What is fireplace hearth

Or, if you aren't completely sold on having an arched look, this 3-fold arched fireplace screen is a great choice if you'd like something that keeps your home safe and isn't a big investment! It's a hard decision, so if you aren't sure exactly what you want, we can help with our 'What's The Difference Between Various Styles of Spark Protection?

Our '8 Easy Steps To Installing a Fireplace Mesh Curtain' is a great resource too for learning how to install mesh protection so that you can enjoy the warmth and crackle of a fire without worrying about the sparks! There are four different styles of fireplace hearths. Click on the diagram below for a closeup visual reference. Now how does the position of the fireplace hearth affect the installation of a masonry fireplace door or a factory-built fireplace door?

Not sure which type of fireplace you have? Check out our easy fireplace door finder! Most overlap fit doors have a three-sided frame and need a hearth to sit on for support. So they need to be installed on raised or flush hearths. Inside fit doors can be installed with any of the four hearth styles. Raised fireboxes can be a bit tricky with inside fit doors. Some things to keep in mind is that on masonry fireplaces, the measurements of inside fit doors have to take into account the rough, uneven stonework around the firebox.

Grout or masonry cement will need to be applied around the door to fill in the gaps. Pictures are always extremely helpful for our team to best match products with your fireplace. Try out our quick and easy snapshot quote for fireplace doors! Most homeowners would like their vented fireplace to look like a traditional one. Keep in mind that your wood-burning fireplace, however, definitely should have a hearth.

A hearth helps protect your home from errant sparks that could turn an evening of roasting chestnuts into a traumatizing visit from the fire department. Whether you use your hearth for a gas-burning or wood-burning fireplace, there are many other ways that a hearth can be useful in your home. A hearth is a great place to set frozen mittens to thaw out in front of the fireplace after the children have been sledding.

When you need some extra seating in your family room, a hearth makes a great place to fit a few more people. Many families take Christmas family portraits while sitting on the hearth. This picturesque part of your home can be where you make memories either with the kids or entertaining co-workers and friends.

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This will make sure you will receive a response in a timely manner! Please reserve the "Comments" section for comments only, and if you have any questions, please follow this link! Fill out the questions form here! Follow Us:. Masonry fireplace with functional and decorative fireplace accessories Many product captions and articles on this website use it that way, too.

Hearth through the centuries infographic Fast forward again to the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries, hearths moved from a necessary part of the home and established its rightful place as works of art and cherished heirlooms. Types of Hearths Many different materials make up hearths. Man installing tile Limestone - Limestone is one of the least costly materials. But, you can not use it with wood-burning fireplaces.

Limestone works best with electric or gas fireplaces because the heat of a wood fire is too intense and may crack the stone. Color options are also limited because limestone only comes in shades of gray, white, or tan. Slate - This stone comes in more colors than limestone.

You can find slate in red, black, green, and even multicolored. This material can last years but use slate the same way as limestone. Gas and electric fireplaces work best because wood-burning can crack the stone.

Marble - Formed from limestone but more heat resistant, marble can handle gas, electric, and wood-burning fireplaces. Marble is softer than other stones, like granite. So, while it wont crack easily, it may chip or scratch if metal objects rub up against it. Nevertheless, with marble, you'll find a broader range of color options. Soapstone - This a dense rock made from high pressure and high heat.

Soapstone gets its name from its "soapy" texture. The color options are limited, with only shades of green or gray from which to choose. It does have a high resistance to heat, but like slate, it may crack over time. Granite - This is your mid-range hearth material. It costs more than limestone and slate but less than marble and soapstone.

Granite can handle wood-burning fires. And, because it's affordable and durable, it is one of the most used hearth materials. It also comes in many colors, patterns, and polish levels.

Ceramic - A highly customizable option is the ceramic hearth. It's strong enough to handle electric, gas, and wood-burning fireplaces.

You can also choose any color, pattern, or finish to fit your home aesthetic. If you want something uniquely yours, go ceramic.

Your Hearth's Height Another thing you have to be mindful of is the height of your hearth. Side by side images of a floor hearth and a raised hearth Raised hearths or sitting-height hearths are built off the floor, usually no more than 17 inches up. Hearth Regulations You Should Know The safety of your home is priority number one when it comes to the hearth.

Hearth diagram of minimum hearth and wall extensions Contractors and home builders follow the rules of the National Fireplace Institute NFI. Here's what the NFI manual says about hearths: Cover the space in front of the fireplace with a noncombustible floor covering i. The fireplace manufacturer will determine the size of the hearth extension you need.

But, there are minimum requirements in the NFI manual if your manufacturer does not provide hearth extension guidelines. If your fireplace has an opening smaller than 6 sq ft. If the fireplace has an opening bigger than 6 sq ft. The hearth extension has to be easily distinguishable from the fireplace and the surrounding floor. What are Hearth Rugs? Goods of the Woods hearth rug Hearth rugs sit in front of the fireplace and protect combustible surfaces from contact with flames, sparks, coals, and embers that may fall on the floor.

Maintenance and Safety Hearth maintenance and fireplace maintenance require the same amount of legwork. Burning wood coals Clean your hearth before every use. Cleaning is more important for the wood-burning fireplaces, as there can be ash buildup that can cause a chimney fire if not cleared away. Only burn the fuel your hearth material can handle. Absolutely not. Included below are a few photos showing different fireplace hearths, along with my commentary on what makes them acceptable or not.

Reuben, It would be great to share the requirements to combustible above the fireplace opening.. Reuben Saltzman November 15, , am. Thank you for this — friends buying a spec home in Plymouth had me do a look around this last weekend and the see though fireplace had composite wood floor right up to the fireplace on one side and carpet on the other- no hearth what so ever. New or remodeled, a fireplace hearth can become the belle of a room. Use our design tips to figure out your best mix of fireplace hearth function and style.

Fireplace hearths are wonderfully adaptive elements in a room. They are often focal points for a space, providing color, texture, or pattern that helps to cement a design aesthetic. They're practical, too, helping to supply a buffer to the heat-generating fireplace.

If you're revamping your fireplace hearth or adding a new one, there are several considerations that you'll need to review. Here are our best design tips for creating a fireplace hearth. Take inspiration from your home. Whether the fireplace hearth is new or a redo, its design inspiration should derive largely from elements that exist in your home.

That goes for big questions, such as determining the fireplace hearth's overall design, to little ones, such as the details that create a finished look. For example, a sleekly contemporary home demands a minimalist fireplace hearth; anything else would create design dissonance for a home. A traditional home, on the other hand, can be filled with exquisite crown molding and trim that can be replicated in the design of the fireplace hearth.