I was set on quartz worktops but I see there are health and safety problems for the fabricators.

[TeaAndStrumpets]

As title, I had decided on quartz worktops but have been reading there is a question mark over safety during manufacture. Anyone interested can google re Australian government's concerns in particular.

I have read that quartz is unlikely to be banned in the UK, but manufacturers are looking at reformulating their products to make it safer to produce. The silica content is very harmful to the workers making it unless strict precautions are taken.

OK so it sounds as if quartz worktops will still be available in the UK, maybe slightly changed in composition, but it has made me think a natural product could be a better choice in the long run.

I would like a stainproof heatproof surface. Everything I read about has negatives! Any suggestions welcome.

emmy thanks for the information. I like the look of quartzite.

Edited to reply yes true enough!

@emmyren4 what type of quartzite have you chosen and is the maintenance difficult? Looking at counters now and finding that there are some bad reviews for some types with staining (Mont Blanc for example)

Oh that is interesting about the quartzite staining. I saw a lot of complaints about the issue on Houzz. Good to be aware. Presumably a good installer would know his product.

The trouble is, whenever I read about an option I get fixated on the negative reviews! Good to read positive stuff for balance.

I don't see why the fabrication would be problematic if it was carried out in the correct environment.

The major problem is probably the installation, where they have to put in cutouts and cut the lengths on site. The cutting I would guess generates a fair amount of dust, which is potentially harmful (I didn't see it when they did mine).

The danger from it can probably be reduced in several ways, maybe wet or laser cutting. Or making sure there is sufficient extraction and PPE for the workers.

Thanks @emmyren4. That's beautiful. We looked at Houzz after our first visit and it seems that the more crystal quartzites like yours and Taj Mahal and sea pearl are more durable. I'm veering away from the Mont Blanc and ones like
That as a result

We have dekton in our kitchen. It's virtually indestructible and looks absolutely amazing.

https://www.diy-kitchens.com/solid-surfaces/dekton-worktops/?utm_term=dekton%20worktops&utm_campaign=SolidSurfaces&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&hsa_acc=6826179929&hsa_cam=203604780&hsa_grp=35712209683&hsa_ad=659797379272&hsa_src=g&hsa_tgt=kwd-90244675723&hsa_kw=dekton%20worktops&hsa_mt=e&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6PGxBhCVARIsAIumnWYJa39R1OfhSCFuZ_hxayvhyQFhbSeVTFc3dFZEzzQZygKOPMF5ENgaAvD1EALw_wcB

Apparently Kevin McCloud has Dekton in his new kitchen!

Sorry to return to an old thread, but I have the same concerns about quartz and wondering what would went with? Thanks!

Hi @ProcrastinatorsAnonymous we have pretty well decided on quartzite but not got quotes yet. The house isn't due to be finished until next year, has been delayed by groundworks etc.
Unfortunately the longer it is delayed the more chance I get to second guess myself 😊I've already redesigned the future kitchen several times... but I still fancy quartzite. Would be happy to hear from anyone who has it.

Thanks! Does quartzite come with same health risks as quartz for those who manufacture it? Also several iterations into kitchen design here!

From my Googling it seems that it's the silica fibres which cause the risk, being mixed with glue-type stuff to form the slabs of quartz. So a lot of nasty fibres flying about. I imagine actually cutting the slabs would be less hazardous.

Silica is a naturally occuring mineral, but the way it is used in ground- up form means quartz is 90% silica, compared with eg granite which has 30% content. Cutting a solid slab of rock the quarry uses waterjets, masks etc so to my mind it has got to be a safer process.

Anyway just my personal preference. My grandad was a coal miner and died of pneumo-silicosis, so I do worry about the poor workers.

Bloody kitchens! My DH is just tuning me out now, he says there's no point listening/discussing until I can "make a final decision".....So far I have a paint colour and some vaguely inoffensive Marmoleum tiles, will have to try harder.

I keep remembering Patsy and Edina flying to New York to look at a door handle!!

