Soapstone, also known as steatite, is a stone made of chlorite, talc and magnesium silicate. Soapstone is fast replacing granite as an option for a kitchen countertop, mainly due to its stain and heat resistant properties. However, in the recent years, soapstone is even being considered for making sinks and water basins. So, are soapstone sinks good? If this is the question on your mind, you will definitely find the soapstone sinks pros and cons listed here to be very useful. Have a look...
Pros and Cons of Soapstone Sinks
Pros
There are certain features of soapstone, which make it great to be used as a sink. One of these features is that soapstone is highly heat resistant. This means that you do not have to worry a bit, even if you keep hot utensils directly in the sink for cleaning. Soapstone can withstand heat to a large extent and thus, would not get damaged at all because of it! Another of the features of soapstone is that it does not stain easily. So, any sort of chemicals, acids or ingredients in foods will not be able to spoil the look of a soapstone sink. Now, the best part about having a soapstone sink - soapstone is completely impenetrable. So, you can rest assured that no amount of water will be able to enter it and cause any kind of dampness.
Then there are many other advantages of choosing soapstone sinks for your kitchen. Most important one being that this stone is very strong and durable. If you maintain it properly, it will last you for years. All you have to do with these is to treat them with mineral oil, every four to six weeks and they will look new for years to come! Cleaning soapstone sinks is pretty easy too. Once a week, simply clean them with soapy solution and water and you are done! You may further go to how to clean a kitchen sink.
If you look around, you will be amazed to find the variety in terms of styles that soapstone sinks are available in. As soapstone is made from metamorphic rocks, it has a number of veins and grains running through it, which give it a beautiful look. Due to these very reasons, a soapstone sink can fit into any kind of decor, be it modern or traditional, and enhance the overall look of the kitchen.
Cons
Now, let's move on to know some of the drawbacks of a soapstone sink. This stone, as compared to the other stones like granite, has a tendency to scratch easily. So, if you wash some heavy utensils in the sink, there is a possibility that its surface will get chipped over time. On the brighter side, all such nicks on the soapstone surface can be taken care of by sanding it with a sand paper and then applying mineral oil on it. However, if the impact on the soapstone sink is huge, big cracks can develop on its surface and thus, you will have no other option, but to replace the sink all together.
Another of the disadvantages of a soapstone sink is that if it is not oiled after regular intervals, its color will lose its evenness. Although, soapstone keeps darkening on its own, as years go by, mineral oil application is necessary to keep its appearance bright and vibrant.
As you can see, there are both advantages as well as disadvantages of using soapstone sinks. So, you have to consider all these soapstone sink pros and cons,
speedy 25, think what kind of usage you will subject the sink to, and finally decide whether a soapstone sink fits into your needs and requirements or not!