Is Honing Engineered Stone Dangerous?
By Fred Hueston
Should You Be Worried About Silicosis?: If you’re in the stone restoration business, you already know that engineered stone (also called quartz surfaces) has exploded in popularity. More jobs are coming in for polishing, honing, and even repairing these materials. But along with that, there’s been growing concern—and for good reason—about the dangers of working with engineered stone, especially when it comes to airborne dust and silicosis.
So, the big question is: Is honing engineered stone dangerous?
Short answer: It can be if you don’t take proper precautions.
Let’s break it down.
Engineered Stone and Silica: What You Need to Know
Engineered stone is made by combining crushed natural stone (mostly quartz) with resins and pigments. While natural granite typically contains 20–45% crystalline silica, engineered stone often contains up to 90% crystalline silica—sometimes even higher depending on the brand and color.
Crystalline silica is the real danger. When you cut, grind, hone, or polish materials high in silica, you create fine dust particles. Inhaling these particles over time can lead to silicosis, an incurable and often deadly lung disease. It can also increase your risk for other respiratory issues like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.
Wet vs. Dry Honing: Which Is Safer?
One of the best ways to dramatically lower your exposure to silica dust is honing wet instead of dry.
- Wet honing uses water to suppress dust at the source. The water captures the dust particles and keeps them from becoming airborne.
- Dry honing, on the other hand, creates a significant amount of dust unless you’re using specialized dust collection systems—and even then, some fine particles can escape into the air.
If you must hone dry, make sure you’re using:
- A high-efficiency dust collection system (HEPA filtration preferred)
- Tight-fitting personal respirators rated for silica dust (N95 at minimum, P100 preferred)
- Adequate ventilation
- Strict housekeeping to remove dust buildup from the work area
But honestly? Wet honing is always the safer choice when working with engineered stone. Even better, many tools today are designed for wet operation with engineered surfaces, and you’ll get a smoother finish with fewer swirl marks, too.
How Does It Compare to Granite?
If you’re used to working with granite, you might be thinking, “Well, I’ve honed granite dry for years without problems.”
Granite does produce silica dust, but again, the amount of silica in natural granite is much lower than in engineered stone. So while you should always be cautious and protect yourself when honing or grinding any stone, the risk level is significantly higher with engineered quartz products.
You could hone granite dry occasionally (especially outdoors with good ventilation) and probably not generate enough dust to cause a major issue in a single job.
But dry honing engineered stone? One bad job can expose you to a dangerously high level of silica dust.
OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has been paying particular attention to engineered stone fabrication and restoration work. Several serious cases of silicosis—and even deaths—have occurred among workers handling quartz surfaces without proper dust control.
Bottom Line: Protect Yourself
If you’re honing engineered stone:
- Always hone wet if possible.
- Always wear proper PPE (respirator, gloves, eye protection).
- Use dust collection systems if honing dry (and preferably HEPA-grade).
- Clean the area thoroughly afterward—don’t let dust sit around.
- Educate your team, don’t assume everyone knows the risk.
Your health is your most valuable tool. The restoration business can be physically demanding already—don’t add long-term lung damage to the mix.
One final thought:
Even if you’re only doing “a small touch-up” or “just blending an area,” the silica dust doesn’t care. It only takes a little overexposure over time to cause big problems.
Work smart. Work safe.
