7 Alternatives to Engineered Stone
Updated: 21 August, 2024
Over the past couple of years, the risks of silica in engineered stone bench tops has been highlighted in the media. The popularity of engineered stone bench tops has increased over the last 20 years, making it more affordable, however has also led to an increase in Silicosis cases reported by installers, usually through poor operational practices. There is no risk of Silicosis to the home owner and these benchtop are still safe to have in your home. From the 1st of July 2024 engineered stone containing any amount of silica has been banned in Australia. So what alternatives can we use now?
Mineral
Pioneering the change in the industry, Caesarstone have released their new Mineral Range, which are Crystalline Silica-Free Benchtops using most of the existing colours in their original engineered stone range. The same product, but silica-free. The best part is, it’s as affordable as before, but the whites are slightly brighter than the original range.
Laminate
Long gone are the days of your bright yellow kitchen bench top from the ’70s, Laminates such as Laminex and Polytec are introducing a new range of styles at an affordable price. Available in the ranges are textured timbers, metallics, solid colours, sheen, matt and even fingerprint-reducing finishes. There is such a broad range of colours, finishes and edge profiles that you would be crazy to look past this option.
Solid Surface
These bench tops are an acrylic product that is slowly increasing in popularity with consumers. These surfaces are flexible and seamless, they are non-porous, stain-resistant, scratch-resistant and food zone approved as they are anti-bacterial. Products such as Corian by Casf and Staron Solid Surface by Austaron Surfaces, can offer matching basins to give you a minimalist look in your space. The price of these can compare to your supernatural range of engineered stones, they are becoming cheaper as popularity increases. They come in a wide range of unique colours and patterns making them a popular alternative. They also have a range of sink ware which can be seamlessly incorporated into your bench.
Porcelain
Porcelain benchtops are very popular for a number of reasons, possibly the most popular reason is they are fireproof and highly UV resistant, making them popular in outdoor BBQ areas. Hot pots can be placed on them with no damage and UV rays won’t break down the surface, unlike engineered stone. They are highly scratch and abrasion-resistant, meaning they will look as good now as they will in 20 years time. Many suppliers now offer large format porcelain slabs for benchtops as a solution to engineered stone, they do come at a cost thought and can be quite expensive to manufacture ready for installation. Smartstone offer their Sintered Collection and Cosintino have their Dekton Range, which offer beautiful stone look benchtops, without the price tag of natural stone.
Natural Stone
Natural stone is a real personal choice where you can walk into the warehouse and choose the individual slab that will become your benchtop. You can look at each piece and pick out the one you love the most. Some stones like marble, aren’t suitable for a kitchen bench as they are quite soft and will wear down over time, granites, dolomite and quartzite bench tops will stand the test of time.
Timber
Timber is such a beautiful natural product and comes in a variety of colours from your blondes in the oaks through to dark reds in your Merbau and Jarrah and browns in walnuts and brush box. Each piece will be different to the next so be prepared for natural variations. You can leave it unvarnished and oil it regularly to maintain its quality or have it painted in a 2-pack clear coat for minimal maintenance. The cost is dependent on the size of the boards used and timber so can vary greatly in price.
Concrete
Concrete has increased in popularity over the last few years with the industrial trend increasing. As these are handmade there are no two that are alike. They are extremely hard-wearing and can have sinks and vanities made as part of the bench. The weight is similar to natural stone and hot items can also be placed on them. Concrete is mostly pre-cast off-site and delivered to the site as a finished product, to maintain control. However, more creative kitchen design ideas can be poured on-site.
As you can see, there are so many options available on the market to make your kitchen something really special. These alternatives offer different aesthetics and benefits to your kitchen. Are you now feeling adventurous to look at an alternative to engineered stone? Don't be afraid to look at these options for your home.
Now that you've got an idea about your benchtops, have you thought about your kitchen cabinetry? There are also many different options here that can help you pull together your perfect kitchen. Also, we can't forget about how your kitchen functions. Good design isn't just about how it looks, it's about how it functions. Head over to our Blog page for more helpful articles.
Want to know how we can assist you with achieving your dream kitchen interior design and bench top selections, get in contact with us today!
