Initial Soapstone Countertop Care

When you receive your new soapstone counter top, the finish will have been sanded smooth to a fine finish. Under a microscope the finish will appear to be a myriad of fine scratches. Still the finish is solid and non-porous. Likely you will want to darken the sanded finish with a coating. The usual recommendation for that coating is mineral oil, also known as liquid petrolatum, is a by product in the distillation of petroleum when producing gasoline. If mineral oil is used, it will not be ‘permanent’ on the first or second application. It may take many, many applications to arrive at a stable condition.

There exists a more permanent material that can be used for this initial application. The product is Soapstone Sealer and Wood Wax, an all natural mixture of pure walnut oil and carnuba wax. This product will coat or ‘seal’ the soapstone counter top on the very first application. The product is applied like a paste wax, wiped off and in a few days it offers a coating that is relatively permanent and uniform. Under a microscope it can be seen that that the coating now fills the myriad of scratches that exist on the soapstone surface giving the surface a darkened look or having a patina. The product offers the additional benefit of having no Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and no petroleum products as part of the contents. It can also be used to condition cutting boards and wooden bowls.

Soapstone Counter top Maintenance

Since soapstone is a relatively soft stone, it will scratch somewhat easily. These scratches can be addressed with a new coating of Soapstone Sealer and Wood Wax. The sealer will fill in the scratch and make it appear as the rest of the surface. The polymerized coating of the oil and wax mixture will stand up to the usual soap and water cleaning of the counter top. Therefore, no special care is needed to maintain the coated soapstone counter top.

At some point in time, after a few years, if the counter top has been scratched severely, it may be desirable to refinish the stone with a uniform sanding with a suitable abrasive. After that process is completed, the Soapstone countertop should be recoated with the Soapstone Sealer and Wood Wax as if it were a new surface.

article source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countertop

Advantages of Soapstone Countertops

*Soapstone is natural
*It offers a warmer feel than granite or marble
*Soapstone Will not burn or stain
*It is much easier to cut and shape than marble or granite and is used by artisans
*Soapstone is inert, this means that acids and alkalis will not etch the surface
*The joints of a soapstone counter top can be made invisible

Soapstone Countertop Disadvantages

*Soapstone will require the frequent application of mineral oil to maintain patina –
otherwise it will turn a light grey until it ages.
*It is soft and can be prone to chipping
*Soapstone slabs are smaller than granite slabs, so more joints are required

Especially for a softer and warm feel soapstone may be a choice to check out. You will
find the surface, even though even though it has been used for centuries in traditional and country kitchens, is attractive and lends itself to contemporary kitchen design as well as.
If you are considering a natural countertop material unique and natural stone soapstone countertops are worth a look.