01. What is Soapstone?
A. Soapstone is the common name for the mineral steatite. Steatite is at least 50% talc combined with other minerals, mostly magnesite, that has been geologically metamorphosed into stone through a combination of heat, pressure and time. It is called soapstone because the talc gives the stone a soapy feel.

02. What is soapstone used for?
A. Backsplashes, bathroom vanities, bathtubs, benches, bowls, cooking pots, countertops, fireplaces, fireplace fireboxes, fireplace surrounds, floors, furnaces, lintels, pizza stones, planters, sculptures, shower stalls, sinks, table tops, and window sills. If you can imagine it, you can probably use soapstone.

03. What color is soapstone?
A. It's a darker natural stone and comes in shades of grayish to green to blues, and charcoal gray. Random markings include white veining, shades of green, amber or beige in the shape of veins or other formations.

04. Does Soapstone vary?
A. The stone varies in color, hardness and purity from deposit to deposit. We only use stone suitable for the intended end use.

05. Does soapstone need to be sealed?
A. Stone sealers are meant to seal porous stones. Since soapstone is non-porous, it does not need to be sealed.

06. Why do you recommend oiling soapstone?
A. We recommend oiling soapstone to help the stone darken evenly, instead of in spots. The oil is not a protectant nor does the stone need to be protected. Treating your soapstone with mineral oil will keep the oxidation uniform across the entire surface. Mineral oil will also bring out the richness of your stone's natural color, making the color deeper and more dramatic.

07. How often does Soapstone have to be oiled?
A. We recommend weekly for the first two or three months and then monthly, or less, depending on use. The thin layer of oil, too light to feel, will keep the stone a consistent shade of dark gray. The oil does evaporate so the stone will lighten with time.

08. What happens if you do not oil the soapstone?
A. The stone will naturally darken unevenly, appearing splotchy. It will appear more noticeably around the sink and countertop areas (those used more frequently). Leaving soapstone untreated, it will develop a rustic look which many clients prefer. The stone can always be oiled later on if the untreated results are not desirable.

09. What can I do to prevent the stone from darkening?
A. Darkening is a natural characteristic of soapstone and cannot be prevented.

10. How durable are soapstone countertops?
A. A soapstone countertop will last many lifetimes. It is a dense natural stone which allows nothing to penetrate it, not even bacteria. It is impossible to stain and unaffected by heat.

11. I've heard soapstone is really soft. How does this affect wear and tear?
A. The edges will soften and your soapstone countertops will accumulate some nicks, scratches, and dents. The scratches can be removed with a light sanding. Otherwise, these little nicks and scratches become part of the patina.

12. Can soapstone be scratched?
A. Yes. The beauty of soapstone is that it can easily be repaired by the homeowner.

13. How are scratches in soapstone repaired?
A. A simple wipe with mineral oil and the small scratches are gone. For deeper scratches, a light sanding followed by mineral oil will remove any scratches.

14. Are some soapstones harder than others?
A. Yes, however, the average person cannot tell the difference. The more talc content in the soapstone, the softer it is. Since most of the soapstone sold in the US comes from the same area in Brazil, the variation of the soapstones is minimal. The way to make soapstone less prone to scratching is by leaving its surface at a coarser/less smooth finish. After testing our soapstone numerous times, we have decided to hone the soapstone up to 120 or 220 grit.

15. What is Mariana soapstone and do you carry it?
A. All of the soapstones from Brazil come from the surroundings of the towns of Mariana, Ouro Preto, Santa Rita, Santa Barbara, Serro, Congonhas, Lafayette, Furquim, Piranga, etc. Yes we carry Mariana Soapstone, named such because of the region it is quarried.

16. What is Sensa soapstone and do you carry it?
A. Sensa soapstone is the name given by companies to ANY soapstone that they import from Brazil. As mentioned above, we carry a variety of soapstones from Brazil.

17. What is Green Mountain Soapstone and do you carry it?
A. Same answer as above.

18. What is Ice Flower Soapstone and do you carry it?
A. Same answer as question 8.

19. Can I place hot pots on my soapstone countertops?
A. Yes you can, soapstone is not affected by heat. We actually make cookware out of soapstone.

20. Why am I not familiar with soapstone?
A. Because of its relative rarity and because it´s unlike most other architectural minerals, soapstone has not been quarried or marketed by large companies and has not been sold through traditional stone distribution channels. Grantops is the primary distributor and fabricator of soapstone in the Washington/Baltimore Metropolitan area.

21. Are there soapstones from other places than Brazil?
A. Yes, a smaller quantity of soapstone is being quarried in Virginia, United States. One of the biggest soapstone producers is located in Finland, but that soapstone is primarily extracted in very small blocks for the European market of masonry heaters (very little entering the US for countertops, etc). Other small quantities are imported from India and we are the exclusive importers of those (Cobra and Emerald Green Soapstones). However, Brazil is by far the major resource for soapstone used in North America.