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Soapstone Countertops
Soapstone Countertops are a Great Alternative to Granite, Silestone and Corian
Options
By Mark J. Donovan
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Soapstone countertops are a unique and natural alternative to other common
kitchen countertop surfaces. Soapstone countertops are akin to cement
countertops, in the sense that they don’t always come to the top of one’s mind
when thinking about installing new kitchen countertops. This said, soapstone
countertops offer a number of benefits compared to other kitchen countertop
surfaces. For example, soapstone countertops have a very distinctive warm,
smooth, and silky feel.
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Also they are extremely durable, resistance to heat, non-porous, and
are impervious to acidic solutions such as lemons and limes etching
into them. Thus they hold up to the heaviest of used kitchens and
cannot be scorched or stained.
The only real knock with soapstone countertops is that soapstone is
very soft and thus scratches easily. But this said, often homeowners
like the old world charm of soapstone and actually enjoy seeing the
worn patina look. Also, due to the fact that soapstone is so soft,
scratches can easily be sanded out with a little sandpaper and
mineral oil.
Soapstone is very heavy and dense. It comes from siliceous natural
stone that is mainly comprised of chlorite and talc. The talc is
what gives soapstone it’s beautifully soft and smooth surface. The
talc is also what gives soapstone its high softness and
susceptibility to scratching.
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When most people think of soapstone countertops they think of
old classroom laboratories with dull black grade countertop
surfaces. Though it is true that classroom laboratories have
always had an affinity to soapstone countertops due to their
durability, soapstone is actually available in a variety of
colors. Soapstone ranges in color from jet black, to bluish
gray, to a light ash gray. In addition light veins of colors are
also commonly seen running through soapstone countertop
surfaces.
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Soapstone countertop surfaces can also be purchased with a variety
of finishes, including a high gloss finish, a honed or matte finish,
or an aged patina finish.
So if you’re in the market for installing new kitchen countertops
make sure to also check out soapstone countertops when sifting
through the granite, Silestone, and Corian color palettes. You might
just find that Soapstone maybe the perfect choice for your kitchen
remodeling plans.
Find a Kitchen Remodeling Contractor in your Area
For more
help on remodeling your kitchen, see HomeAdditionPlus.com’s
Kitchen
Remodeling Bid Sheet.
The
Kitchen Remodeling Bid Sheet
will help ensure that your kitchen remodeling project goes smoothly and you get
the finished kitchen you are
looking for. In addition, it will help to ensure that your remodeled kitchen will be accomplished on time and on budget.
How to Finance your Home Remodeling Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
Related Information
Additional Kitchen Design Resources
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