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.

Are you (or he) really going to want to lug all the dishes into the pantry for washing up? That sounds like a huge faff. We do have a second sink and dishwasher drawers in the utility, but our main sink and dw are in the kitchen.

This is very individual, but I loathe double sinks - much prefer a very large, deep single one. If you have big pots or baking sheets they don't fit in either side of the doubles. And for what it's worth, I hate those drainage grooves cut into the worktop. Totally useless repositories for limescale and gunk imo.

It's used in dental surgeries. The sink's can stain though but you could get an another material fitted.

I hear you.....We have had many "discussions" on the topic. Our compromises probably wouldn't suit everyone, but I have got everything I want apart from this!

There is going to be a peninsula within a step or two into the pantry, on the dining side of the kitchen, which will be used as a staging post for dirty dishes from both hob and dining table. Double sink in pantry is a fixed requirement, sadly, but a large single in the kitchen would be useful for big pans and trays.

Ugh draining grooves are nasty, I agree, and certainly won't have them in the main kitchen!

Sounds good, thanks!

Five years ago, there was already concern about the conditions the quartz is quarried in, again based on the silica danger.

I found corian really easy to clean, it is completely seamless (at least if you have the sink be corian too) so nothing for the dirt to get into.

When my mum saw my Corian worktop she got one too, and it worked really well for her as well.

Thank you.

It's not really heatproof though, which is why I won't have it now. Dc are constantly putting hot things on the counters.

Oh dear, that's me out, then!

I am so grateful for everybody's suggestions.

I have been planning and re planning the kitchen so long, but I am a bit clearer about what I want now. We finally have a date for groundworks starting on our self build, so I have to start making decisions soon...😯

We've rented a couple of kitchens with granite worktops. It would never have been my choice, but I was surprised how much I liked it.
We always have wood in the houses that we've owned, it does require upkeep, but we've never accidently stained it until recently, I refinished it with our usual oil and for some reason it hasn't sealed, even water is marking it. Our current tops are cherry, we've had beech and oak in the past.

I will be looking at granite just in case they have a fairly pale one...so far I think quatzite is favourite, but granite has a lot of positives for messy people like us.

How annoying about your wood, it does sound nice though!

The granite was so practical, so easy to clean, we are messy and quite frankly I break glasses on the wooden worktops too, the casualty rate was no higher for granite. We did have the drainer grooves too and found them fine, unlike others here.

Thanks @MorvernBlack that is reassuring to know, thank you. Thinking about it , most of our crockery gets broken on the open lid of the dishwasher! I think often the drainer grooves get nasty from limescale, certainly in our area.

I am still somewhat mystified as to why you think quartz is not OK but quartzite is. The clue is in the name.

Both of them have the potential to produce hazardous silica dust when they are cut.

If you are concerned about this, you would be far better off concentrating on asking what precautions the fabricators will take on site to minimise dust hazards in my opinion.

Quartzite comes out of the ground in large slabs which are sliced up (with due precautions one hopes.) It is a solid stone. Quartz is mined in chunks then ground to a fine powder and mixed to a paste with resin. The powdered form of quartz is what is dangerous. I think this has been explained already.

Found this thread searching with the same dilemma- had heart set on quartz only to read more on silica. Do agree with the poster that made the comparison to blood diamonds- not wanting to support exploitative industries even if risk is minimal/finalised by time it comes to purchasing.

For those that were not sure it impacts us in the UK, there was reporting on it just yesterday

https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/aug/06/uk-urged-to-consider-ban-on-artificial-stone-worktops-over-silicosis-risk

People can make their own choices on what they are comfortable with, but OP is totally fair to be looking elsewhere. I'll be looking into some of these alt products suggested- thanks! Out of curiosity I looked at IKEA Australia, and see their quartz is gone, but they have a porcelain product. I know manufacturers there are developing silica free quartz, but without regulation here, seems unlikely on will come this way anytime soon.

Is Dekton a better option? I believe it’s sintered stone?

Returning to this thread as it’s in the news again and is really awful.

https://inews.co.uk/news/dying-lung-disease-silicosis-kitchen-revamps-3346273

I’d be really grateful to hear from anyone who
has found a good alternative. If your kitchen renovation has happened since we were last discussing this, what did you opt for and how’s it working out? Thanks!

I think the issue is criminally poor H&S on site for installation or in finishing workshops.

That said, we had natural Brazilian magma granite put in our kitchen. The company came out and pre measured it and then cut & polished it at the shop- which I toured to ensure the workers were using wet stone saws, and wet sanders and wearing masks and the shop was ventilated properly. There was no cutting during installation, just gluing and wiping it down. It cost a lot, but then I find usually the cheaper companies are cutting corners on workers pay and H&S.

@SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice Thanks for replying. I’m not sure I’d trust myself to be a good judge of it - eg how can you tell if ventilation system is adequately cleaned & maintained etc. I guess if they’re using wet saws etc that’s a good start…

Does anyone know of any UK quartz worktop suppliers specifically shouting about their H&S - making a selling point of how careful they are?

Or has anyone had a good experience with any alternative materials. I can’t be trusted to look after marble and I don’t want wood… I love the look and durability of quartz

As I mentioned earlier, we have quartzite, which we really like and is extremely durable, but expensive.