Architects, designers, home renovators - all fell in love with the inexpensive opulence of engineered stone. It was top of the wish list for every homemaker; we just couldn’t get enough of faux marble.

Until, that is, we realised the uncomfortable truth that our benchtops were killing people. Goodbye engineered stone, hello …?

As far back as 1987, it was suggested that silica was going to be trouble. It was then that the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified crystalline silica as a probable carcinogen. It is somewhat infuriating that it took authorities up until 2023 to finally pull down the legislative blind on processes that generated silica dust, such as the creation of our beloved engineered stone benchtops.

There will be a lag in the cessation of production, as many, many homes from companies such as Metricon and others specified the stone in homes that have locked contracts. So, the transition will be slow – but wide felt, not the least by companies such as Ceasarstone and Dekton who have owned the lion’s share of the market. Or perhaps that should read ‘had’.

There is some confusion to be sure about what constitutes a ‘safe’ amount of crystalline silica. Granite has silica (generally 30 percent), porcelain too. Beloved sandstone (70-95 percent), even a common house brick comes in at around 40 percent silica. None of these products are banned, which is a bone of contention to companies such as Ceasarstone, who have described this year’s ban as taking a ‘piecemeal approach’ to handling silicosis. No doubt also taking a financial hiding will be long time stalwart Corian, a popular marbelesque patterned product that is reportedly silica free; but it will still no doubt be incorrectly grouped together with the banned products.

Of course, one man’s loss is another’s gain and alternative products will quickly fill the design void.

Without doubt the Laminex brand is synonymous with laminated surfaces, and one could imagine they will see a big uptick in demand in the very near future.

“I think Architects and Designers will lead the trend,” says Laminex spokesman Sacha Leagh-Murray. “I think they’re on board.”

And why wouldn’t they be? Sacha refers to an impressive sheath of new-look products from the Australian manufacturer, including the dramatically elegant, true matte range. Solid colours, in what appears to be a limitless range, offers designers a more ‘honest’ texture with which to design.

Completed with a Nano technology finish, the matte surface will not show fingerprints so even daring, dark colours can be brought to the table, so to speak.

Laminates also offer up the great opportunity to design in curves, something that challenges the engineered stone aficionados. There is room for the design mind to stretch in all sorts of dimensions – a look at the Studio Doherty designs taking the malleable marvel from curved banquette backs to vent covers. And of course, there is a cost saving both initially, it is less expensive than other materials, and offers an easy and equally do-able re-fresh if the mood for a revamp strikes.

Of course, a giant on-site poured concrete island, (or island top), is pretty darn gorgeous, and timeless in its definitely monumental statement. But (there’s always a but), weight is a consideration, and for those with OCD, the horror of marks and stains (which others might call an attractive patina) would be a sleep stealer. This isn’t a good fit. But for durability? For impact? Ten out of ten.

Stainless steel fits nicely into the modern zeitgeist, a contrasting material to just about every other surface in a home, it offers that ‘pro work space’ vibe to any kitchen and will stay tough to the bitter end. Impervious to stains and heat issues, it’s a quirky material that offers some cool options in design – with almost zero maintenance.

Now, back in the post Jurassic period of the 70s, people tiled their bench tops, and as all things mid-century are currently in vogue, perhaps there is also a design option here? But, (yet again) porcelain tiles, and indeed porcelain itself, is also being put under the microscope by authorities, so easy on the cutting of those groovy, burnt orange tiles.

Under the production umbrella of electronics giant LG, is an exciting product call Hi Macs. Entirely acrylic, it offers no evil spillage in production. It comes in 6mm and 20mm thicknesses, and has a softness to its body. Plus, and I really like this aspect, the material offers a magic translucency, which brings wondrous options in the design phase. Moulded units can also be purchased, so there is the chance of uniformity in design across kitchens and bathroom areas. Need another ‘yay’ moment? It comes with a long warranty period and should disaster strike, it can be reformed and repaired.

But what about timber? Perhaps the first ever bench top material. Well, it dents, scratches, burns and stains. So, unless you’re designing a mud hut, yeah, no. Well maybe, but it’s an option with limitations.

And marble, glorious, extraordinarily expensive marble – beautiful, desirable and more maintenance than a 1972 Alfa Romeo Spider.

We are not making light of the scourge of silicosis, it’s an unspeakable illness certainly in line with the cruel disease mesothelioma, associated so strongly with asbestos.

Silica is not poison in itself. It’s what we do with it, how we manufacture with it, how we handle it, that makes it deadly. And this is the one we know about, so far.

Australia’s new legislation covering benchtops has been called a “naïve, a knee jerk reaction”. We’ll be back at the legislative trough to consider the many more aspects of the issue; how will the home renovation industry handle house renovations and removal of this product? How long before we deal with that?

Without doubt more curses will be uncovered in time. The plague that is industry, will power on. Our vigilance, and suspicion is the greatest prophylactic.

Image: Unsplash / Rebecca Chandler

Prue Miller

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