How tall should a raised hearth be?

The height of your hearth opening above the floor often is a matter of local building codes and personal preference. The average height would be 12 to 14 inches from the floor to the bottom of the hearth opening, which allows you to install a seating area in front of your hearth.

Considering this, does a hearth have to be raised?

The perimeter of the hearth should be clearly defined by either using a raised edge or by raising the level of the hearth in relation to the floor. The hearth should extend at least 150mm out from the stove at the sides and 300mm in front.

Likewise, how big should a hearth be? Basic Hearth Dimensions To keep fire, ashes and embers a safe distance from the floor in front of a fireplace that has an opening 6 square feet or smaller, the hearth should extend at least 16 inches in front of the fireplace opening. The hearth also needs to extend 8 inches to each side of the opening.

Regarding this, what is a raised hearth?

A hearth is a fireplace's brick or stone floor. Some fireplaces are designed so that the hearth extends out into the room. A sitting-height hearth is simply a hearth that extends out into your room and is built up, or raised off the floor, to a height that is comfortable for people to sit on.

What is the best material for fireplace hearth?

Granite is the best fireplace hearth material for solid fuel burning fires. However, to withstand the heat, you need to get one that has been 'slabbed'. This means that it has been cut into pieces and mounted in concrete to give it space to expand as it heats up.

37 Related Question Answers Found

Will slate hearth crack?

No, it is likely that burning solid fuel directly over a slate hearth will crack it, unless it is in an Enclosed Stove or a WoodBurner.

How thick does a hearth pad need to be?

2 inches

Can I use tiles as a hearth?

Short answer: Yes, absolutely, but we would recommend using porcelain tiles or hardier floor-suitable ceramic tiles, which are very heat resistance. We'd also recommend using Palace Heat Resistant Adhesive, and keeping a gap of 6 inches around the back and sides of your stove.

Can I use paving slabs for a hearth?

Concrete pavers can be used in a variety of different ways, ranging from an outdoor patio or garden walkway to the hearth underneath a wood stove. Every wood stove needs some type of noncombustible material underneath it to prevent the heat from damaging the wooden subfloor underneath, if your house has one.

What tiles for fireplace hearth?

When deciding between ceramic and porcelain tiles for your fireplace, go for porcelain tiles. Usually people will tend to use fire-resistant bricks around their burner because they're great at absorbing heat without transferring it to neighbouring areas.

What tiles can you use for a hearth?

Porcelain Fireplace Tiles

Denser and more durable than ceramic, porcelain is an outstanding fireplace choice for surrounds and hearths. Like with ceramic though, tiles used on the hearth will still need to be made for floor use with a PEI rating of four or five to ensure they are tough enough.

How high should fireplace be off floor?

40"-42"

What is a flush hearth?

What is a flush hearth? The flush hearth is what is typical for most fireplaces. The floor of the fireplace is flush with the hearth (the hearth is the area in front of the fireplace that is usually paved and extends into the room) or the floor of the fireplace is flush with the room floor.

How do you decorate a fireplace hearth?

Painting over red brick will make your hearth feel more modern, or give a wood mantel a fresh coat in a new color. Your fireplace can wear both neutral and bright hues equally, so go ahead and try something new. Feel free to fill it with something other than logs, too.

Is there a standard height for a fireplace mantel?

Depends on the size of the fireplace and whether the firebox is at floor level or raised. mantel heights vary depneding on the overall design,but average, traditional mantel shelf height is 52"-58" high off of the hearth. The mantel below is 53 1/2" high.

Should a fireplace have a hearth?

According to the exception, this fireplace would have been fine if the firebox opening was at least 8″ above the floor. At that point, it's acceptable to have a simple tiled hearth extension. Also, the hearth extension must extend at least 16″ from the front of the fireplace and 8″ on the sides for smaller fireplaces.

What is a hearth fireplace?

A hearth is normally a brick, stone, marble, or cement slab that sits in front of your fireplace. Made from a non-combustible material, the hearth protects your home's floor from radiant heat, flying embers, sparks, and burning logs that may roll out of the fireplace.

How big should a hearth be for a wood burning stove?

The hearth should measure at least 840 x 840mm and must have a space of at least 225mm at the front of the stove door. However, if the stove is designed in a way that it burns with doors open, there should be a minimum space of at least 300mm at the front.

Can you remove a fireplace hearth?

Remove Old Hearth

Use demolition hammer with a chisel bit to chip away old hearth and the mortar underneath (as shown). Leave concrete hearth base and firebox floor in tact. Brush and vacuum debris and dust from hearth base. Tip: Wear eye and ear protection and a dist mask when using a demolition hammer.

How much does it cost to remove a brick fireplace?

If you only need to remove the inconvenient or dangerous parts of the system, you can avoid the massive cost of demolishing the entire system and structure. A partial chimney or fireplace demolition might cost a homeowner $500-$2,000, where a complete removal could run $4,000 - $6,000.

How big should a hearth be for a gas fireplace?

Hearth dimensions: A fireplace hearth should extend at least 16" (M.I.A.) past the front edge of the fireplace and at least 8" beyond each side of the fireplace opening.

Is a hearth necessary?

Their recommendation was that since the fireplace COULD be used to burn wood, then a hearth is required by code. But technically, since the gas logs do not emit sparks or embers, and they are raised well above floor level, a hearth serves no purpose.