4 ms·

But rich people need engineered stone bench tops. Surely there's a way to get tradespeople to keep making them?

bobchadwick 3y ago
Down with the rich and all, yes I agree, but don't most people, regardless of their economic status, need some type of bench top (or countertop, as us Yanks call them)? Seems like this is saying that there's no good stone or "stone" alternative.
- kjkjadksj 3y ago
  Mine is ceramic tile. Its probably 100 years old.
  - tatersolid 3y ago
    Cutting ceramic tile produces a fuckton of fine dust. Including silicates.
    - kjkjadksj 3y ago
      Not an issue with proper ppe. Same with these countertops honestly. You read the underlying studies and its like everyone with the health issues did not wear any ppe. The people who did wear ppe didn’t have the health issues.
AlgorithmicTime 3y ago
They're pretty much in every recently renovated housing unit... not just rich people houses.
- gruez 3y ago
  Not to mention that engineered stone is actually cheaper than the alternative (ie. granite) options.
rob74 3y ago
CNC comes to mind. Or, if they have to be cut by hand, better equipment (saws with dust collection) and/or breathing masks? But I don't have to guess, Wikipedia knows it best: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicosis#Prevention https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicosis#Prevention
- pixl97 3y ago
  These sets of articles are popular because the strike out at the wealthier with stone countertops, so they tend to gain traction because it highlights an exploited proletariat These articles wouldn't get the traction if it was instead "There is no safe alternative to concrete". Then people start thinking, well, I have concrete in my house and I don't want to get rid of that. PPE usage in the construction industry is especially lax. Looking to replace the product with some other material with its own set of tradeoffs isn't needed here. Making the industry conform with the law and expected safety equipment is.

Down with the rich and all, yes I agree, but don't most people, regardless of their economic status, need some type of bench top (or countertop, as us Yanks call them)? Seems like this is saying that there's no good stone or "stone" alternative.

kjkjadksj 3y ago
Mine is ceramic tile. Its probably 100 years old.
- tatersolid 3y ago
  Cutting ceramic tile produces a fuckton of fine dust. Including silicates.
  - kjkjadksj 3y ago
    Not an issue with proper ppe. Same with these countertops honestly. You read the underlying studies and its like everyone with the health issues did not wear any ppe. The people who did wear ppe didn’t have the health issues.

AlgorithmicTime 3y ago

They're pretty much in every recently renovated housing unit... not just rich people houses.

gruez 3y ago
Not to mention that engineered stone is actually cheaper than the alternative (ie. granite) options.

rob74 3y ago

CNC comes to mind. Or, if they have to be cut by hand, better equipment (saws with dust collection) and/or breathing masks? But I don't have to guess, Wikipedia knows it best: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicosis#Prevention https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicosis#Prevention

pixl97 3y ago
These sets of articles are popular because the strike out at the wealthier with stone countertops, so they tend to gain traction because it highlights an exploited proletariat These articles wouldn't get the traction if it was instead "There is no safe alternative to concrete". Then people start thinking, well, I have concrete in my house and I don't want to get rid of that. PPE usage in the construction industry is especially lax. Looking to replace the product with some other material with its own set of tradeoffs isn't needed here. Making the industry conform with the law and expected safety equipment is.