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I do not yet have any kitchen accents or [URL=http://www.bestpricedfurniture.com/]furniture[/URL] in my kitchen, however I will soon. However, since my father has been carving soapstone for years, we are very familiar with it's qualities over other counter top choices.
First of all, soapstone will be a lot less expensive than marble, granite, etc.
2. Soapstone can be easily repaired from scratches with sanding and oil. Granite and marble are ruined once they are scratched.
3. Soapstone has high heat resistancy. You will be able to place hot dishes and pans directly on your counter top. (We are also looking at soapstone tiles for our fireplace)
4. Soapstone can be customized very easily due to the softness of the stone. SO you could, if you wanted, have some custom carving before setting.
Soapstone, as the name suggests, feels smooth and waxy to touch, just like touching dry soap. Nevertheless, it is very durable and ideal for countertops. It is a metamorphic rock and is formed under the earth’s surface.
Soapstone countertops have a smooth, shiny and non-porous surface; therefore they do not collect bacteria, are not absorbent and do not stain if wine or other liquids spill on them. Therefore they can last a lifetime without much maintenance.
Concerning the price of soapstone, it can be as expensive as marble and granite or can cost lesser depending on its quality and color variation. Here is a link that might be useful: [URL=http://www.helpful-kitchen-tips.com/kitchen-blog/2009/03/11/soapstone-countertops-pricing-buying-tips-installing-maintaining/][B]Soapstone Countertops | Pricing | Buying Tips | Installing | Maintaining[/B][/URL]
Regards,
Ganka
I've never used/seen it on a kitchen counter, but we have a bathroom vanity countertop made of soapstone.
It is beautiful and very rich looking. My one caution would be that it is not a smooth surface (rather porous), or at least ours is. I'd be a little concerned that it may not be as durable as I would want in a kitchen.
is gorgeous for a countertop, but I think it's also very expensive. I know someone who used it, and he said he economized in other areas of his kitchen (and I know his budget would have been quite a bit more than mine). But it does look fabulous.