Fireplaces and similar home fixtures are a great way to not only keep our homes warm on those cold nights, but also for aesthetics to add character and charm to a space.
Whether you choose a wood burning stove, a classic fireplace, or something completely different, you need to ensure that you don’t pose any risk to your home. One of the ways you can make these appliances safer and reduce the risk of fires is to install a fireplace hearth.
What is a fireplace hearth made of, and in this case what is the best stone available?
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What is the Best Stone for a Fireplace Hearth?
Before we look at various stone options for hearths, it’s important to understand exactly what a fireplace hearth is and what purpose it serves within the home.
What is a Fireplace Hearth and Why are they Important?
At a very basic level, a fireplace hearth is the floor of a fireplace.
The hearth sits directly in front of your fireplace opening while extending out on both sides, and sometimes to the front. A hearth is typically made from non-combustible materials such as stone, brick, slate etc. Hearths come in many sizes, designs, and styles, with a unique set of uses and advantages.
Fireplace hearths make the fireplace area safe and prevent fire hazards.
They extend into the floor space and effectively prevent embers, loose logs or burning coals from falling onto the floor and potentially burning your floor, carpets or starting a serious fire hazard. They can be useful by giving you an area to store your fireplace tools or additional wood. Hearths also create a natural barrier to ensure children do not go near the fire.
What should you Consider before Choosing your Stone?
Before you decide which stone is best for your fireplace, there are a few things you need to consider:
Style
First of all, you need to decide what look or style you’re most interested in. Have a look around your home, and consider what material will go best with your current décor. Determine if you want something that looks modern, elegant, rustic, warm, etc.
Budget
Next, you need to think about your budget. As always, this will have a big impact on what fireplace hearth you decide to buy because some stones are much more expensive than others. For example, soapstone and marble are very expensive but limestone is one of the cheaper options available.
Installation
You may also have to factor in the cost of hiring a professional if you aren’t planning on installing the hearth yourself. In most cases, hiring a professional is the safer option, which will ensure you don’t get hurt and that the hearth is installed correctly. Fireplace hearth installation is a large and serious job, and doesn’t necessarily fall into the “DIY” bracket.
Finally, it’s important to research on durability the of stones. A certain type of stone may look nice, but it may require a lot of maintenance. This is a matter of personal preference because only you will know your own tolerance for housework and maintenance.
Best Stone for a Fireplace Hearth:
Marble:
- Extremely heat resistant and durable
- Comes in a wide range of colors to suit your home
- Made of limestone so it may chip easily
- Can choose to have it polished or unpolished depending on your room décor
- Can be very expensive
Limestone:
- Can only be used with gas or electric fires as it’s soft and may crack when exposed to the intensity of wood-powered fires and other solid-fuel fires
- Won’t break, dent, or scratch under ordinary wear and tear but doesn’t heat evenly, which means the sections close to your fire may become excessively hot and crack
- It is the least expensive material for your hearth
- Popular limestone hearth colors include white, cream, gray, and tan but there are many others to choose from
Granite:
- Not as expensive as marble, but more expensive than cheaper alternatives, such as limestone
- Very durable and hard wearing
- Can be used for wood, gas, and electric fires
- Compared to natural stone, it is available in a variety of colours and patterns
Soapstone:
- An excellent hearth material because of its high heat resistance
- Due to softness, it can crack with time
- Dense stone known for its soapy feel
- Available in green to gray color shades
- Can be very expensive
Slate:
- Very durable
- Can only be used with gas and electric fires
- Has a rough texture
- Colors include black, gray, dark green, and red shades, and sometimes, multi-colored
- Cheaper than marble, soapstone, and granite
As you can see, there’s no one material that stands out as the best for a fireplace hearth. Each material has its own pros and cons and it also depends on what’s best for you and your home.
However, if you have a wood burning stove, it is important that you do not buy a slate or limestone hearth as they’re primarily made to only be used for gas and electric fires. If you’re searching for a cheaper option, we would recommend a slate, granite, or limestone material, as marble and soapstone can be very expensive.
Take a look around your home. What material do you think will go best with your decor?
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We hope this helps, and for everything else home heating stick with CosyWarmer.com