So you are trying to finalize your kitchen countertop material selection.
You have it narrowed down to honed black granite, honed white cararra, or soapstone.
Funny how both white and black are on your list! I have had several customers that were considering these three stones before making their decision.
There is a wide array of design possibilities when you use neutral design elements such as black or white.
This allows you to change the less costly accessories in your kitchen design from time to time.
Your flooring, the kitchen cabinets, and granite countertops are a primary and enduring fixture in the space, and you won't likely be changing them again anytime soon! With primary colors like the dark grey of most soapstone, the striking effect of black granite, or the elegance of white marble, you can easily change your not so permanent items from time to time, as your tastes dictate.
Towels, basket arrangements, wall hangings and the like are easily changed and not too costly when you want a change.
Paint and wallpaper are quite easy to change as well, and the mood of the room can easily be changed while the cabinets flooring and stone countertops remain.
Soapstone countertops are a great choice and suite many different design styles.
Some things look better with age, and the patina of an old soapstone countertop may be just what you want.
Soapstone counters require more maintenance than granite, so you will want to consider that when making your choice.
Some soapstone is quite soft and you can scratch it with a fingernail.
Other varieties are much harder and won't scratch so easily.
We have used Pietra Del Cardoso many times and it performs well.
Mineral oil is used in place of sealer on soapstone.
Re-apply the oil often at first until the stone doesn't absorb any more.
When scratches develop, put on some more mineral oil to darken the scratch and make it blend in.
You can have white marble countertops, but you will find that most people in the stone industry do not advise using it in the kitchen.
The appearance of it may be just what you are looking for, but be aware of the care issues.
Marble will scratch, stain, and etch much easier than granite.
Sealer will guard against stains, but will do nothing against scratches and etching.
Acidic products will etch the surface of marble causing dull spots.
Honed marble will not show etching as much because it has a low sheen finish to begin with.
Marble is typically sealed with a good quality stone sealer like Stone Tech Impregnator Pro, but we have on occasion used mineral oil at the customer's request.
Notwithstanding the potential problems posed by marble, we have had customers install it in one home, and then later in another.
This indicates that it is perhaps not a big issue to some homeowners-it depends on the expectations and habits of the particular homeowner.
Caring for black granite countertops will be far easier than white marble or soapstone countertops.
Black is very dense (not to mention very heavy...
) and not very porous.
It should be sealed to guard against stains like any other granite, but is not very susceptible to staining even when it is not sealed.
Black absolute granite is quarried from several different countries, and some varieties are darker than others.
Zimbabwe has nice black absolute granite (actually, it is classified as a gabbro, but is most commonly referred to as granite in the countertop industry.
India has a tight-grained black known as black absolute super, which is actually basalt.
Again, it is usually called granite in our trade.
Whatever color you decide on, you will get a lifetime of use and beauty from your stone countertops!