Soapstone Kitchens…
When most people think of natural stone, for countertops, they usually think of granite, or marble. Soapstone however, is also a fairly popular choice. Soapstone has been used for centuries for tools, sculptures, vases, fireplaces, etc. because it is relatively soft, which makes it a good material for carving. More recently, soapstone has been popular for sinks and countertops. Soapstone is a steatite stone that is primarily composed of the mineral talc, which is rich in magnesium and feels soft and/or soapy to the touch.
Soapstone is a material that is inert and unlike granite, marble and most other natural stones, acids and alkalies won’t affect it. That is why soapstone has been popular in science classrooms and labs over the years. Soapstone is also popular for fireplaces, wood stoves and pizza ovens because it tends to heat quickly and distributes heat evenly.
Soapstone tends to be light gray in appearance and takes on a darker appearance with aging, as it goes through an oxidation process. Sealing with mineral oil is recommended every few weeks for the first year to enhance the oxidation process after installation. Abrasive cleaners such as Ajax are not recommended for this product.
Let’s take a look at a soapstone kitchen:
Soapstone Kitchen installed by PGC
Soapstone Kitchen installed by PGC
If you are looking for something unique for your countertops and like an aged, or weathered look, soapstone might be a material that is appealing to you. Feel free to stop by our showroom to take look.
Here’s a photo of our current stock:
Soapstone
Thanks for reading!
Barb
Posted in Soapstone on May 17th, 2012 by Barb | | 0 Comments
New Fall Exclusive Colors…
It is hard to believe that fall is just around the corner. For most, fall signifies change and beautiful colors. At PGC, we have some changes of our own that include some new fall exclusive colors. If you are looking for a change for your home that includes some granite countertops, you might want to stop by and check them out, as well as our stock colors, and partial slab inventory. We have plenty to choose from and are always happy to help with your material and color selections.
New Fall Exclusive Colors
Black Storm
Elegant Brown Quartzite
Golden Cayman
Soapstone
Make sure you check out our colors page on our website to view our other Exclusive colors, as well as Group A, Group B, Group C and others.
Thanks for reading!
Barb
Posted in Granite, Soapstone on September 8th, 2011 by Barb | | 0 Comments
Natural Stone Descriptions…
I know I’ve probably blogged about this topic over the last 4 plus years I’ve been blogging, but in our showroom we get asked a lot of questions in regards to stone descriptions, so I thought I would address it again. Customers are often curious as to what the difference is between one stone, or another and what makes one more durable than the next, etc.
Natural Stone Descriptions
Granite
Granite is by far the best choice and the most popular stone for natural countertops. It is not only the hardest and most durable material available, but also the most stain resistant. It comes in a wide variety of colors and its beauty lasts more than a lifetime. It is also easy to clean and maintain. It makes up 75% of the earth’s crust and is the most common igneous rock. It was formed ages ago when magma (molten rock) cooled. It is commonly found in mountain ranges, but is also found in level regions where mountains once were. It is made up of various minerals including quartz, feldspar, and mica. All granites are approved for exterior use, which is why you see much of it cladding commercial buildings and sidewalks in many cities.
Limestone
Limestone also offers a unique look. It is great to use for fireplace surrounds, but use caution when recommending it for kitchen countertops, and bathroom vanities. It is the softest natural stone available and therefore the easiest to stain and scratch. It is extremely porous and therefore use of an acrylic based sealer (which adds a sheen to the appearance) is recommended to protect it. Limestone is produced from the mineral calcite (calcium carbonate) and sediment. It mainly comes from the beds of oceans, or evaporated seas and lakes and from sea animal shells. Limestone is readily available with large quarries in Southern Minnesota.
Marble
Marble is also quite popular, especially for bathroom vanities and fireplace surrounds. It is also among one of the most beautiful stones available in the market today. It is a relatively hard material, but it is not as hard as granite. Depending on the environment it is in, there is a chance of staining. Marble also comes in quite a large variety of colors. With proper care and maintenance, marble is relatively easy to maintain. It is composed of calcite or dolomite and is easily worked. It is a metamorphic limestone, or dolostone and is classified as any crystalline calcareous rock that will take a polish. Through the ages, it has been used primarily as a building and ornamental stone, and for monuments, tabletops, and other decorative applications. Very few marbles are approved for exterior use.
Onyx
Onyx is made up of a variety of cryptocrystalline quartz, and is made up of bands, which are parallel and regular. Its appearance is most striking when the bands are of sharply contrasting colors. It is often considered a gemstone. It is one of the most striking and beautiful stones, but is fragile. It is popular for jewelry, vases, and figurines. It can be used for fireplace surrounds, table tops, bar tops, etc., but scratches easily.
Slate
Slate offers a unique look. It is great for floor tile and roofing shingles, but not the best choice for kitchen countertops. It is a relatively soft material and can stain rather easily. It is also not the easiest material to clean up. However if you are looking for a “weathered” look, it is quite appealing. It is a fine-grained metamorphic rock that splits into thin, smooth-surfaced layers. It can also be used for roofing shingles.
Soapstone
Soapstone tends to be light gray in appearance and takes on a darker appearance with aging, as it goes through an oxidation process. Sealing with mineral oil is recommended every few weeks for the first year to enhance the oxidation process. Abrasive cleaners such as Ajax are not recommended. If you desire, or are looking for an aged, or weathered look, soapstone may be appealing. It is a metamorphic rock rich in magnesium and iron. It can be used for kitchen countertops and sinks and is sometimes used for fireplace surrounds because of its ability to distribute heat evenly.
Travertine
Travertine is a porous material, which often begins as a limestone and in most applications is filled. It usually contains small fossils or hollow fossil imprints. It is made up of large quantities of calcium carbonate formed from hot springs containing calcium rich water that bubble up and then cool down. It is often considered an ornamental stone. Travertine is quite popular for flooring and is sometimes used for vanities, or in bathroom applications.
Thanks for reading!
Barb
Posted in Granite, Marble, Natural Stone, Onyx, Soapstone on June 9th, 2011 by Barb | | Comments Off
Add Functionality To Your Kitchen Countertop With A Built-In Drain Board…
The other day, as I walking through our shop area, I noticed a soapstone job in which we were fabricating a built-in drain board that caught my eye. While we get requests to fabricate built-in drain boards for granite countertops from time to time, this is the first time I saw one fabricated for soapstone countertops. Soapstone has a unique look and is often appealing to those customers that are looking for a rustic, aged, or weathered look. Let’s take a look…
Soapstone Slab
Adding a drain board to a countertop allows water to drain freely to the sink and adds functionality to a kitchen. At PGC, we fabricate/run drain boards on our CNC mill, where water-fed tooling creates grooves that slope to the sink. The grooves are typically 1/2″ wide and 14-16″ long.
Following are a few more photos I wanted to share:
Soapstone Sink Run With Drain Board Grooves
Soapstone Sink Run With Drain Board Grooves
Thanks for reading!
Barb
Posted in In The Shop, Soapstone on May 17th, 2011 by Barb | | 0 Comments
