another popular choice in today's kitchen.
It is an easy for a do-it-yourselfer to install.
This means you could save money on the labor, which usually accounts for half the cost.
You can order it onlineto be shipped nationwide, saving tons of cash.
The quarries for this material are generally found in Brazil and India.
There is a few small ones in Canada and the USA as well.
Make sure when you find a soapstone you love you find out where it was from so you can learn some of the more inherent qualities of the stone.
For example, Santa Rita quarry out of Brazil has a lot of veining, whereas the Barroca quarry produces stone with much less veining.
Soapstone is also great for the environment.
No worries about radon, no need for any industrial cleaners or solvents either.
Lastly, before you make the leap to soapstone as your counter top ask yourself this one important question "am I going to be OK with some patina with age?".
If you answer yes, this maybe the stone for you!