Cracked slate hearth after new installation of woodburner...

[firefighterjake]

Insanity: to follow the same method and expect a different result.
Ensure the slate gets installed with full mortar bed to its edges and that the mortar is given time to cure before being loaded with weight or be doomed to failure.

Agreed 100% . . . do it right or don't do it at all . . . at least with this guy.

 

[RandyBoBandy]

Finally after 6 weeks the installer saw fit to come and assess his work. After much discussion he still did not admit to a problem with the installation but agreed to re-do the job with new slate if we agreed to pay half each of slate cost.
He said he would not change his method. We sincerely hope that it works this time.
Thank you to all of the forum - it armed us with information that surprised him and put him on the back foot.
We are just glad it is just coming to a conclusion.
Thank you for all your help and advice.

Congrats on finally getting your installer to do something. I still feel he should be doing the entire job (labor and material) out of his pocket. Out of curiosity, what is directly under the hearth? subfloor? floor joists? etc.

 

[mitchell721]

Emo. Well this is the second post on this site within a month done that way and second one broke js. Or maybe not filling quite so much at once screed first let set then scratch coat and put down for full contact.

 

[Pebbles112]

It is a concrete floor.

 

[Pebbles112]

We will definitely be watching how he does it second time round.
When he came out to assess the crack I think he was shocked when he lifted the slate hearth as the whole thing came up - including the stove.
We have to go with his method this time and hope he gets the mortar mix right and it cures properly. Over here it is not unusual to lay the hearth and stove within a few hours.
If it does not work this time, we would have to claim money from him to start again with someone else.
Thank you for all your lovely advice.
I will keep you posted.