Silica-Free Benchtop Alternatives
We’ve paused our ongoing blog series about the kitchen renovation process to explore some alternative benchtop materials that can keep stonemasons safe. There are already many great options available on the market.
With increased awareness about silica and its impact on the health of those who work with it, there has been a push to find healthier alternatives to engineered stone, which typically has a high silica content and can cause silicosis if safety precautions are not taken. Silicosis is a condition that affects people working with silica-containing products. While it can be mitigated with protective equipment, it’s safer to work with materials that are silica-free or have low silica content.
Here are some benchtop materials that offer a wide range of colour options and textures to complete your kitchen renovation:
Silica-Free:
Meganite: An acrylic solid surface product that can be used similarly to engineered stone, but without adverse health effects. Meganite can be rejuvenated in situ by stonemasons to a beautiful finish if scratches occur. It can also be curved, cut, fluted, and coved, making it stand out.
A silica-free Corian benchtop in Deep Nocturne elevates the drama in this black kitchen.
Neolith: A toughened ceramic similar to Dekton but more durable still. It is also heat, scratch, and stain-resistant. Flame-resistant Neolith benchtops can integrate gas burners.
Laminate: An option that has been around for many years, laminate has been improved in terms of the board it is laid on and the production process itself to make it as sustainable as possible. It remains budget-friendly and offers almost unlimited colour options, from solid colours to natural-looking timber grain.
Corian: Another acrylic solid surface product that offers similar colour and design options to Meganite.
Dekton: A toughened ceramic similar to porcelain but more durable. It is also heat, scratch, and stain-resistant.
Silica-Free Neolith benchtops in Beeton provide the additional functionality of being flame-resistant. Integrated gas burners can sit directly, and SO pleasingly, within a flame-resistant benchtop.
Solid Timber: Timber is making a huge comeback this year, and Smith & Smith can craft solid timber benchtops in their workshop in Rowville. They can be made to measure and offer warmth and texture. Timber benchtops can be used as a feature on an island bench or throughout the kitchen for a more unified effect.
Natural Stone: Some natural stone contains silica, and some are silica-free. Natural stones have a lower silica content than engineered stones, making them safer. Natural stone is heat and scratch-resistant, but it needs sealing regularly to prevent stains. It has a unique beauty that manmade alternatives cannot fully capture.
Silica-free natural stone benchtops and splashbacks make a bold and timeless statement.
Low Silica:
Lithostone: A low-silica reconstituted stone that is hard-wearing, stain and heat-resistant. It covers a wide range of colours, from solid colours to veined stone.
Porcelain: A large tile that can be placed on your benchtop, porcelain is heat, scratch, and stain-resistant.
Whether you choose a silica-free or low-silica benchtop material, you’ll have plenty of options to achieve the look you want for your kitchen renovation.
Final Notes:
The recent 60 minutes story has heightened public awareness of the dangers of silica dust and has caused many to question the wisdom of having reconstituted stone bench tops.
Each state government has either begun or is in the process of introducing regulations to protect workers from exposure to silica dust. As strange as it may seem, each state will have different compliance dates for the silica dust ‘codes of practice and regulations’. The 60 minutes story focused on several stone masons that were based in Queensland, which is due to enforce a licensing scheme on the 1st May, 2023. The ‘codes of practice’ in each state will actually apply to all construction work such as bricks, blocks, tiles, mortar and concrete, basically anything that creates dust and is dangerous when inhaled.
Victoria’s Silica Licensing scheme commenced on the 15th of November 2022. The building industry was advised (in advance) that all stone masons would be required to obtain an engineered stone license to enable them to legally purchase and process reconstituted stone after 15 November, 22.
Victoria’s new licensing system is designed to control/eliminate silica dust in the workplace and protect workers in the industry from future health issues. Many stone masons were already using the appropriate safe work practices such as ‘wet cutting’ machinery and on-tool dust extraction prior to the introduction of the licensing system. In addition, the use of respiratory equipment was a standard practice to safeguard their worker’s risk of exposure to silica dust. The new legislation enforces these safe work practices and will eliminate “cowboy” stone masons who previously did not follow safe work practices. It should be noted that silica dust particles only become dangerous when the dust is released by cutting, grinding or polishing reconstituted stone.
As of the 15th of November, 2022, unlicensed Victorian stone masons can’t legally purchase reconstituted stone. Smith & Smith’s preferred stone masons all hold Silica Licenses. In addition, Worksafe has and will continue to conduct regular inspections of stone masons’ premises to ensure they are and remain compliant with the governing ‘codes of practice’.