When compared to the other natural stone countertops available on the market today, this natural stone has proven itself to be one of the most durable and hearty counters you can buy. You probably used one back in your days of high school or college when you were sitting in front of the Bunsen Burners.
Today you’ll still see soapstone tables and counters being used in scientific labs across the country because they are just this durable.
How much will you have to pay for this durability?
A fabricated countertop usually runs anywhere from $70 up to $120 per foot for the slab of stone. This does not include the installation costs, which can vary from one installer to the next. Yes, it rivals granite countertops cost as well as quartz.
In fact, you may be inclined to stop reading this article right now and give up the idea of adding this counter to your kitchen completely. Don’t run off yet though, because there are some other factors to consider which may substantially cut down the costs and make it a more cost-effective option for your new countertop.
The cost of installation
There is a huge difference between getting an inexpensive counter installed versus one that is made of any natural stone. The installation will need to be done by a professional that is highly qualified and experienced working it.
Hiring a general contractor or even a handyman to put in these counters is not an option. As well, you won’t be able to install the counters on your own as a do -it-yourself project. This means that you are limited when it comes to the company that does the installation for you.
Of course you can try to DIY but if you break it you bought it. If the company that fabricates it breaks it during installation they are on the hook for it.
More on finding someone to make and install these for you in just a second.
Comparing apples to oranges
It’s important to take a complete look at the whole picture if you’re comparing the price of soapstone versus granite, quartz, marble etc. With the harder stone types there’s no chance of saving money on the installation. It’s not really fair to just compare the stone slabs on their own - it’s like comparing apples to oranges.
The only way to get a true apples to apples comparison is to look at the price of the slabs plus the installation costs together. In most cases you’ll find that a soapstone countertop will cost less than one made of granite or any other natural stone when the installation charges are factored in.
Prices vary according to your location
When you’re trying to determine how much do soapstone countertops cost you’ll often find that location plays a big part in the price as well. Soapstone slabs do have quite a bit of weight to them so it’s more costly to ship them out to remote locations.
If you live close to the quarry in Virginia that mines these stones, you’ll pay a lot less for the stone then you would if you live in an area that’s quite far away.
Pricing for additional features
There are a lot of different features that may be added onto your soapstone countertop. You may want to have a thicker slab, a sink cut-out, edge fabrications, seam joining etc. You will also have to pay more for adding a backsplash and you may also want to consider purchasing a soapstone sink and adding it to the mix.
There are also customized options available such as adding a grooved, built-in drain board to the counter. This is a neat option with a board that is made to slope towards the sink. You’ll want to think long and hard about adding this feature though since it is permanent. If you decide to get a dishwasher later and no longer need a grooved board for draining dishes you’ll be out of luck since this will be a part of your countertop for years to come.
Quality counts when it comes to soapstone
Be very careful when you’re searching for slabs since they can vary in quality significantly. Soapstone contains talc, which gives it the softness that defines it and determines how hard the counter will be. Too much talc in the stone will give you a countertop that is simply too soft to be workable.
Getting A Great Price
When it comes to soapstone, you get what you pay for. This is going to be an investment that can last for many years to come so you’ll never want to try to skimp on the quality of the slab itself or the installation. The price of quality material is generally the same from shop to shop.
When it comes to the installation costs there’s a lot of wiggle room, however. Because of this quotes from contractors can vary by literally $1,000 or more. It’s always prudent to get a minimum of three prices to make sure that nobody is trying to take you to the cleaners.
But finding top notch pros can be a hassle. Many of them can’t even be bothered to return your phone call. You might call 10-15 places just to get 5-7 call backs. And then 2-3 of those won’t even bother to show up to the appointment you made. It happens all the time and for the life of me I just don’t understand it.
That’s why we have partnered up a company that specializes in finding you local contractors that are actively looking for work. To make local installers call you instead of you having to go out and find them, just fill in the form below. You’ll get hooked up with quality contractors that actually appreciate your business.
4 Comments
Matt
people DIY soapstone all the time with great success. It’s very easy to work with and can be fabricated with woodworking tools / carbide blades.
Katherine
I requested and purchased grey soapstone with white veins. When it was installed it was grey and the veins appeared white but when I oiled it as directed by the installer, it turned green. What to do? Does all grey soapstone turn green? What is the white vein soapstone called? Don’t companies test a piece to insure it is what the customer requested? Feeling disappointed.
Anonymous
All soapstone darkens when oiled… the oil finish is cosmetic and temporary.
Camille Racer
Also, if it turned green you have a brazilian soapstone which is much softer…stone from Virginia tends to lean dark blue/black and has less talc…(the white vein)
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Updated: March 2, 2017