Totally reasonable. Touch points matter!

Any idea if quartzite has also been banned in Australia? I think I’ll make that my test - as presumably they understand the risks to the workers. Did you look into porcelain at all? I’ve read it’s very durable once fitted, but risk of shattering during installation, so builders hate it.

Here's the statement about the Australian ban

https://www.dewr.gov.au/engineeredstone

Quartzite is a natural stone, like marble or granite. So, while I'm sure there are risks associated with any kind of mining or stone cutting, it's cut with water tools and they are not working with fine particles as they are in fabricated stone.

We have this type and absolutely love it
geraldculliford.co.uk/product/cristallo-8885/

Asbestos is a natural stone.

Asbestos is a mineral found in soil and stone. It's dangerous when it's broken down into fibres and released into the air. It is not the same thing as cutting a slab of granite, marble or quartzite.

I have been debating touch points and decided for DH it's the tub of Swarfega by the kitchen sink, so the new house is getting a sink in the garage!

I'm gutted not to get quartz, it ticks every box otherwise. I considered Iroko but we are messy and lazy and wouldn't maintain it properly. At the moment we have melamine (v old kitchen) and I burned it within a month of getting it all those years ago. Bombproof would be best.

Oh apparently it was formica I ruined.

We have Dekton and it's great, but costs more than quartz. I'm confused about the talk of fibres being released when cutting during installation though. Our Dekton tops were all cut offsite and delivered with all the cutouts for sink, hob etc. pre-formed. Are cutouts formed on site for quartz tops, then?

I have quartz kitchen counters that were here when I bought this apartment, and it had been rented off and on. So it probably had rough treatment.

The quartz is fantastic. No stains whatsoever. And I have had marble, slate, granite and melamine countertops over the years. It seems as tough as granite. Looks and feels as good as new, except maybe the style which isn't as up to date but remains timeless.

If you want bombproof this is it!

I think the issue is during the manufacturing of the quartz. If I'm remembering correctly, they grind stone into fine particles and mix with resin and compress it. It's the people who are working at that end of the process who are developing lung diseases. I'm sure fabricating it releases some, but I'm guessing it's pretty minimal compared to the manufacturing process - more like fabricating solid stone as most of the fine particles will remain held by the resin at that stage.

No again.

In a manufacturing environment you can control exposure to anything to a very high level if you wish to. Most manufacturing processes are also highly automated.There is not much need for people to get anywhere near the product.

It's once it leaves that environment and is cut by an installer it becomes more difficult to control. Installers may cut on site and lack the proper equipment to cut safely, or they may be smaller businesses that cut off site but lack the infrastructure or understanding to implement full protection.

Look, I'm not the one banning it. The Australian government is. The issue, as I understand it, is their concern about the people doing the actual manufacturing. Apparently they are either unable or unwilling to control the risk to the degree that they find satisfactory.

I would suggest, instead of lecturing me, you take it up with them if you are dissatisfied with their analysis.

Do you not think you are unnecessarily aggressive on this thread?

So I googled and literally the first article I came up with cites the problem is with the installers/stonemasons who are cutting the product prior and during installation. Not the manufacturing of it.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/dec/14/australia-will-become-the-first-county-to-ban-engineered-stone-bench-tops-will-others-follow

I think it is important for people to understand where the risk comes from, especially if they already have it and may be concerned.

The risk comes from cutting it. Not manufacturing it. If it is there in your kitchen it will be fine, provided it is not cut.

The issue for me is that if workers at any stage on the production process are being harmed by making it (whether due to poor protection or because the harm is impossible to avoid), then I don’t want it in my kitchen any more than I’d want a blood diamond on my finger. We had quartz in our last kitchen and I agree it’s a great material, so I’m gutted I can’t have it again - but not as gutted as I’d be to support the harm.

Marble is out of the question as I don’t want to have to look after it. So I’m just trying to figure out which other materials fall into the same bracket of potentially causing harm to the people producing it and which I’m safe to consider?