Suggestions for my hearths (and fireplaces in general)

[lukens]

We're currently (and have been for a year now) renovating a flat in a regency style property to live in.

One of my final dilemmas (which I should probably have tackled sooner) is what to do with the hearths to the fireplaces in the two largest rooms.

Both have various levels of tiles and concrete/screed to them, and having never lived in any (or visited many) houses with similar style fireplaces, I don't really have the first clue about what would look right.

You can see photos of the current hearths here:

http://gallery.me.com/lukens#100014&view=mosaic&sel=0

With the first, I took up some tiles around the front, as they were of little merit and in poor condition; however, the tiles continued further back, but had had some kind of concrete or screed poured over the top.

The second room seems to have tiles round the front and then some kind of very messy looking concrete/screed substance.

I'm just wondering what my options are. I've seen some stone hearths online, but am assuming the fireplace and surround would need to be removed first in order to fit these, which I kind of want to avoid now the walls have been skimmed. Is tiling an option? what kind of tiles would look good? Just get a level screed over the lot? any other options?

Also, what kind of trade or specialist should I be looking at for advice on this? Where in the yellow pages should I be looking (the fireplaces section seems quite mixed, and mostly full of people selling gas fires or stone surrounds.

Finally, the fireplaces currently have rather unattractive gas fire baskets in. I want to get rid of these, and just have something more attractive (and quite possibly non-functional). Ideas?

Sorry about the length of this post - any advice would be appreciated.

 

[gday2uk]

Tiles in my opinion would be the best option, there are literally thousands of types to choose from. Though if you are not going to use the fires you can bring your floor covering (if you are having one) right up to the fire; a corgi engineer will need to disconnect the gas in order to do this though.
If you used for example a pre made granite hearth it would stand too high and look strange in front of the fire, unless you filled carefully between the wall and hearth and levelled out inside the fireplace.

 

[Symptoms]

lukens - decide if the fires will be used in anger or just be decorative.

Used in anger ... a real fire or a gas effect. Real fire then you must get a pro Chimney Sweep (Yellow Pages) in to check the flues, etc. The least disruptive finish for the hearth is to re-tile; chisel all the old ones off and then remove a late addition screed so as to get a flat(ish) surface for the new tiles. Maybe source some reclaimed (or at a push repo) hearth tiles. Then get a fender (often from salvage yards or second-hand shops or even charity shops) - the fender is the 'wall' thing that goes around the edge of the hearth to stop the hot coals rolling onto the floor.

A decorative item ... forget the sweep, then do as above or get a slab cut. There are loads of stone yards around, make a cardboard template of the hearth, take it to the yard and they'll cut it to size/shape. All you have to do is place it in position (loose or bonded in position).

Check out these sites for good info:
www.chimneysweeps.co.uk/index.htm
www.stovesonline.co.uk/

 

[lukens]

Thanks so much for the replies.

I'm not convinced getting a slab cut would really be possible. It'd need to be cut fairly intricately to fit neatly up to the edge.

So, tiles seem like the best option, which produces another question:

The tiles would be fairly flush with the floorboards, however, with underlay and carpet laid, they'll be below the level of the rest of the floor. What would look best for between the carpet and tiles? Just one of those carpet threshold things, or maybe some wood beading?

 

[Symptoms]

lukens - you wrote:

"It'd need to be cut fairly intricately to fit neatly up to the edge". Using a template would guarantee this.

and

"What would look best for between the carpet and tiles?". A fender as per my earlier post.

 

[lukens]

"It'd need to be cut fairly intricately to fit neatly up to the edge". Using a template would guarantee this.

I'm just not convinced they'd be able to cut a slab of stone that intricately, template or no template (I'm also not convinced I'd be able to cut a piece of cardboard intricately enough). It's not super-intricate, but there are curves that come to quite fine points where they join flatter bits.

"What would look best for between the carpet and tiles?". A fender as per my earlier post.

I mean the actual joint where the carpet meets the tiles (and the carpet is higher than the tiles), a quick look at google images suggests a fender wouldn't serve this purpose (and instead would sit on the tiles next to the carpet).