Suitable materials for building up a hearth

[GraemeS]

Hi, I need to build up 2 sunken hearths in order to meet HETAS regs. The house is old, stone built and suffers from damp and has lime mortar for permeability so using concrete mortar or a self-levelling compound aren't sensible options. Could I just use 2 thick slabs of limestone or sandstone/yorkstone? Would I need to bed this in with lime mortar?

We had hoped to get the stoves in before the winter (our survey said the fireplaces were fit for purpose) but I worry that the drying time of lime mortar will slow the project down a great deal.

If anyone has any suggestions they're very welcome.

 

[begreen]

It would be good to consult with a local mason specializing in old home construction.

 

[bholler]

Hi, I need to build up 2 sunken hearths in order to meet HETAS regs. The house is old, stone built and suffers from damp and has lime mortar for permeability so using concrete mortar or a self-levelling compound aren't sensible options. Could I just use 2 thick slabs of limestone or sandstone/yorkstone? Would I need to bed this in with lime mortar?

We had hoped to get the stoves in before the winter (our survey said the fireplaces were fit for purpose) but I worry that the drying time of lime mortar will slow the project down a great deal.

If anyone has any suggestions they're very welcome.

There is absolutely no reason you would need to use lime mortar in this situation. Repointing a wall sure. But this won't effect a thing if you use a cement and lime based mortar. Or even if you pour a concrete slab.