How to redo hearth

[straychicken]

Above is our wood burning fireplace. We had a chimney fire in February which damaged some of the flue tile. We are installing a new insert (probably Pacific Energy brand) and liner and we figure now if the time to update the hearth before the new stove is installed. We planned to hire a mason to remove the top course of stone and install a stone cap.

Here are what I would like input on.

1. Our hearth is large (8 ft long, 2 ft wide), is it OK to install a single stone or will it tend to crack. (We are planning to use bluestone).
2. As an alternative to one large stone we could cut it in three pieces. How would the joints need to be handled? Could they be treated like the seams that you see on granite counter tops?

Thanks!

 

[begreen]

One piece can be done. It's important that the under-surface be leveled and the stone is bedded properly so that there is no stress on it. As you go through picking a stone mason ask how they would set the stone.