ENGINEERED STONE IN NEW ZEALAND: HOW TO SPECIFY WITH CONFIDENCE
Engineered stone continues to be specified across residential and commercial projects for a simple reason: it delivers a consistent aesthetic at scale. Reliable colour matching, repeatable slab selection, and predictable outcomes matter when you are designing for clients, programmes, and multiple sites.
At the same time, engineered stone now sits in a more serious conversation, not about the installed surface, but about what happens during fabrication and any later modification. The focus is respirable crystalline silica (RCS) generated when the material is cut, ground, drilled, or polished.
For specifiers, the goal is straightforward: keep engineered stone on the table when it suits the brief, and specify it through a clear, controlled fabrication pathway.
What engineered stone is
Engineered stone (often called “quartz”) is a manufactured surface made by combining crushed stone and minerals with binders and pigments. It is chosen for consistency, design control, and repeatability, particularly when you need a dependable selection across multiple projects.
The material can perform extremely well in the right application. The risk sits with dust created during processing, not with the finished surface in a home or workplace.
Where the risk sits: fabrication and modification
RCS is a fine dust that can be created when materials containing crystalline silica are mechanically worked. The highest-exposure moments are typically:
Dry cutting, grinding, or polishing
Uncontrolled clean-up (dry sweeping or compressed air)
Repeated rework, especially on site
Post-install cut-outs for sinks, cooktops, and tapware
This is why engineered stone should be managed at the design and specification stage. Late changes often create the exact conditions you are trying to avoid.
What has changed in our region
Across Australia, engineered stone has been prohibited, reflecting the seriousness of worker exposure outcomes. In New Zealand, the emphasis has been on strengthening controls, exposure management, and safe work practices.
The practical takeaway for NZ projects is consistent: engineered stone remains a specification option when it is delivered through a documented, controlled process, with the right people doing the work in the right environment.
The Stone Group approach
When engineered stone is the right fit, our focus is repeatable specification supported by a controlled fabrication pathway.
SG Quartz is The Stone Group’s low-silica engineered stone range, developed for repeatable specification and consistent selection across residential and commercial projects. It is engineered for design reliability and documentation support. Like all engineered stone, it must be fabricated using appropriate dust controls and safe work practices.
In other words, we do not treat low-silica as a shortcut. We treat it as a product choice within a properly controlled process.
What to ask before you specify
A responsible engineered stone specification is not complicated. It is specific.
Who is fabricating it, and where will the work be done?
Confirm the fabricator early. If a third party is involved, clarify who is responsible for quality control and who is accountable for the fabrication process.
What dust controls will be used?
You are not asking for reassurance. You are confirming that a real process exists and will be followed.
How will cut-outs and penetrations be handled?
Avoid “we will sort it on site”. Finalise sink, cooktop, and tap selections before templating and reduce late-stage rework.
What documentation supports the specification?
Request product data, fabrication guidance, and any relevant information needed for a defensible specification set.
Detailing choices that support a controlled outcome
Good detailing reduces complexity and prevents last-minute work.
A few design decisions that typically improve delivery:
Minimise complex internal corners where practical
Allow sensible tolerances around walls and joinery
Coordinate tapware and accessories early
Avoid late changes to sink models or cooktop sizes
Select edges and profiles that do not require excessive grinding
This is not about compromising design. It is about specifying a finish that can be delivered predictably.
A common client question: does an existing engineered stone bench need to be removed?
In most cases, the concern is not the installed surface. The risk is created when the material is disturbed through cutting or grinding.
If an existing bench needs alterations, removal, or repair, engage a qualified professional who can manage dust controls and containment. Avoid ad hoc modifications.
Choosing the right surface for the brief
Engineered stone is one pathway. It is not the only one.
Depending on heat exposure, UV exposure, maintenance expectations, and the desired aesthetic, you may also consider:
Natural stone, where variation, sealing, and movement are understood as part of the material
Ultra-compact porcelain, where heat and UV stability are priorities and the brief suits a very hard, dense surface
The right choice is the one that matches performance needs and can be delivered through a clear, controlled process.
Engineered stone specification checklist
Use this as a quick pre-spec check:
Sink, cooktop, and tapware selected before templating
Fabricator confirmed, with controlled fabrication (not improvised on site)
Clear plan for cut-outs, penetrations, and any later modifications
Dust controls documented and appropriate for the tasks involved
Joints, tolerances, and edges detailed to reduce rework
Product and fabrication documents requested for the specification set
If you would like support with finishes, thickness options, documentation, and selection, speak with The Stone Group team. We help align design intent with a clear, buildable pathway.
