6 Countertops That Are Not Quartz 

really good point about the installation cuts. It is not only the manufacturing space where there is danger.

Yes ... the manufacturer can have all the protections needed for the workers and the ones cutting slabs into countertops may look at the PPE requirements and say "Nah".

That's unfortunate. Hopefully they realize the dangers of this bad practice.

It's the same with tile,concrete and any hard surface that needs to be cut.

I do construction for a living and PPE is a choice, not a mandatory one. If you want to live longer and have lungs and good hearing in your older years then make the choice to wear PPE. Me and my brother are self employed and we CHOOSE to wear ear muffs, face masks and respirators and occasionally safety glasses. Our safety is our own responsibility, we don’t need governments telling us how to work. We work with subcontractors and we’ve tried giving them masks at times but they usually just set it aside. It’s their life at risk so it’s their choice. Some contractors make the choice to smoke and drink which also puts their life at risk and then they make more poor choices on the job site which just shows their lack of care for their own life. Again it’s their choice. No boss is telling their workers they can’t wear PPE. They are welcome to educate themselves and take appropriate measures, that’s what we’ve done. People need to take more responsibility for themselves and stop relying on higher ups whether governments or bosses to force them. With greater freedom comes greater responsibility.

My ceramic tile installer has silicosis from tile dust

Also in Australia, I had read about the forthcoming banning of these countertops; but I have just googled "Bioquartz" , only to find no Australian references - yet..

The main issue is availability

I love the look of some travertine slabs I've seen, but the problem is that to make it a smooth surface, all the pits are filled with resin. (And you don't want a pitted surface as a countertop.)

I do have a soapstone video. I've never talked about coating products. I'll have to consider that for sure. thanks

I have travertine floors and there are so many things you can't clean them with, including basics like vinegar. Previous owners didn't know and the pitting is horrendous. I would never use it as a food prep surface or near a sink, and I would probably avoid it altogether if I could.

Right!? I was a baby when car seats weren't a thing. I think I'm doing just fine. lol

😂😂😂😂

😂😂😂😂

Yay team laminate over the years I’ve had butcher block and granite….ILOVE LAMINATE 🤣🤣🤣🤣❤️❤️❤️❤️🥳🥳🥳🥳

Laminate is underrated, and today's choices are so expansive-- this is not the options of the 1980's or 1990's. Laminate is an awesome choice.

Let's go team laminate!!!

This sounds a lot like the Biorite product. I'll have to look more in depth. Thanks

Thanks. Appreciate the feedback! I do agree that sintered stone can chip easier than a natural or even a manufactured stone. However, it depends on the user. Personally it wouldn't worry me, but others who are rough with there kitchens may want to think about it.

Thanks for the comment. Glad the video was helpful. I also have laminate.

Hmmmm -. something to consider @@MTKDofficial

The problem with quartz has always been workers and employers ignoring safety in favour of production output, and ease of production. Wet grinding slows down output and PPE is uncomfortable in hot weather.

lol. Thanks.

Hey thanks. Appreciate the positive comment.

Glass and ceramic tile are LOUD. Every time you put something down on them...

I have an old laminate countertop on an island (from an old 5 and Dime store in SF). It is not near the sink and I love it. The rest of the counter tops near stove and sink are stainless steel. Another option that was not mentioned.

⁠@@FTG2Eli. I intend to change out my granite countertop (which I don’t like, it was in situ when we bought our condo) with a wood-finish laminate, since I’m far too messy to deal with real wood lol. That’s the look I’m going for. Today’s laminate has come a long way aesthetically from it’s infancy.

One thing to consider with solid surface is that as it contains acrylic, it does not get as cold in winter. If you have a breakfast bar, it’s nicer to sit at therefore and does not make your coffee go cold as quick! Solid surface is very forgiving as a material, you can’t stain it and you can buff it back like new fairly easily. Like buffing the paint on your motor vehicle. Make sure you buy a solid surface with a full acrylic binder, not modified with polyester mixed into it. Corian for instance is a full acrylic binder solid surface. Dearer but will not discolour .

@@bunnybunny3536try and get Wilsonart AEON. Rolls Royce of laminate, 3 - 5 times the durability of run of the mill laminate and not that much dearer.

Thanks Jackie. It's an interesting topic for sure. Hopefully I did this, as to not try to bring guilt to people who have the product. Like you said, if it's done safely.

I've never been so insulted. lol

Great question. I'd have to research.

Probably an acrylic resin pour. But certainly could have glass. Just not the product I'm referring too.

Hopefully I did this in such a way that didn't bring guilt on anyone with this product. I think it's good to know the info though.

I have been looking into sintered stone for a while now. I would love to put it in my upcoming kitchen renovations but it costs approximately twice as much to fabricate than a natural stone. So I will have to think long & hard if the cost is worth it.

Start asking the dealers of sintered stone in your area if they have access to this material. If they carry products Dekton, they may also have the ability to sell you Lapitech.

​@MTKDofficial Lapitech is verily limited in availability. Xtone is another brand that has even less availability than Lapitech that is another sintered stone option.

Time will tell. I'm sure it will have some impact.

Should have said "does not produce silica dust."

As it compares to fabrication and manufacturing. The ban on quartz is due to the breathing of silica dust at plant level. This is not the case with glass recycled slabs. Though there certainly could be other issues.

