Following the Australian Government’s ban on engineered stone containing crystalline silica from 1 July 2024, many homeowners understandably have questions about safety, existing benchtops, and future renovations.
At Kitchen & Home Renovations Co, safety has always been a priority — for our customers, our installers, and our fabrication partners. This page explains what the ban means, how it affects your home, and the stone surface options available today.
Yes. Our 10-year limited warranty continues to apply to all installed surfaces, regardless of Government changes. Approved exemptions allow for repair, removal, minor modification and disposal of engineered stone products installed prior to the ban (legacy products), meaning existing benchtops can still be safely serviced when required.
Quartz is one of the most common minerals on earth and occurs naturally in materials such as sand, sandstone, granite and marble.
Crystalline silica is a natural component of quartz and is widely present in everyday products including glass, pottery, tiles, bricks and concrete.
Silicosis is a lung disease associated with prolonged occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica dust in industrial settings when appropriate safety measures are not followed.
It does not occur from installed stone surfaces in the home.
With correct fabrication processes, dust control systems and protective equipment — as adopted by Kitchen & Home Renovations Co — exposure risks are effectively managed and preventable.
Due to the thickness of our slabs, combined with the use of H class vacuums and appropriate PPE, Kitchen & Home Renovations Co boasts one of the safest methods when it comes to cutting and fabricating engineered stone. Following our Safe Operating Practices also allows us to be able to cut on-site without risk to the customer.
Our workshops have conducted air monitoring testing, resulting in well below industry standard levels of respirable crystalline silica workplace exposure.
Kitchen & Home Renovations Co are proud to report that in the 35 years of operation no tradesmen have been affected by Silicosis.
