Grout or caulk around new tiled hearth

[OutdoorsBen]

I just finished replacing my floor and putting atile hearth in. Since it meets wood on three sides does anyone have a suggestion to use caulk or grout. As we know the grout will crack with movement of the wood floor. I am hoping to minimize future maintenance. Any thoughts?

 

[Lake Girl]

How big of a gap? There are grouts that have some flexible characteristics. The Snapstone flooring uses a flexible grouting as the floor is designed to float to compensate for some substrate movement.
http://www.snapstone.com/index.php/products/snapstone-grout.html

 

[RandyBoBandy]

Post pics of your setup

 

[Poindexter]

I did grout with no sealant, but i have angle iron along the edge of the raised hearth.

 

[BenTN]

We are at the same point with our stone hearth. my plan was to grout down to within 1/8" of the floor and then caulk to the floor to allow for movement. you probably have cleaner lines with tile than stones and smaller grout spaces. I don't know anything about the flexible grout but would be surprised to see them work as advertised. even if your on a concrete slab wood moves alot with humidity changes.

 

[velvetfoot]

I have a black granite tile hearth with a pedestal. The edges are very defined. I framed it with three pieces of oak that matches the floor, with two 45 degree, mitered I guess you'd call it, joints. It wound up being so tight I didn't feel I needed a sealer. I did put some black caulk around the gap where it met the pedestal (a piece of sparky stuff might not be good getting in there.

 

[CountryBoy19]

When I did mine the manufacturer of the grout also had a color-matched caulk available. I bought one tube and put it along the joints that met the wall etc.