Since the 90s, Soapstone has been steadily gaining popularity as one of the best materials for countertops, stone fireplaces, sinks, and tiles. Due to its impervious qualities, soapstone has also been used to fabricate chemistry lab tops, acid room sinks, and lab shelving. Learn about our favorite stone—including where soapstone comes from, why soapstone is a good choice for interior applications, and how to choose the best quality soapstone for your intended installation.
The Basics of Soapstone
Soapstone—also known as Steatite—is a metamorphic rock that consists primarily of talc. Depending on the quarry from which it is sourced, this natural stone also contains varying amounts of other minerals such as micas, chlorite, amphiboles, quartz, magnesite, and carbonates. It is a relatively soft, very dense, highly heat-resistant material.
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Check Soapstone Authenticity
Unfortunately, fake soapstone comes from numerous sources. Currently, there are several forms of slates and marbles being falsely advertised as soapstone. This is an international issue in the soapstone market, so read about fake soapstone to educate yourself prior to purchasing soapstone slabs or fabricated goods.
Best Uses for Soapstone
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Though soapstone has been used in American homes since the 1800s, Martha Stewart and Bob Villa made this natural stone option even more popular beginning in the late 90s by featuring it in their projects. Soapstone is a terrific material for many applications, and especially makes a good alternative to granite, quartz, or marble countertops. Other popular uses for soapstone include sinks, tiles, masonry heaters, and wood stoves.
Architectural Versus Artistic Soapstone
When someone uses the colloquial term “soapstone,” they could be describing architectural or artistic soapstone. What separates these rocks is their talc percentage, and thus their level of hardness: The higher talc percentage, the softer the stone.
About Architectural Soapstone
Architectural soapstone is used in the building industry. Typically, it has 15 to 50 percent talc and comes in varying shades of gray with wide variations in veining pattern—surface treatment makes it black. Sometimes, architectural soapstone features a hint of blue or green. Slabs are available as large as 10′ x 6′ (3m x 1,8m).
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Soapstone varieties closer to 15 percent talc will be more scratch-resistant, while varieties in the 50 percent range will show scratches more often. The good news is that scratches can be easily removed from soapstone with light sanding, without any special tools or equipment. This video shows how to repair scratched soapstone surfaces.
About Artistic Soapstone
Artistic soapstone is the variety you see in sculptures and handicrafts and is not suitable for countertop and other building use. It comes in a broader color variety, including browns, yellows, greens, blues, and whites. Artistic soapstone is made of as much as 80 percent talc, and can be easily scratched with a fingernail.
Our company began as an artistic soapstone supplier: Our first clients were art schools, art supplies stores, universities, and the Inuit of Canada, whose preferred carving stone in the 1990s was Brazilian Soapstone.
Soapstone is a durable, great-looking material for updating your space, both indoors and outdoors. If you’re ready to refresh your countertops, floor tiles, bath, or shower, request a quote today.
Source: https://t-tees.com
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