Free pool table = DIY slate countertops. *video*
Back when we were picking up one of my endless Craigslist treasures, the guy selling it said: I have a pool table I’m getting rid of, you interested?
We weren’t… but on the way home, Paul said something to the extent of: pool tables are heavy because there is a slab of slate inside.
And I was like – wait… What?
Define slab of slate.
Then I got out my phone to check what I knew in my bones.
Do you know what Craigslist is FULL of?
FREE POOL TABLES
=
FREE SLATE
=
FREE KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS
I like the look of contrast/dark counters with light cabinets… and since the cabinets around our kitchen’s perimeter will be white, I had been thinking soapstone for the countertops– but free slate will be even better.
For the piano island, we already have the reclaimed Carrara, which fits with my general design plan of a contrasting countertop layout similar to below… marble on the island, dark counter on the perimeter. (more of my kitchen inspiration here, here.)
Now.
Before we begin, know this: a conversation about slate countertops is no different than a conversation about Carrara or soapstone.
Either:
These are materials used beautifully throughout history that will develop a patina and enhance your kitchen and bring you a lifetime of happiness forever because you are a special snowflake who appreciates the beauty of natural stone.
OR
These materials are utterly incompatible with a working kitchen and anyone who tells you otherwise is an idiot.
I am not trying to tell you which camp you should fall into, I’m just recapping.
Personally, I am comfortable making decisions that other people think are idiotic… if you are not, do not choose these materials.
Either way, here is my compiled research about the Mohs scale of mineral hardness: a petrological examination of metamorphic properties, sedimentary shale, porosity, permeability, and absorption measurements.
If that sounds hideously boring, just skip down to the video.
Ok! For comparison’s sake, let’s include soapstone because people are used to thinking of it as a traditional kitchen countertop material.
The primary ingredient in soapstone is talc—the softest mineral on the Moh scale… Slate is soapstone’s cousin: a metamorphic product of sedimentary shale; it has a hardness from 2.5 to 4 on the Moh’s scale.
-Both scratch easily, but scratches are usually superficial and can be buffed out.
-If you choose slate over soapstone, the provenance of your slate could be important: Vermont slate is the hardest on the Moh -scale, from 5-6; this is still soft for a rock.
-In comparison, granite scores 7-8 on the Moh scale.
-Granite has a porosity ratio of between 0.4% – 1.5%
-Marble has a porosity ratio of between 0.5% – 2%
-Slate has a porosity ratio of between 0.4% – 5%
I think because people associate slate with blackboards, there is a perception that it is sort of delicate… but if you have any familiarity with a slate roof, you know that when maintained, they will easily last over 100 years.
Anyway… Do I actually care about Mohs and his rock-mansplaning? No.
But I know I’m setting myself up for outrage from the Appropriate-Cooking-Evaluators, and I’m going to be running afoul of those people soon enough, (with the MOST EGREGIOUSLY HORRIBLE DECISION I CAN MAKE) so I decided to pretend that I am scrupulous in my decision making and I ran my own scientific test of durability: we left a slab out in the backyard.
Paul rolled the monster saw that weighs 9 million pounds out onto it 47 times… I used it as a potting surface… We rolled the mower over it… And raked over it.
My report:
I am pleased!
We also set a chunk on the piano island and have been using it as countertop.
My report:
I am pleased!
Will I be MORE pleased when Santa brings Paul some snazzy new router bits for making tiered/fancy/unnecessary/ogee/waterfall/bevel edges? WHY YES, I WILL.
Paul said he already had something he could use to make a simple bullnose, and I was all, LOL Paul.
If you’re like— whoa, that does NOT look pleasing! This is after we did a batch of kale,
My kale method involves glass ball jars, and you can see, the slate WILL scratch if you grind the base of a jar in a circle; but the scratches are surprisingly superficial.
I clean my counters with water and some Dr. Bronner’s, and I found that if I use a scrubby pad, the scuffs pretty much wipe away. (But even if they didn’t, I wouldn’t care, so don’t base your decisions on my personal preferences without a test run for yourself!)
I did not try oiling the stone, because:
A – fewer steps are better steps.
B – I prefer the lighter shade.
C – I am someone who likes patina.
I really love the color and I prefer the matte finish… but you could oil the slate to give it a darker/richer, more-uniform appearance.
The test piece we put on the piano has a vein through it, and I think we’ll probably discard it… the rest of the pieces are unmarked, (pictured below) so we didn’t cut those yet… what you are seeing below is the underside of the stone. The top of the slate is perfectly smooth and looks like the piece above on our countertop, minus the vein.
Anyway, getting the slate was just the beginning… now for the exciting part!
Disclaimer:
DO NOT TRY THIS.
IT IS PROBABLY A TERRIBLE IDEA.
Cutting stone (or tile) requires water… and my job was to hold the hose.
However, the entire time I was convinced that the whole undertaking was about to explode, so I shut my eyes.
Paul said – WHY do you have your eyes closed? PLEASE watch what you are doing!
The saw was deafening and Paul had earplugs in… So I had to shout to explain that water + electricity + spinning metal blade = CERTAIN DEATH.
And that dying while trying to save money on kitchen countertops was something I wanted to have my eyes closed for.
Paul was like – A: no one is going to die. B: this was YOUR idea.
December 8, 2016 @ 11:22 am
*dancing* I am so STOKED that someone did this!!! My hubby knew that I wanted slate counter tops someday and we talked extensively about how A: we couldn’t afford it but B: isn’t there slate in pool tables? I have had my eye out for a free pool table on craig’s list (we live in the middle of nowhere: slim pickins) but even if I had seen a free pool table I was still all kinds of hesitant because I really didn’t know if it would work out and I know what kind of heavy we’re talking about for something that might not work out. I can’t wait to see them in your kitchen, they are going to be GORGEOUS!!!
