Archive for March, 2009

Looking to accent your soapstone counter tops? At Teresina Soapstone we import premium quality Brazilian soapstone tiles for any use. We inventory an assortment of sizes, textures and patterns. Our newest featured tiles include decorative mosaic patterns, perfect to accent any backsplash, shower surround or floor application.

For more information regarding price, sizes, colors and availability, please contact us.

Have you ever wanted the look of natural stone countertops without paying the full price? If you answered yes, then soapstone countertops might be the perfect countertop for you. Working with soapstone isn’t for everyone, but if you are pretty handy, have a set of common tools, and a strong back then soapstone is the perfect material for DIY’ers. Unlike marble or granite, soapstone is much easier to work with. It can be cut with a hand-held circular saw, and the edges can be done with regular sand paper. Here at Teresina Soapstone, we carry 3cm soapstone (1 ¼” thick) which we typically glue right on top of the cabinet box, thus eliminating the need to laminate on an edge, or use a plywood subtop.

Although the do it yourself option is more economical, there are certain factors to consider:
1. Soapstone is heavy. It is between 20-25 .lbs per sq ft, which makes transportation something to plan out carefully. A 3’ x 5’ soapstone island would weigh an estimated 300 lbs.
2. Under-counter sink cut outs can be a little challenging. Fortunately, there are specialty stone tools to make rounding and sanding the sink edges easier.
3. Soapstone seams (or joints), if done poorly, can diminish the look of an otherwise perfect job. Although not always possible, you would ideally want to avoid having any soapstone veins dying into the seam. It is also important to make sure your cabinets are level. A level surface will make it easier to join the two pieces together.
4. Drilling faucet holes can take some time and make a big mess. Similar to drilling an under-counter sinks with rounded corners, you may want to consider buying an 1 3/8” diamond coring bit to make the faucet holes. They cost around $50, but will cut the holes in less than a minute.

Most importantly, you want to start with good quality soapstone. Teresina Soapstone offers premium quality Brazilian soapstone. Click here to view the different varieties of soapstone that we currently have in stock. We have plenty of experience working with homeowners to help you figure out the best way for them to complete your project. We can cut pieces down to size, do sink cut outs for you, deliver to your job site, guide you through the install, etc…

Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.

Oiling your soapstone is NOT REQUIRED for maintenance of soapstone; it simply makes the surface darker.

There is no set rule on application. Since THE OIL IS NOT ABSORBED, you are creating a thin layer of oil on top of the surface of the stone, it will not “stain”. A large amount of oil is not necessary, just enough to spread from backsplash to the edges. (We often use an oily rag kept in a plastic bag to make the process faster and easier). Apply the oil and wipe the rag from side to side until a smooth coat has developed. The more layers of oil you apply, the less likely it is to evaporate. However, if your counters feel slick and slimy, feel free to remove excess oil layers with a paper towel or old rag (the oil doesn’t need to soak in because it never will). Initially the oiling maintenance is recommended once every two to three days for the first three to four weeks (or more often if some parts of the counter are subjected to more sunlight or if you use alcohol based cleaning products that will counter-act the oil). The darkening process will vary based on the type of the stone, certain varieties of soapstone can achieve a darker color than others at a faster rate depending on the mineral composition. After the first three to four weeks, touch-up applications will be needed on certain portions of the stone that tend to evaporate more quickly just to have a continuously oiled surface. After the first six months, your counters should maintain the darker, “oiled look” with more infrequent oil touch-up applications.To see the difference with slabs half oiled click here.