We answer questions about sintered stone every day. These are the ones Sydney homeowners ask most often, answered honestly and completely. If your question is not here, call us or visit our Alexandria showroom and we will answer it in person.
About Sintered Stone
What exactly is sintered stone?
Sintered stone is a surface material made by compressing raw minerals, primarily feldspar, silica, glass, and natural clays, at temperatures above 1200 degrees Celsius under extreme pressure. The process produces a fully mineralic surface with no polymer resins, no plastic binders, and no organic additives. It is legal for manufacture, supply, and installation in Australia because the silica it contains is chemically bound in the mineral matrix, unlike engineered stone where respirable crystalline silica was released during cutting and fabrication.
Is sintered stone the same as engineered stone?
No. Engineered stone (quartz) was made by binding crushed natural quartz with polymer resins, resulting in a surface that was 90 to 95 percent crystalline silica by weight. When cut, it released fine airborne silica particles that caused silicosis in stonemasons. It was banned in Australia on July 1, 2024. Sintered stone is a completely different material, produced without polymer resins, through a mineralic compression process that does not release hazardous silica dust during fabrication.
What brands of sintered stone are available in Australia?
The main sintered stone brands available in Sydney are Dekton (by Cosentino, from Spain), Neolith (from Spain), Lapitec (from Italy), and Laminam (from Italy). Each has a different range of surface aesthetics and thickness options. We carry multiple brands at our Alexandria showroom and can show you the differences.
What colours and finishes are available?
The current sintered stone collections cover a very wide range including Calacatta marble looks, Statuario marble looks, concrete aesthetics, quartzite-inspired surfaces, dark absolute surfaces, warm limestone tones, and outdoor-specific finishes. The range has expanded significantly in recent years and the quality of the natural stone replications is now difficult to distinguish at close range for most consumers.
What thicknesses are available?
Sintered stone is commonly available in 8mm, 12mm, 20mm, and 30mm thicknesses. For kitchen benchtops, 20mm is standard. 12mm is used for cladding, splashbacks, and some furniture applications. 30mm is chosen for a more substantial profile or where a thicker overhang is specified.
Performance and Durability
Can you put hot pots directly on sintered stone?
Yes. Sintered stone handles direct heat from pots, pans, and baking trays without scorching, cracking, or discolouring. This is one of its significant practical advantages over engineered stone, which could be permanently damaged by a hot pan. We recommend using trivets as a general practice, but sintered stone will not be damaged if you forget.
Will sintered stone stain?
No. Sintered stone is fully non-porous. Liquids cannot penetrate the surface, which means food, drink, oil, and anything else your kitchen produces wipes away cleanly. Red wine, turmeric, coffee, and tomato sauce do not stain sintered stone. A damp cloth is all you need for daily cleaning.
Does sintered stone scratch?
Sintered stone is highly scratch-resistant and rates between 6 and 8 on the Mohs hardness scale depending on the specific product. Normal kitchen use, including cutting boards placed on the surface and everyday utensil contact, will not scratch it. We recommend not cutting directly on the surface, not because it will scratch but because the surface will blunt your knives.
Does sintered stone need to be sealed?
No. Never. Sintered stone is non-porous from the factory and remains so for the life of the surface. There is nothing to seal and no sealing product will penetrate the surface anyway. This is one of the ways it differs fundamentally from natural stone, which is porous and requires regular sealing.
How do I clean sintered stone?
A damp cloth for daily cleaning. A mild household cleaner for anything more stubborn. Sintered stone is compatible with all standard household cleaning products. There are no specialist products required and no products you need to avoid. Do not use abrasive pads on polished surfaces as these can affect the surface finish over time.
Can sintered stone be used outdoors?
Yes. Sintered stone is UV-stable, frost-resistant, and rated for permanent outdoor installation. It is one of the very few premium benchtop materials that performs identically indoors and outdoors. We regularly install the same sintered stone surface from an indoor kitchen through to an outdoor alfresco entertaining area without a material change or a join.
How does sintered stone perform near the ocean?
Excellently. Sintered stone is fully impermeable and chemically stable. Salt air, sea spray, and coastal humidity have no effect on the surface composition or appearance. It is the surface we recommend without reservation for beachside and coastal Sydney homes.
What is the lifespan of sintered stone?
With normal use and no special maintenance, sintered stone has a practical lifespan of 25 years or more. Because it does not degrade or change appearance over time the way natural stone or laminate can, many installations will outlast the kitchen they are installed in. Manufacturer warranties range from 10 to 25 years depending on the brand and application.
