Tag Archives: hearth

Unfortunate accidents happen when living around a busy fireplace, one such accident recently happened to a customer who dropped their fire poker on to the hearth cracking one of the tiles. In a bit of a panic the customer rang us fearful she might have to replace the entire hearth. This however is not the case as a simple 20 minute job can be done to replace the tile and have it looking brand new again.

Now the first major thing needing to be done is getting the correct tile, not only the style and colour but also the shade. Every week we order hearth tiles from our suppliers for customers needing repairs or making a complete hearth. With every batch that comes in you can pretty much guarantee that the shade of the colour will vary from the previous week, this is due to the manufacturing and firing process of the tiles. So with this in mind the very best thing to do is remove the broken tile and send it to us so we can try to match it as best as possible.

Once the tile is removed you need to clean the surface with a soft brush removing any tile fragments and dust. This will give you a nice even surface to lay the new tile on. Although I didn't believe when I first heard it but; PVA glue is the best adhesive to use to glue the new tile on with you just literally cover the surface area of the hearth where the new tile will be laid and place the tile giving it approximately 1 - 2 hours to set. Once the glue has set you can grout the joints around the damaged area with the matching grout colour. Job done!

When ordering your replacement tile we have a few different options available other than colour. We have; REX tile which is a rounded edge corner tile, an RE tile which is a rounded edge tile and plain tiles which are, well plain on all four sides. Tiles which form the sides rising up are just plain tiles cut in half.

So now you have all the information you need to go forth and repair that hearth! But try your best not to damage the hearth in the first place, prevention is better than cure.

Choosing the right hearth for your fireplace is not only vital for the finished appearance but vital to ensure it’s compatible with your choice of fire.

We have a varierty of hearths available including – Granite, Tan Granite, Tiled, Limestone, Slate and Decorative Granite.

Why hearth for Which Fuel?

For solid fuel (real fires) we recommend that you use either Granite or Tiled hearths. Slate and Limestone is not recommended due to slate being to soft and scratching very easily and limestone being very porous for the cement under fill as it can seep through to the top surface.

Granite, Tiled, Slate and Limestone hearths are ideally suited for Electric or Gas Fireplaces.

What are the options?

Granite for Gas & Electric use

Made from a single slab of highly polished granite approximately 20mm think which is sat on 30mm risers. As standard they are 15” in depth but can be made larger or smaller to suit your requirements by calling us on 01522 536373.

Tan Granite for Gas & Electric use

Made from a single slab of highly polished granite approximately 20mm think which is sat on 30mm risers. As standard they are 15” in depth but can be made larger or smaller to suit your requirements by calling us on 01522 536373.

Granite for Solid Fuel (real fire) use

Commonly referred to as split and slabbed or cut and slabbed. These hearths are made from highly polished granite sections to allow for expansion and contraction from the heat. They are filled underneath with a lightweight cement mix which helps dissipate the heat throughout the hearth. Without this heat dissipation the hearth would be put under a great amount of pressure which ultimately causes the hearth to crack. As standard they are 18” in depth and can be made deeper to suit your requirements by calling us on 01522 536373. Unfortunately the depth cannot be shortened as this would no meet building regulations.

Tiled Hearths for all fuel types

Tiled hearths are a very traditional form of hearth and would normally have been the hearth of choice. They are made from 6” x 6” tiles which are available in a varierty of colours (black, green, burgundy, brown and ivory). As with the granite hearths for solid fuel these hearths are filled underneath with a lightweight mix. As standard they are 15” and 18” for gas and solid fuel respectively. Sizes can be adjusted by calling us in 01522 536373.

Slate, Limestone and Decorative Granite Hearths

All 3 hearths are the same as the “Granite for Gas & Electric” use hearths with the standard 15” depth and only suitable for gas or electric. The decorative hearths available are Waterfall Granite and Beveled Granite, these are a nice alternative to the standard granite hearths but only available in a 54" width.

I had a call earlier today which has prompted me to write this - the caller asked a question which is often asked but unfortunatley isn't made clear on the website.

"Is it possible to mix and match your fireplaces?"

The answer in short is yes; pretty much nearly every fireplace can be swapped and changed about to create your perfect fireplace. Obviously sizes have to be taken into account but as long as the parts fit there is no reason why you can't change a surround, swap the cast iron insert or have a different hearth.

The best way to work out if something is going to fit and work together is to ask us. If you think of something you would like simply call us on 01522 536373 and we will talk you through everything you need to know.

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