Lately, we’ve been fielding an unusual amount of inquires about soapstone countertops.

Soapstone is an elegant and sophisticated choice for interior-design elements countertops.  In addition to its aesthetics qualities, soapstone is impenetrable, bacteria resistant, and has the best thermal properties of all natural materials.  That is why you may remember soapstone in your high school chemistry lab if you haven’t already blocked chemistry completely out of your memory.
Soapstone generally comes from two places.  Most of the soapstone you see on www.houzz.com comes from Brazil which tends to have a “greenish” tone, the other place is right here in The Commonwealth.  The Alberene Soapstone Company was founded in 1888, is the only remaining producer of American soapstone.  Alberene soapstone tends to have more “greyish” veins and come from boulders so their sizes are different and less consistent that Brazilian Soapstone.

Soapstone will scratch, and typically once that happens you will need to either oil your soapstone (which allows the scratch to blend into the stone giving it a natural appearance) or you can buff out the scratch with a simple piece of wet dry sandpaper.

If the idea of buffing and scratches scares you, but you have to have look, we recommend Black Absolute Granite with either a Honed or Lathered finish.  Black Absolute Honed or Leather finish  will resemble the look of oiled soapstone but have the durability of Granite.

Quality Stone has all 4 samples in our 3000 sf showroom at 113A. South Witchduck Road.  Let us know if we can help you make the decision that is right for you.