Does anybody have a piece of soapstone for their hearth extension in front of a fireplace?
We installed a North Star fireplace last fall and I'm getting around to just finishing the hearth extension and rock face around it. We were shopping around for Hearth Extension pieces, we don't really like the marbles and granites or limestones, but we did really like the soapstone pieces. It's cheaper than the marble and granite pieces too, and I think it would be a great heat storage piece as well. We don't like the broken up tile look, and are looking at getting 1 big piece, approximately 85"long and 24" deep, with a rounded front edge.
My concerns would be with durability (cracking with slamming wood pieces around on top of it), and with staining. They use them for counter tops, so I think perhaps staining is not an issue, but how about cracking? I say staining because I see a lot of fireplace installs with the whole front of the hearth extension all blacked out and stained from ashes, wood dragging across it, etc. Usually limestone or brick. Not sure if they didn't just seal it or what, but I've seen several like that and we don't want that for sure.
I can't say I've seen any fireplaces with a large soapstone piece in front of it. Good idea? Anyone have a soapstone hearth extension?
![[Hearth.com] Soapstone Hearth Extension?](https://www.hearth.com/talk/attachments/img_9824-webp.180275/ "[Hearth.com] Soapstone Hearth Extension?")
We installed a North Star fireplace last fall and I'm getting around to just finishing the hearth extension and rock face around it. We were shopping around for Hearth Extension pieces, we don't really like the marbles and granites or limestones, but we did really like the soapstone pieces. It's cheaper than the marble and granite pieces too, and I think it would be a great heat storage piece as well. We don't like the broken up tile look, and are looking at getting 1 big piece, approximately 85"long and 24" deep, with a rounded front edge.
My concerns would be with durability (cracking with slamming wood pieces around on top of it), and with staining. They use them for counter tops, so I think perhaps staining is not an issue, but how about cracking? I say staining because I see a lot of fireplace installs with the whole front of the hearth extension all blacked out and stained from ashes, wood dragging across it, etc. Usually limestone or brick. Not sure if they didn't just seal it or what, but I've seen several like that and we don't want that for sure.
I can't say I've seen any fireplaces with a large soapstone piece in front of it. Good idea? Anyone have a soapstone hearth extension?
