Table of Contents
How high should a raised fireplace hearth be?
Your height: When loading a fireplace or starting a fire, a raised hearth provides a place to rest your knee while loading the fire. The most common hearth heights are from 12” to 18”. If you’re tall (over six-feet), choose a higher hearth size.
Can you raise a fireplace hearth?
Hi Westview, yes you can raise the firebox. You’ll need to remove the wall surface(s) in front of the fireplace to remove the firebox and the lowest section of duct inside the wall. The firebox can then be re-installed at the new height, and a new shorter section of duct added and new wall surface patched etc.
How far should a fireplace hearth stick out?
So how far should a fireplace hearth come out? InterNACHI recommends that for fireplaces that have an opening of 6 square feet (0.56 square meters) or smaller, a hearth should extend at least 16 inches (406mm) out into the room from the opening, and by at least 8 inches (203mm) away from the sides.
Does a hearth need to be raised?
If you have any solid fuel burning stove, it is absolutely vital that you have the correct hearth for it to sit on. For this reason, regulations also state your hearth should be ‘visually apparent’, with the edge ideally raised above the level of the floor.
How thick should a hearth pad be?
The standard for a hearth pad thickness is a minimum of 3/8″ or 8mm, and this can be thicker depending on the noncombustible material used, something that is important and not always stated on stove labels is that the hearth pad should be a continuous surface.
How thick does a wood stove hearth need to be?
Generally speaking, wood stoves require pads 48″ and larger to protect from falling embers. Pellet, gas, electric, corn, oil and propane stoves can be installed on smaller pads.
Can you use steel for a hearth?
Steel should serve you well. It is only for ember protection.
How do you level a fireplace insert?
After inserting your electric fireplace into position place a level on the top of the insert. Keep one corner of the level on the insert and tilt the level up to bring the bubble to the center. The side that you’ve lifted up is the side that needs to be shimmed.
Can you move a fireplace box?
If it is a masonry (stone or brick) fireplace, its impossible to move. If its a gas fireplace, it can be done but you’ll have to take the wall apart, rebuild the exhaust and move the gas piping.
What is a hearth fireplace?
Clearing up the basics first, the hearth is, quite simply, the floor of a fireplace. In a traditional fireplace, the fire basket would be placed on top of the hearth below the chimney opening. They usually extend out into the room slightly and are made out of some sort of stone or brick.
Can you put a hearth on wooden floor?
There is no need to destroy your floors, the hearth can sit on top of the hard wood.
Do all fireplaces need a hearth?
Gas fireplaces are considered gas appliances, not true fireplaces. Some gas fireplaces are built with “zero-clearance” fireboxes, meaning you can put combustible materials right up to the sides, front and bottom. Not all gas fireplaces are zero-clearance, however, and some may require a hearth.
Can you have a fireplace without a hearth?
Most modern gas only fireplaces with fixed glass do not require a hearth extension. The manufacturers usually require a 36″ clear space in front (no furniture, etc.). Now if this was a wood burning fireplace that had a gas insert, the hearth extension would still be required.
How do you build a brick fireplace hearth?
Step 1 – Moving the gas fireplace insert. Step 2 – Cut half size bricks. Step 3 – Measure and stencil horizontal guide lines on the wall. Step 4 – Mix the mortar. Step 5 – Lay brick the fireplace surround (the wall) Step 6 – Brick over the fireplace insert opening. Step 7 – Lay the brick hearth (the floor).
Can I use tiles as a hearth?
Tile is perfect for the fireplace surround. The hearth is the section of the fireplace below and in front of the firebox. It is a horizontal surface and may be a raised hearth or the floor immediately in front of the fireplace. Tile is also a great option here.
What can I use for a fireplace hearth?
Stone, brick, cement, or fire-rated drywall finish are go-to materials for making fireplace hearths durable and fireproof.
How wide does a hearth need to 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.
Is concrete OK for a hearth?
A concrete hearth is easy to make. When building or installing a hearth, one of the most common materials to use is concrete. Building a concrete hearth as opposed to using stone or brick is a good choice because concrete is relatively cheap compared to other materials.
What is the average width of a fireplace hearth?
The Average Dimensions for Each Part of a Fireplace An opening that’s between 24-36 inches wide, 24-29 inches high, and 16 inches deep. On average, the distance between the hearth and the damper is about 37 inches. The fireplace’s rear firebox is generally between 11-19 inches wide, with a height of 14 inches.