Cost and Value
How much does a sintered stone benchtop cost in Sydney in 2026?
Installed cost in Sydney typically ranges from $600 to $1,200 per square metre depending on the surface selected, the complexity of the fabrication, and the run length of the project. Entry-level sintered stone is priced similarly to premium engineered stone was before the ban. Premium large-format sintered stone with complex veining patterns is at the higher end of this range. We provide accurate quotes after measure-up at no charge.
Is sintered stone more expensive than marble?
Sintered stone and natural marble overlap significantly in price. Entry and mid-range sintered stone is typically less expensive than premium marble. The more meaningful cost comparison is over the life of the surface. Natural marble requires annual sealing, specialist cleaning products, and can require professional restoration if damaged. Sintered stone requires none of these. The ongoing cost difference is significant over ten to twenty years.
What is included in your price?
Our quoted price covers supply of the stone slab, fabrication in our workshop (cutting, edging, and finishing), templating at your home, delivery, and installation. We do not have hidden extras. The quote we give after measure-up is the price you pay.
Our Process
What happens at the showroom consultation?
You visit our Alexandria showroom, see every slab in our collection at full 1600 by 3200mm size, and work through your project with our team. We understand your brief, your kitchen dimensions, your aesthetic direction, and your practical requirements. We then narrow the options and help you identify the right surface. There is no charge and no obligation. You take complimentary samples home to see the stone in your own light.
What happens after I choose my stone?
We arrange a site visit to template your kitchen precisely. Our team measures every dimension of your specific space, accounts for any wall irregularities, and produces exact fabrication drawings. We then fabricate in our own workshop and install with our own installation team. You have one point of contact throughout the entire process.
How long does the full process take from first visit to installation?
For most residential projects, two to four weeks from your showroom consultation to completed installation. Complex projects or large-scale installations may take longer. We confirm your specific timeline at the consultation stage.
Do you do the fabrication in-house?
Yes. We fabricate in our own workshop, which is why we can maintain consistent quality standards from the stone selection through to the finished product. We are not coordinating between a supplier, a separate fabricator, and a third-party installer. One team handles every step.
What warranty do you provide?
Two-year workmanship warranty on all fabrication and installation. Any issue with the cut, the edge, or the installation is our responsibility to remedy at no charge within that period. Sintered stone products carry manufacturer warranties of ten to twenty-five years depending on the brand and application. We explain warranty terms clearly at your consultation.
Do you work with builders and architects?
Yes. We work regularly with builders, interior designers, and architects on residential and light commercial projects. We provide specifications, samples, and pricing for project teams and are comfortable operating within managed renovation project structures.
The Engineered Stone Ban
Why was engineered stone banned in Australia?
Engineered stone contains 90 to 95 percent crystalline silica by weight. When it is cut and fabricated, it releases fine airborne crystalline silica particles. Stonemasons who breathed these particles developed silicosis, a progressive and incurable lung disease. Australia was experiencing an epidemic of accelerated silicosis among young stonemasons. Safe Work Australia concluded there was no safe exposure level and recommended the ban. It came into effect nationally on July 1, 2024.
Is my existing quartz benchtop safe?
Yes. The health risk was to the workers who fabricated the material, not to homeowners living with the finished, sealed surface. If you have an existing engineered stone benchtop, it is safe to use and does not need to be replaced. The ban applies to new manufacture, supply, and installation only.
Can I still buy engineered stone in Australia?
No. From July 1, 2024, engineered stone products containing more than one percent crystalline silica cannot be legally manufactured, supplied, or installed anywhere in Australia. This applies nationally and without exception.
Visiting Our Showroom
Where is the showroom?
We are based in Alexandria, in Sydney's inner south. Alexandria is five minutes from Newtown, ten minutes from the CBD, and within fifteen minutes of most Eastern Suburbs and Inner West postcodes. Contact us for the specific address and parking information.
Do I need an appointment?
We recommend booking a consultation so we can prepare relevant slab options for your visit and ensure a team member is available to work through your brief properly. Walk-ins are welcome during showroom hours but a booked consultation gives you a better experience.
Can I bring my builder or interior designer?
Yes, and we encourage it. Working with your project team from the stone selection stage integrates the fabrication and installation into the broader renovation schedule from the start and reduces the risk of miscommunication on specifications.