Does soapstone need to be sealed?
Soapstone in my opinion is a magical stone – everything from its origins, structure, and characteristics is nothing like any other stone and I mean that in a good way. Whether you should keep the soapstone countertop sealed or just treat it with wax or mineral oil comes down to personal choice. Knowing how soapstone forms help us understand its nature, and properties, and appreciate all that it has to offer. You can then decide for yourself if this is the right material for you and how to treat it.
The Origin of Rocks
If you missed my earlier post ‘Countertop Talks Part 2 - Glorious Granite and the Likes’ or just need a refresher on the origins of rocks, here it is.
On a very high level, there are three types of stones or rocks namely Igneous rocks, Sedimentary rocks, and Metamorphic rocks.
Igneous rocks are formed from cooled magma either on land or in underwater magma chambers under extreme conditions of heat and pressure.
Sedimentary rocks on the other hand form through the process of sedimentation which involves the deposition and compacting of sand, clay, and other minerals over time. This process can happen on land, meaning on beaches, deserts, or even on rivers and ocean floors.
Finally, we have Metamorphic rocks which as the name suggests form through the metamorphosis of stone! This process of metamorphosis takes millions of years in some cases and occurs under extreme environments of temperature and pressure.
If you would like to geek out and learn a little more about these different types of rocks, here is an article written by a Geologist: Geology of Natural Stone
What type of rock is soapstone and how does it form?
Soapstone is a metamorphic stone. But, of an unusual kind.
Remember how Travertine and Onyx form from the sedimentation of minerals brought to the surface by water that dissolves the minerals in limestone? Soapstone forms much in the same way with a twist.
The most important element for the formation of soapstone is hot groundwater. When hot water runs underground, it collects minerals from all the different rocks around it like granite, marble, limestone, dolomite, or any other kind that it comes across. The interaction of these different minerals in the presence of hot water results in completely new minerals – the most common one being Talc. Yes, talc. The kind you get in baby powder. The amalgamation and compacting of these new minerals including talc results in soapstone.
Properties of Soapstone
The bad: Talc is the softest mineral known to humans and is the major mineral in soapstone. It is the reason for the soft or velvety texture of soapstone. All soapstone has some level of talc in it, but the composition varies widely which impacts the hardness of the stone. If the talc content is too high, it is used in powder form or for sculpting rather than for counters and sinks.
The good: Talc has its benefits too.
Talc is hydrophobic which means that if you drop water or wine, soapstone repels it instead of absorbing it allowing you the opportunity to wipe the counter clean.
Talc is also chemically inert which means that a few drops of lemon juice or ketchup is not going to etch the stone.
Another major mineral in soapstone is Magnesite which is fantastic at heat retention meaning that it absorbs heat without being affected and radiates it out slowly. So, if you need to place a hot dish straight from the oven on the stone, it will not be bothered. This property also makes soapstone great for around fireplaces and as heated flooring.
The other minerals in soapstone also give it natural anti-bacterial properties which is a fantastic property to have when being used in kitchens.
In addition to these properties, due to the compact nature of the stone, soapstone is very tolerant to utensil drops and scratches. Scratches can easily be treated with mineral oil while chips can be fixed by professionals.
Is Soapstone Worth the Investment
To me, absolutely! Whether you are a seasoned chef or a messy home cook (like me), have young children, or host a few rambunctious friends regularly, you cannot go wrong with a soapstone countertop. The soft texture of soapstone also makes it a fantastic surface for rolling dough and other prep work.
In fact, soapstone is the preferred surface choice for chefs and bakers due to its chemically inert nature as well as its hydrophobic and anti-microbial properties. That being said, the decision to seal soapstone is one of personal preference. If you are looking for a shiny, deep black surface, then yes, you would have to seal it. However, keep in mind that, unlike other natural stones, soapstone is hydrophobic so the sealer will just lay on top and not penetrate the stone.
Personally, I would leave the soapstone unsealed to enjoy its velvety texture and take advantage of its hydrophobic, chemically inert, and anti-microbial nature while keeping maintenance low all of which will be lost if you seal the stone. If you want to enjoy all these properties and, still want that beautiful dark color to come through, you can apply mineral oil or wax to the stone instead - just be aware that these are temporary treatments and will wear off quickly depending on your usage. Now the choice is yours.
If you recollect the first thing I said about soapstone in this article ‘Soapstone is a magical stone’ – I truly meant it. No other natural stone in my humble opinion can withstand this level of abuse and still give you the kind of freedom that soapstone does. Sure, you must be careful with scratches and chips, but these are far outweighed by the benefits of this stone.
Have you fallen in love with soapstone yet? Need suggestions on the right countertop for you? Go ahead and hit the button below. I love discussing them. :)
Make sure to check out the other posts in this series - Part 2 talks about Granite, Part 3 is all about Quartzite, Part 4 demystifies Marble, Part 5 is all about Travertine and Part 6 shines a light on Onyx.
Comments