New Hearth

[84td]

Extending my hearth so I can move my new woodstock out of the fireplace hole and out into the open. I do not have a raised hearth so this is my plan based on the instructions on building a hearth pad on woodstocks website.

I am going to laydown 3/4in plywood half and half over the current hearth and my hardwood floors.
1/2in dura rock ontop of that
then going to mortar 3/8 grey slate, frame it with some upside down crown molding and grout it.

Any advise or other ideas?

 

[84td]

anything?

will post pics when done.

 

[begreen]

Should work. Is the current hearth exactly flush with the current floor? Place a long level on it to check. Sometimes it looks flush, but is not.

 

[Todd]

Sounds like a good idea. You will take full advantage of that radiant heat if it sits out further from the fireplace.

 

[brogsie]

I think you will realize more heat.
I put a heat shield on the back of my stove to reflect some of the heat out wards,
it seems to make a big difference.

 

[84td]

Yes, More heat!!

Actually the hearth and the floor have some slight variations from settling over the years, up to 1/8 inch in some places. I am hoping the 1/2in dura rock and the mortar + slate will be strong enough to hold up without cracking. There wont be much walking on it.

 

[begreen]

You'll have the best success by starting off with a level, contiguous surface. Even with only a little walking, things are going to flex and conform to the uneveness over time with a 500# weight sitting on them.