Stone Benchtop Design Guide For Sydney & Perth Renovators in 2024

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Pictured: Kaledonia 

Whether you are revamping a tired kitchen or designing a new one, stone benchtops are a popular and timeless choice that can elevate the aesthetics of your space. With their natural beauty and robust composition, stone benchtops offer a versatile solution that can enhance any interior design style.

In this handy 2024 guide, we'll share everything you need to know about stone benchtops in Perth. From the different types of stones available, such as granite, marble, and sintered stone, to the benefits they offer in terms of durability, heat resistance, and hygiene, we've got you covered. 

Whether you prefer the classic appeal of marble or the sleek sophistication of sintered stone, this guide will help you make an informed decision and create a stunning focal point in your kitchen or bathroom. Types of stone used for kitchen benchtops?

Engineered stone ban on high crystalline silica benchtop products.

The industry as a whole has had an almighty shakeup this year as the Australian government decided to ban stone benchtops made from high crystalline silica materials. 

From July 1,2024 quartz based engineered stone products will no longer be able to be sold in some states around Australia.

To find out more information from Safe Work Australia, click here. 

What kitchen benchtop materials does that leave me to choose from?

Natural marble stone benchtops

Throughout cities like Perth and Sydney, natural marble is still a very popular choice for renovations and new new luxury home builds or apartments. 

It's a beautiful way to turn your space into a piece of art with a beautiful Calacatta or Carrara, however it does come with limitations such as chipping, and staining due to its softer, more porous nature. 

Consideration for natural stone benchtops

• The types of dishes you cooks (lots of spices and sauce spatters will require a lot more constant cleanup)
• Little hands might leave some unfound marks that cause stains!
• Marble and natural benchtops will require more frequent sealing depending on traffic and use (often every 1-2 years, sometimes more)
• The cost of a natural stone slab is far higher than other benchtop styles
• Availability - due to the increase in natural benchtop interests, finding that perfect style you want just became a little big harder. 
• Older home? Building movement may cause cracks and pops at joins easier than a more hardy materials (ie sintered stone)

Be sure to speak with your natural stone dealer about ensuring your marble surface is sealed prior to installation to assist with keeping the surface stain free with some regular upkeep. 

Perla Venata from the Levantina Naturamia collection

The government has deemed that natural marble will not be banned under the new laws. 

What about granite benchtops?

It's no wonder granite has remained a staple of benchtop designs around Australia is thanks to its strong nature and low maintenance requirements. 

However, as a natural stone there are limitations on number of different and on trend designs there are available and it can be a more costly option to other surfaces on the market. 

Glass and Mineral Benchtop Surfaces

As the market has had to rapidly adjust to the news of the engineered stone ban around Australia, many of the former engineered stone brands have already begun to transition to glass-based surface offerings. 

With most containing a higher level of recycled materials, it presents a great opportunity to move the industry forward with more sustainable offerings. 

These previous quartz, turned glass based designs come in under 1% crystalline silica and have the same designs of their previous high quartz content ranges.

However, these products have very little technical or usage history and therefore present the question of how well these products will do in multiple applications with consistent use and time. 

These products also contain much higher levels of resins, binders, polyester and pigments than natural stone and in particular sintered stone. 

As this new product enters the market feedback will come as to how the longevity of these new designs compared to previous styles.

Sintered Stone Benchtops

Sintered stone is rising in popularity as homeowners and designers search for more sustainable options with natural materials, without the pitfalls of natural stone. 

Arguably the most dynamic stone product on the planet, sintered stone offers an incredibly wide array of design possibility for both indoor and outdoor design projects. 

Made by compressing and fusing raw materials at high temperatures, it boasts unparalleled strength and resistance to scratches, heat, stains, and UV rays.

Our 2024 Sintered Collection ticks all the boxes for hard-wearing, easy to fabricate and install with all the beauty of natural marble, with a twenty first century upgrade.

Marvel Gold 12mm benchtops, from our 2024 collection

Porcelain Kitchen Benchtops and Porcelain Splashbacks

As more suppliers around Australia offer porcelain benchtop and splashback solutions, the need for more transparency around the origins of the materials will begin to arise.

Chinese porcelain materials are becoming a more popular choice in Australia due to their lower costs, but does that lower cost mean less sustainability and an inferior quality product to their European and more sustainable alternatives?

While porcelain benchtops are a great choice for those looking for durable and life friendly benchtop designs, be sure to speak with your chosen supplier about the origins of the material, testing data and sustainability reports to ensure you are getting the best possible quality available for your project.