December 8, 2016 @ 11:23 am
WOW, WOW, WOW!!! I LOVE THIS! (Sorry, I’ll calm down). I too wanted soapstone for my next house, but slate was my second choice and now with the “free” & durability factors added in, slate has moved up to the #1 position. It looks much thicker than I thought it would be, how thick is the slate (no wonder pool tables are so heavy. Your kitchen will be the most breathtaking room ever. Thanks for your inspiration, information, and guts. You are the BEST!!
December 8, 2016 @ 11:30 am
Just to say, I think you will love your slate worktop! I have had mine for 3+ years now, & it looks as good as ever. I just wipe it down with kitchen cleaner & a scourer sponge, and all the scrape marks disappear & it looks like new again! We were advised to treat it with linseed oil, which we did initially, but now don’t bother. After all, the slate on the roof of our converted barn is exposed to all the elements & is completely waterproof! Good luck!
December 8, 2016 @ 11:31 am
You. Are. My. Hero. OMG this is BRILLIANT!! Sure, a lot of work… but positively brilliant! 🙂
December 8, 2016 @ 11:34 am
Hi there, I have been checking on your blog I think for the last year or so, and you are honestly the best at it. You make me laugh (belly laugh and tears). I tell my husband about you (which he does not care and possibly tunes me out, but still). Sorry, did not mean to gush but had to let you know. Please keep posting.
December 8, 2016 @ 11:34 am
Love your blog! Reading your posts always elicits smile. Thank you! I am looking forward to the photos of the installed countertops. Very informative, I am planning my kitchen in a new build now and have not decided on perimeter countertops, the slate could be in the running!
December 8, 2016 @ 11:36 am
When oh when will we see the completed kitchen? So exciting!
December 8, 2016 @ 11:38 am
Great idea! I have a slate antique sink but initially thought it was soapstone so I got soapstone counters. Really wish they were slate – it’s so lovely and smooth. Like you, I can’t be bothered with a few dings and oiling! (Tried to paste photo here but no luck…)
December 8, 2016 @ 11:41 am
Brilliant! We just salvaged a bunch of goodies from an 1871 Queen Anne farmhouse, including the original slate roof tiles.
December 8, 2016 @ 11:45 am
Someone (Probably my sister) once told met that you either pay in time or money. Since you seem to have the handiest man on earth (Go Paul!), paying in time is a pretty good deal. Maybe not so much according to him, though? Either way, I love what you are doing!
Except, as probably one of the few readers who has actually sung Tea for Two in choir, thanks for THAT earworm!
December 8, 2016 @ 11:46 am
This is so smart. I’ve known at least 3 people that wanted to pay someone to take their no longer used pool table away! It’s coming along and looking great. Can’t wait to see the reveal.
xo,
karen
December 8, 2016 @ 11:51 am
As soon as I read that your husband knew that wathere was slate in pool tables, I got a bubble of pure joy in my chest. How did I not know this? I called out to my husband (who was 2 rooms away and hates me calling out to him ifrom another room) “Did you know there was slate in old pool tables?” He said he knew. Ummm, why didn’t he share this knowledge?!?
I am so excited to see the finished kitchen. I’m living vicariously through you right now. I also love natural patina. And I almost always close my eyes when my husband is doing a project where I feel like there is a chance I may die.
December 8, 2016 @ 12:09 pm
I wanted slate for my new kitchen redo but it was too costly of course. Problem solved with two pieces of slate blackboard from an old school house nearby. CHEAP! Hubby says the cutting was stressful however I love the end result and my counters have seen plenty of use and they are especially grand for pastries and bread kneading. A wipe of pure mineral oil once a year keeps them lovely. No complaints at all! Looking forward to seeing your space completed.
December 8, 2016 @ 12:19 pm
LOVING your blog!!
December 8, 2016 @ 12:23 pm
Just the answer to my problem…..as I cannot accept the busy-ness of granite, nor its incredibly hard surface. Craig’s List here I come. Oh, and you, Victoria, always crack me up.
December 8, 2016 @ 12:25 pm
Oh my heck! This is so cool. I love that your brain thinks like that…Free Pool Table = Free Countertops. The awesomeness of your brain and Paul’s ability to get ‘er done = coolest diy ever.
December 8, 2016 @ 1:13 pm
WAIT stop the presses – you mean to tell me that the ugly old pool table which i found at a thrift shop for peanuts in my garage has real slate in it? Which I can use for my kitchen counter tops? No way. I am going to investigate. TODAY. It’s maybe 8 ft by 11ft – huge by my standards. AND we have a tile saw. !!! Merry Christmas to my kitchen (I hope).
December 8, 2016 @ 1:16 pm
The first post asked my kitten question. Did all of the last fosters find homes? You said two of them went together, one was left…..The new foster is a cutie, too. You must have a thing for tuxedo kitties…..!
December 8, 2016 @ 1:29 pm
Brilliant! Here’s another woman WITH YOU on discarding the advice of the “that’s not appropriate for a kitchen counter” people. I love my soapstone. We do not oil it, buff it or anything. We clean it with water with some white vinegar in a spray bottle. We’ve had it in continuous use since 2007 with our family of four (2 teenagers are rough on it) + frequent guests and NOTHING has happened to it that bothers us. Scrapes wipe out or just disappear (and there have only been a few) and there are a teeny couple of chips around the sink (it overhangs the sink a bit) where heavy pots have been dropped. That just ADDS to its charm. We paid a fortune for our soapstone. YOU ARE WAY SMARTER!!!
December 8, 2016 @ 1:30 pm
I have a pool table that I’ve been trying to get rid of and now I feel like an idiot. I’m wondering who I can rope into making me an island countertop!