Kitchen benchtops across Canberra.

What the 2024 ban actually changed.

The ACT ban applies to benchtops, panels and slabs made from an artificial product that contains at least 1% crystalline silica by weight, combines natural stone materials with other chemical constituents, and becomes hardened. WorkSafe ACT is the territory regulator. Consult WorkSafe ACT engineered-stone guidance for the applicable exclusions and controlled legacy-work requirements.

What you can still have - and what we install.

• Natural stone - granite, marble, quartzite. Timeless, each slab unique.
• Porcelain / sintered stone - extremely heat, scratch and stain resistant; a leading post-ban choice.
• Other manufactured surfaces - request the exact composition and product documentation. Check the exact product documentation before ordering. A low-silica marketing label does not establish an exemption or safe processing. Products below 1% crystalline silica are outside this definition; porcelain and sintered products are excluded only if they contain no resin. Other workplace safety obligations still apply.
• Laminate - huge range, great value, ideal for budget makeovers and rentals.

For an existing engineered-stone top, arrange professional assessment before removal or modification. The ACT has a conditional exemption for removing and reinstalling an existing top in the same location during specified underlying repairs. It does not permit a replacement banned top. The contractor must confirm the applicable controls and notification requirements with WorkSafe ACT; householders should not cut, drill or lift the top themselves.

2026 Canberra benchtop price guide.

Supplied and installed, per square metre (slab and finish dependent):

• Laminate: the most affordable option - ideal for budget makeovers.
• Granite: $600-$1,400 per m².
• Marble: $900-$2,500 per m².
• Porcelain / sintered stone: $1,100-$2,400 per m².
• Quartzite: $1,400-$3,000 per m².

A typical kitchen needs around 4-6 m² including the island, so a porcelain benchtop on an average kitchen often lands around $5,000-$6,500 installed. Waterfall ends, thick mitred edges and extra cut-outs add to the figure.

Templating & installation.

1. Cabinetry first. The cabinets must be installed and level before templating.
2. Digital template. We laser-template the exact benchtop shape, including the sink, cooktop and tap cut-outs.
3. Fabrication. The slab is cut and edged off-site (about a week) under proper dust controls.
4. Install. We fit the benchtop, seal joins, set the sink and cooktop, and coordinate the plumber for final connection.

Compliance & the rest of the job.

Benchtop installation sits within work regulated under the ACT Construction Occupations (Licensing) Act 2004 via Access Canberra, with plumbing to AS/NZS 3500 and any adjoining wet-area waterproofing to AS 3740. In older homes we also check for asbestos in the old splashback and substrate (Canberra carries the Mr Fluffy loose-fill asbestos legacy from 1968-1980) before removing the existing benchtop.

Why we don’t cut corners.

Compare the exact product and scope, including processing arrangements and any work on the existing surface. Keep product records with the kitchen documents. Coordinate the benchtop with the kitchen design and renovation scope.