soapstone countertops cost
$95 / Square Foot Installed
The estimated cost to install soapstone countertops ranges from $75 to $125 per square foot, including installation. An average cost is $95 per square foot, a cost that is competitive with granite, marble and quartz. Installing your own soapstone counters is not recommended, though you can purchase the slab for around $75 per square foot.
Average DIY
$80 / Sq ft (Slab only)
Typical Range
$75 – $125 / Sqft
Last Updated: Wednesday, January 12, 2022
How Much do Soapstone Countertops Cost?
|
Low Estimate $65 – $85/sf |
Average Cost Estimate $75 – $125 |
High Estimate $110 – $145/sf |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Slabs | One | One or Two | Two or More |
| Slab Thickness | 3cm | 3cm | 3cm to 6cm |
| Slab Size | Standard | Standard or Oversized | Standard or Oversized |
| Soapstone Color | Gray Tones | Gray, Blue or Green | Blue or Green Tones |
| Edge Cut | Standard | Upgraded | Complex |
| Extra Fabrication | None | 1 or 2 | 2+ |
| Installed By | DIY / Helper | Professional | Professional |
| Remove Old Counters | No | Yes | Yes |
Sections: Overview | Product Costs | Installation Cost | DIY or Pro
Overview of Soapstone Counters
Soapstone counters are naturally gorgeous with gentle veining that isn’t as “busy” as veining in marble and most granite countertop slabs. Also called steatite counters, the stone isn’t porous, so no sealing is required.
Soapstone kitchen and bathroom countertops can be left to darken slowly and naturally or be treated with mineral oil to facilitate balanced darkening of the patina. Fabricating drainboards near the sink or producing matching sinks and backboards are common extras.
Here are average costs for bathroom and kitchen soapstone counters.
- Medium bathroom countertop (12 sq. ft.): $720 to $1,380
- Average kitchen countertops (50 sq. ft.): $3,000 to $5,750
- Kitchen countertops with island (60 sq. ft.): $3,600 to $6,900
Soapstone cost factors are discussed below to give you an accurate estimate based on factors that apply to your project. Material, supplies and labor are itemized. We include reader-submitted costs and costs from other estimate sites. You’re invited to share your costs too.
A DIY vs Pro recommendation is included.
Related Cost Estimates
Project Cost Details
Soapstone Slab Cost Factors
Prices start at about $65 per square foot for a 1.25-inch soapstone slab countertop with minimal fabrication. Costs rise from there based on these factors.
- Slab Size: Slabs wider than standard countertops, for use on an island or breakfast bar, cost 25% to 30% more.
- Slab Thickness: Standard slabs are 1.25 inches (3cm) thick. Slabs up to 2.5 inches (6cm) are produced at a premium cost. They also require added support, which further increases cost.
- Soapstone Color: Most soapstone is gray, ranging from pale to charcoal. Slabs with blue and green tones are rarer, so cost more.
- Edge Cut: The standard edge has corners that are lightly ground away to produce an “eased” edge. Adding a full bullnose, ogee, cove, chiseled, chamfer or other design raises countertop cost.
- Drainboard: The drainboard is cut into the stone, sloped toward the sink opening. Drainboard styles include flat ($), raised or recessed grooves ($$) and custom ($$$) designs.
- Source Location: Soapstone mined in the US costs more than stone from areas with lower labor costs.
Cost of Installation Supplies
Here’s are the itemized materials and supplies used in soapstone bath and kitchen counters.
- $48-$85 per square foot| Soapstone slabs.
- $14-$56 | Optional plywood support and fasteners for large and/or thick slabs.
- $12-$25 | Caulk and adhesive used for seams, sinks and countertop installation.
- $20-$28 per gallon | Food grade mineral oil – optional.
Permits, Inspection, , Related Costs and Installation Time
Permits and Inspection Cost
- $0 | A permit is not required for soapstone counter installation.
Related Costs and Installation Time
The soapstone counters prices in the table above includes ALL costs – slabs, supplies and labor. The costs here are to show how labor and “extras” affect cost.
- $10.00-$16.00 per square foot | Installation cost when hiring a licensed, insured countertop contractor. Single-slab counters are easiest to install, so cost is low. Multiple slabs, supports below the counters, modifying the edge on location and installing a backsplash raise the cost.
- $75-$100 | Additional sink hole cuts. This cost is less than for cutting marble and granite, because soapstone is softer.
- $85-$215 | Total cost to remove and dispose of old countertops. If they are tile, cost might be as high as $400.
Countertop Install Time Schedule
When countertops are fabricated in the factory, installation goes quickly. The more cutting, sanding and fabricating that is done at your home, the longer the process will be.
For most jobs:
- 1 hour or less | Remove existing countertops
- 1-3 hours | Installation of a single slab counter
- 4-8 hours | Installation of two or more slabs
- 1-3 hours | Additional fabricating such as cutting a sink opening or drainboard ridges or grooves
DIY or Hire a Pro?
If no fabricating will be done and the counter is a single slab with a “perfect” fit, experienced DIY homeowners may do the job. Some shimming might be required.
It becomes a job best left to professionals when the tools, techniques and precision required for grinding back edges to fit an uneven wall, cutting in a sink opening or drainboard are needed. Gluing seams with epoxy adhesive and sanding away the excess will be required for multi-slab counters. That’s a pro job too, in our opinion.
If you hire a pro for soapstone counters installation, be sure they are experienced, licensed and insured. That will protect the sizable investment you’re making.
What’s your opinion? Vote below.
A lawyer never retires. So I would just say that I am not as active as I used to be. Now I simply dedicate myself to fishing, my hobby, and my grandchildren. For Business Finance News I write about legal aspects of mortgage policies, mostly regarding the rights of policyholders. I also have articles about personal injuries.