It’s cold, it’s highly reflective, it limits your design choices because it is a relatively modern surface. I like it for a prep area, but that’s about it.

...because your kitchen might feel like a morgue or operating room. Maybe that is just a creepy factor that people in certain occupations endure.

I like it. I would do stainless steel over wood core, to reduce dents, and deaden the sound. I would also do powder-coated aluminum over wood core for cabinets, with some frosted glass doors.

@@amydelpiere9315 agree

Because it looks ugly

I'd love to hear as well. If anyone out there has used it or similar, please let us know.

Lapitech is the only one to date with zero silica. However, like I mentioned, I don't thin these materials have been studied, as to indicate their health implications on workers.

John Boo's actually sells both butcher block AND stainless steel countertops. Personally I think they are an awesome option, only they make the kitchen even more sterile & cold looking

Looks ugly

I think it's because of the look. We can't ignore that style is a big part of this industry.

I agree. Also, why do appliances have to be stainless to be cool but countertops made of the same material are deemed to be sterile and cold? I don't understand this and wish someone could explain it to me.

Prices at a local (to me) Home Depot were higher on quartz than natural stone in some cases. I think it just depends on what is trendy and what is available.

Thanks for not upping me on the glass thing. lol. I'm ultimately comparing it's production method at plant level.

@@amydelpiere9315 I don't know about your Home Depot, but my local Home Depot sells Silestone Quartz, which IS more expensive, but its production only uses 10-40% silica (instead of >80%). That's why it's more expensive, it's also a better alternative to typical quartz if you want to reduce silica use.

Only if you put hot pans directly on them or cut directly on them. I’m nearly 70 and have never done either on any type of counter.

I think it is a great option for laundry room and bathrooms but yes I would not get it for my kitchen.

As Mark says, most people who have had solid surface would buy it again. The material will not hold a flame so you cannot ‘burn’ it as such. A scorch mark is generally the worst that would happen, which can be buffed out in most cases. Over many years, the fine scratches that can appear form a patina, but if you want it like new, you use a car cutting compound and buff it back like in a car body shop. The product is warmer to touch than quartz and porcelains so is nicer to sit at as a breakfast bar material. If you ever did manage to damage an edge for instance (unlikely), it can be seamlessly repaired. These days, all products including high pressure laminates are great products. You just have to consider day to day cleaning and what you want from the kitchen, and therefore the product.

@@christopherludlam1602 Who wants to buff out scorch marks? I've considered the options, and I like the appearance, feel, and durability of natural "granite". Nothing else like it.

Use a cutting board and trivet.

Agree….we had a fabricator place our laminate and did not go with the prefabbed slabs….we wanted them placed in one piece with no joints….it cost much more🙄

​@darlene19668 I've been told it's about twice the price to fabricate sintered stone as opposed to natural stone.

Natural granite is my first and only choice. Anorthosites such as Blue Pearl and Blue Eyes are quite attractive, and I'm looking toward Ash White for the backsplash and all vertical surfaces over Blue Pearl countertops, copper sink, bronze faucet, black porcelain cooktop and stainless everything else. Funny, just after I read your comment I stepped into a restroom in the Subaru dealership, appears to have sintered stone countertop matching the blue pearl colors. I'll stick with the natural stone.

Definitely a price hike. Have you looked into porcelain?

@MTKDofficial not in the greatest of detail at this point. However, my wife is not totally on board with sintered stone, she prefers a natural stone, either granite or quartzite

A conspiracy eh? Why Australia though?

I agree, it's a confusing terminology for sure.

Quartz is still pushed on consumers.

He's using the standard name of a group of products. Don't blame him for the dumb generic name, it's the industry that called it that and if you go anywhere that sells countertops they'll know exactly what that is. Google it. From the Spruce: Solid surface countertops are about 33-percent binding resins and 66-percent minerals. Those minerals are a bauxite derivative, aluminum trihydrate (ATH). ATH is a kind of fine, white powder that helps solid surface maintain its smooth consistency. Contrast this with quartz counters, which are about 10 percent resins and the rest minerals.

@@twothirdsanexplosivesolid surface was developed by DuPont under the Corian brand name around 60 years ago. At that time, it was the only premium surface option, to natural granite, marble etc. So the product was Corian solid surface. The description you give of the ingredient make up is correct, some cheaper options also contain polyester, a lower cost binder. Engineered quartz/stone came along much later and because of the lower resin content were seen as being less ‘fake’ than solid surface. At a fabrication level, stone is regarded as a wet cut, stone Masonery product. The likes of Corian are more of a joinery shop, dry environment product. That’s not to say you don’t need appropriate PPE when dealing with any of these products.

Sorry for not clarifying. Acrylic solid surface is what I meant. Product like Corian or Staron. Thanks.

There is. Very durable and recyclable as well. Just not many choices in terms of design style.

They would need to wear a respirator with filters. Those types of masks you need to be fit tested for.

For PPE to work correctly, workers need to be clean shaven so the mask seals correctly. Many workers want to have beards and here in Australia, the fabrication shops get hot and the PPE gets left off. Respirator masks are actually more Comfortable as they push clean air through them, but they get costly and some Companies don’t want to make the investment. Site conditions are harder to police than the product plant of course. A lot of dry cutting gets done during installation.

PPE is only part of the issue. There are layers of plane safety that also need to be in place.