From Kitchen Benchtops to Fireplaces: Smartstone Expands Its Silica Free Range
Turrella, Australia – April 17, 2026 / Smartstone /
Smartstone has expanded its silica free range of engineered stone surfaces to cover a broader set of home applications, moving beyond kitchen benchtops to include outdoor barbecues, furniture pieces, and fireplaces. The expansion reflects the company’s response to tightening industry regulations around silica content in stone products, as well as increased specification requests from both residential clients and commercial builders seeking compliant materials.
A Range Built Around Safer Stone
Smartstone’s silica free benchtops have been a core part of its offering as the construction and renovation sectors navigate stricter workplace health and safety requirements tied to crystalline silica exposure. The updated range extends the same material standards across surfaces that go beyond the kitchen, giving homeowners and designers access to consistent, specification-compliant stone across multiple zones of a home or commercial fit-out.
The engineered stone surfaces in the expanded range are suitable for high-heat environments such as fireplaces and outdoor cooking areas, as well as furniture applications where both durability and aesthetics are priorities. The full range now spans more than six distinct surface categories, covering indoor and outdoor use cases under a single product family.
Meeting Demand Across Residential and Commercial Projects
The timing of the range expansion aligns with a period of significant regulatory change in Australia, where silica dust from engineered stone cutting and fabrication has been subject to increased scrutiny. A national ban on high-silica engineered stone benchtops took effect in July 2024, making silica free alternatives a compliance requirement rather than a preference for fabricators and installers working on kitchen benchtops and other stone surfaces.
“We have seen a clear shift in how architects and builders are specifying stone, and the demand for silica free benchtops has grown substantially since the regulatory changes came into effect,” said Michael Khouri, Managing Director of Smartstone. “Extending the silica free range to cover fireplaces, barbecues, and furniture means our clients can now work with a single compliant material family across an entire project, rather than sourcing different products for different surfaces.”
Design Options Across the Full Surface Range
Smartstone’s engineered stone products are manufactured to replicate the visual characteristics of natural stone, including marble and granite-style veining and texture. The silica free formulations are available across a selection of finishes and colorways, allowing the same design language to carry through from kitchen benchtops to feature walls and outdoor installations.
The company supplies its surfaces through a network of fabricators and retailers operating across Australia and New Zealand, with the expanded range available for specification through those existing channels. Commercial projects, including hospitality fit-outs and multi-residential developments, represent a growing segment of the order mix, particularly as developers seek to standardize compliant material selections across large-scale builds.
Smartstone is also providing updated technical documentation and fabrication guides to support trades working with the broader silica free range, with resources covering cutting tolerances, installation requirements, and maintenance recommendations specific to each application type.
About Smartstone
Smartstone is an Australian supplier of engineered stone surfaces, offering products for kitchen benchtops, bathrooms, outdoor areas, furniture, and fireplaces. The company’s silica free range is designed to meet current regulatory standards while providing a broad selection of colors and finishes for residential and commercial applications. Smartstone operates across Australia and New Zealand through a network of fabricators and retail partners.
Learn more at Smartstone
Contact Information:
Smartstone
29 Henderson St
Turrella, NSW 2205
Australia
The Bubble Co The Bubble Co
+61 1300 888 607
https://smartstone.com.au
