Soapstone Countertop Alternatives

Don’t worry, we won’t make a soap opera out of this.

Soapstone as an alternative to quartz countertops is an option, but not our highest recommendation. While similar in some ways, they have their differences. Follow along to learn why.

When the time comes for a client to pick out the countertop for their beautifully designed space, more times than not we’ll get asked about our opinion on soapstone. Dahlia Design highly suggests and utilizes quartz countertops in our designs. Soapstone is a natural stone, much like quartz, however there are a few differences between the two.

Soapstone tends to scratch easily, which is a quality not preferred when choosing a countertop for your project. Scratching can lead to cracking and chipping, a habit also not preferred by clients. Oily substances are not soapstone friendly as they can create dark patches and staining on the surface of the countertop pattern.

Soapstone also has a limitation in color and pattern which makes it difficult to create an exact match between two slabs. This can be important when designing something like a waterfall countertop. The texture and pattern will not be a seamless, continuous design, whereas quartz can be versatile in its veining.

Quartz is our most preferred material due to the many positive qualities it has. Provided that it is naturally durable, it is also engineered to withstand high amounts of pressure, along with no scratching or staining. To put this into perspective, let’s compare products on the Mohs Scale, a scale that lists mineral hardness from 1-10. The harder the mineral, the higher they appear on the scale. Unsurprisingly, diamonds are listed at the top of Mohs scale due to their mineral hardness and ability to withstand scratching from other surfaces. Comparably, quartz ranks 7 on the scale while soap stone ranks around 3. There’s quite a difference in that, isn’t there?

Cambria Quartz has a variety of different colors and finishes, including a selection of soapstone lookalikes. This is an amazing option for clients looking for a soapstone look but wanting the durability and benefits of a quartz countertop.

Some examples of Cambria’s soapstone lookalikes include: Inverness Stonestreet, Charlestown, Mammoth Cave, and Delemere, amongst others.

Other positive qualities about Cambria include a Lifetime Warranty, commitments to sustainability, local materials, and so much more. You can read more about the endless benefits of Cambria quartz by clicking the button below!

While we love the soapstone look, it’s not our final destination when it comes to countertop quality. Finding a soapstone lookalike with the reliable qualities of quartz makes us confident that your countertop will perform to perfection.