What is Soapstone, and Why Would You Want a Soapstone Sink?

Actually, the Soapstone Sink or water basin has been around for awhile – thousands of years, in fact. Soapstone, which is one of the most useful forms of rock known to humankind, has been used for cooking utensils, furniture, pottery and water basins since the Stone Age. Soapstone even has artistic applications; during the days of the Hoysala Empire in medieval India (ca. 1026 – 1343 CE), Hindu temples were built featuring elaborate soapstone carvings. Archaeologists have found Native American artifacts made of soapstone that include cooking slabs and water pots similar to the soapstone sink dating back as far as 3,000 years.

The material for manufacturing a soapstone sink and other useful items is usually found in very old geologic formations. In North America, this is primarily New England and the Maritime provinces of Canada. This part of the continent is over 1 billion years old, and no longer geologically active. Back in their youth however, the present-day Adirondacks and Appalachian ranges were tall, rugged and volcanic, much like the Cascade Range of the Pacific Northwest is today. It was that geologic activity that caused the formation of soapstone and similar forms of rock such as marble and shale.

Rocks such as marble, shale and soapstone are known as “schists” to geologists. These kind of metamorphic rocks (so-called because heat and pressure causes them to “morph” from one form to another) have veins and grains running through them. This is why a soapstone sink is so attractive, in much the same was as those constructed from marble.

A Soapstone Sinks has one distinct advantage over marble, however. Because it is chemically non-reactive, it does not stain. Should you spill something acidic or alkaline on a soapstone surface, you’ll find that unlike marble, clean-up is relatively easy. Soapstone, like wood, can also be treated with special mineral-oil based sealers that should be reapplied every so often, but this is not necessary. Some soapstone sink owners prefer to leave the material in its natural state.

Soapstone, being relatively soft and easy to work with, can be fashioned into many different shapes. Early colonial American homes often had soapstone fireplaces, hearths, cooking slabs and water basins; a soapstone sink can be found in many a 19th-century home, still being used today.

This is one of the marvelous things about soapstone; it is a timeless material. A soapstone sink can be equally at home in a Mediterranean home inspired by the ancient Hellenistic world, a quaint Victorian cottage, a Craftsman bungalow or the most contemporary avant-garde home. Take a look at the styles available, and consider installing a Soapstone Sink for your next bathroom or kitchen remodel.