Quick question regarding raise hearth for insert

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lfunk11

Member
Jan 8, 2010
116
Morgantown, WV
We have a Quad 4100i and this will be our third season with it and its been a real money saver plus I just like fire going all the time. Well last year I got the Quad pre-fab metal hearth that is adjustable to meet the fireplace as it sticks out a little. I just never liked the look and since I am finally getting around to finishing the wiring and stone work around the fireplace I want to build a raise hearth. I think metal studs + Next Gen Durock + hearth stone. I have never worked with metal studs so I want to be sure they are fireproof and they will support the hearth stones. Thoughts? I can post pics and go into more detail, but I think I am good to go? The insert is supported by the old fireplace so the hearth will not be supporting any of that weight.

I did search the site, but most of the hearths are for free standing stoves and the clearances are much different. I can not use any wood to frame the hearth.
 
I'm not sure I follow, are you talking about the face of the fireplace or the hearth which extends out in front of the insert? It sounds like you are describing the insert surround, so just checking to be sure we're on the right track to answering the question. Though for sure, metal studs are non-combustible.
 
I'm not sure I follow, are you talking about the face of the fireplace or the hearth which extends out in front of the insert? It sounds like you are describing the insert surround, so just checking to be sure we're on the right track to answering the question. Though for sure, metal studs are non-combustible.

no, the insert has been installed for sometime now. It sticks out a little bit and is "floating" above the ceramic tile. I bought the quadrafire metal hearth extension last year and it has scissor type legs that you can raise up to meet the bottom of the insert. I no longer want to use that and want to build a permanant raised hearth that will extend the full front of the fireplace.

I found this on the web and is basically what I want to do. The insert sticks out about the same amount as the one in the picture and I want to build the raised portion to meet the bottom of the insert. I am not sure what I can use to frame out the raised portion. I know the materials to use beyond that. I could easily build it with wood, but I doubt that the wood could be that close. That is why I was thinking metal studs?

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Here is a picture of what my installer made. The insert went into a zero clearance fireplace. I didn't like the floating look either. To be honest, I don't know exactly how he fabbed it up, but I believe metal framing and a tile backer of some sort were involved. The tile was black granite from H.D. I put in the hearth tiles.

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Metal framing clad with cement board is the safest way to make it. That way there is nothing combustible to worry about.
 
Metal studs are made in different gauges. When I built my raised hearth I used a slightly heavier gauge then you would use to stud a wall. They were still easy to work with. I built a box with 16" on center framing and then covered with 5/8 Durock and then 2 inch think hearthstones. It does not flex or move at all, very strong.
 
What about building the platform using concrete blocks mortared together? You could then tile right over the block platform. Might be a lot easier than the stud and durock approach.
 
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