In Australia we are are mad for engineered stone. It has been THE material of choice for bench tops for a long time. It has cornered the market as a durable and affordable bench top option. It’s understandable, because it has many advantages: a huge range of colour and pattern, and many look similar to natural stone, but with better functionality and price.
The ‘New Asbestos’
You may have heard the media lately talking about silicosis. This is a deadly lung disease linked to engineered stone. Hospitals around Australia have seen a rise in new cases of silicosis, and these cases are specifically in people who work with engineered stone.
Silicosis is caused by breathing in tiny pieces of silica, which is a mineral found in many materials, but especially engineered stone, which has 95 percent more silica than natural stone. When these materials are cut, ground, or blasted, the dust is breathed in by workers and it damages the lungs. It is irreversible and deadly. Hence why engineered stone is sometimes called ‘the new asbestos’.
The dangers of inhaling this silica ‘death dust’ are widely known, and in Australia we have had measures to reduce exposure since the 1930s. Things like powerful extraction fans, water spray systems, and respirators. There are specific masks that tradies must wear and dry-cutting the stone has been completely banned. But sadly, the disease is showing itself more and more frequently. Some cases are even in young tradies in their early twenties!
A Changing Industry
It is changing what was a booming industry. Some groups claim silicosis is entirely preventable through safe workplace practices. While others are lobbying for a complete ban on engineered stone altogether. When lives are at stake, I can see how a ban is feasible, just like the ban on asbestos. There are also currently class action law suits against stone manufacturers. Like with asbestos, this is a slow-burning disease, so the number of cases today could be just the tip of the iceberg.
Pricing of bench tops is therefore affected. Manufacturers have to implement more expensive safety practices, pushing prices up. In Queensland, there have been crackdowns on working conditions with audits and fines. And stone masons are leaving the trade at an alarming rate, meaning those that stay are charging ‘danger money’.
But It’s Not all Doom and Gloom!
These kinds of upheavals mean manufacturers are putting more research and development into alternatives, which is a good thing. And the seriousness of silicosis means more and more renovators are looking for other options. Thankfully there are a lot already available.
Here are some other bench top options that aren’t associated with silicosis:
• Metal bench tops such as stainless steel and also zinc is becoming more popular.
• Tiles. I’ve seen tiles done really well. If you’re worried about all the gout, there are some really big tiles available these days which means fewer grout lines.
• Timber has been around for ages and when sealed properly makes a beautiful bench top. Bamboo is a newer type of timber considered more sustainable.
• Concrete bench tops are also gorgeous. No longer considered purely industrial because you can get so many different aggregates and tones. Note, cutting concrete can contribute to silicosis, but not as much as engineered stone.
• Porcelain sheets are super-durable and heat resistant. And you can get a natural-stone look without the price tag.
• Sintered stone. A newer product with a similar look to engineered stone but it is bonded with heat rather than resins, so it has very low silica content. Dekton, and Neolith are two popular brands.
• I’ve recently become a fan of recycled glass bench tops. Yeh, I know it sounds strange, but check out Betta Stone. This is an Australian company who use recycled glass to create bench tops that look surprisingly similar engineered stone. They have no silica and are sustainable – double win!
Conclusion
Silicosis is not a pleasant subject, but we should all be aware so we can make informed choices. I hope you have fun exploring other options for your bench tops. You can discover wonderful things when pushed to look beyond the obvious choice. Plus, you can feel good knowing it’s safer for tradies.